Metallic Tyranids?

[meowakin]

    Hey all, I've only just started playing and have my first models primed and base coated (sort of).  I don't have any pictures at the moment, but I've been trying to create a 'metallic' tyranid theme.  Problem is I can't quite figure out how to make it work. Are there any good examples of this? 

    I have leadbelcher primer & base, which I have applied all over (which may have been a mistake, I'm thinking).  Then I was intending to do a gold (Auric Gold), but I'm finding it doesn't coat over the leadbelcher very well.  I asked the local GW shop about it and he recommended layering it over Balthazar's Gold (I think?  Might be Gehennas?) that is actually a nice coppery color.  What is your opinion on this?  Part of my problem may also be that I'm practicing on genestealers, which aren't quite like other tyranids.

[aythir]

I am actually gathering a bunch of bits to start converting my nids to machine type as well. I am more or less laying down how I want them to look and will be a bit before I actually start painting them. But if you want you could look up some necron painting guides. They are a full metallic race and the painting should transfer over pretty well

[BattleMetalChris]

You can get paint additives that you can mix with a colour to make metallic paint in that colour. I forget the name/brand though, sorry.

[Davor]

Here was my attempt at a metallic Nid. Not the red one. It was blue skin with silver carapace. Was trying at the time, about 5 years ago or so, wanted a Grey Knight look. Not a great pic. But at least it's something.

[rpricew]

I have a pretty large "metallic" nid army.

Mine were based on the Alien theme. I used a Glossy Black base coat and then a heavy Drybrush of Silver to give it the metallic sheen.



Xantige (hasn't checked in for a while) has a gold & blue metallic army with pictures on the Hive somewhere in the old archives.

If you're wanting to paint gold, I've found that you can start with base black, then a coat of Warplock Bronze, leaving some darkness in the recess, then layer with Sycorax Bronze, then Gehenna Gold, then Highlight with Runefang Steel.

[meowakin]

Alright, thanks for the tips/examples. I'm considering trying to start with something a bit more common and dropping the idea for now, as working with these might be a bit more difficult than I bargained for. We'll see, I think I'm going to take some time to step back and think it over a bit more, as I was probably rushing into it a bit too fast.

[jaigo]

instead of gold I always use brassy brass.
looks gold and actualy covers whats under it.

I too have metalic nids.
I used a black metal with airbrush.
then silver for blades and teeth
looking like alien.

Then I made a metalic green with a green and metalised it with vallejo metalic medium

[rpricew]

May 2, 2015 2:59:27 GMT meowakin said:

Alright, thanks for the tips/examples. I'm considering trying to start with something a bit more common and dropping the idea for now, as working with these might be a bit more difficult than I bargained for. We'll see, I think I'm going to take some time to step back and think it over a bit more, as I was probably rushing into it a bit too fast.

Use your little bugs to test models with... Painting metal nids is not really any harder than non-metal nids. Also, pick something that you are going to enjoy looking at and playing with. I love the way my bugs look on the tabletop. I get a lot of compliments on the "Alien" looking bugs and they are painted very simply.

I literally painted 40 Termagants in 2 hours. 3 colors and with simple basing.

[meowakin]

Well, I've finally got more or less a final color scheme decided. Gold is out the window, as I wanted to get painting and the few things I tried to get it to look right failed. Instead, went with 'copper' shells (base Balthazar's Gold), and I will highlight with Hashut Copper for some and Sycorax Bronze for some others.

Decided to update since I finally have 5x Hormagaunts with the same scheme and just started on one of my carnifexes, which I am getting pretty excited about how well its looking (only the 2 base colors currently, iron/copper).  The carnifex is fully magnetized.  Hormagaunts are completely finished.  Downside, it's pretty complicated getting all the little 'muscle' sections properly, but its looking totally worth it.

 

[Kyokii]

Oooooooh that copper is nice. I recommend layering washes to help keep the color (example for the claw, wash halfway down with agrax, a third down with agrax, then nuln oil in the recesses. pops out the detail and it quick- you can assembly line it really easy

[meowakin]

Yeah, I still need to paint the details, and I intend to use nuln oil for a wash. I might consider doing the agrax, we'll see. I've generally been pleased with just nuln oil overall.