Painting help/tips/critique requested - necron warrior

[Overread]

My second attempt at painting up a Necron warrior; overall a good result but there are some glaring issues that I would greatly appreciate some help and advice with (as well as any general pointers based upon what you see). I've listed out below the methods used - I should note that the photos are "quick and dirty" and that the above light I've used has somewhat increased the edge highlight on the silver areas of the model more than is apparent in reality (didn't have space to setup my lights to the sides).







Method used:
Undercoat in white spray

Paint majority of model in Leadbelcher (basically everywhere aiming to avoid the areas for red or black)

Wash all metal painted areas with Agrax Earthshade (I think I was a bit to conservative with this layer as not all recesses are as dark as they should be)

Layer Ironbreaker over the metal areas; note I left some areas like the "guts" of the model, backs of legs/joins and the neck area of the model without this layer. I might have also painted a bit too heavy and masked one or two bits of the recesses

Paint a layer of Abbadon Black over shoulders and wrists.

Edge meals with runefang steel; also edged one shoulder of black with this (other edged poorer with white scar)

Base of Warplock Bronze on chest plate

layer of Brass Scorpion on chest plate

Edge of Runlord Brass on chest plate


Right now I'm thinking that getting the black effect I want is not really going to work as well as I'd hoped and that the edging to really get it to look good is beyond my current skill (without burning through half the army learning). I'm tempted to shift to using the bronze instead for the second primary colour on the model; however this leaves me without a third colour (good for details on lords and also for breaking up the colours on bigger vehicles and the like).
A dark gold or copper could work, although I worry that gold could be too bright whilst copper too similar to the bronze


Gun
Much the same only when coming to the red areas I experimented with
layer of leadbelcher
layer of wazdakka red and lahman medium (potentially too much paint not enough medium);
layer of Spiritstone red.

It's had an effect but its closer to blood than the glow of a red "light" that I wanted (also wanted it for the eyes on the main model).



Overall I'm pleased with the result of the core body metal and the bronze chest. The black just doesn't seem to be working whilst the red also needs some adjustment. I'd greatly welcome any input and feedback into this method and any suggestions for improvements.
I'm already thinking that the weapon body needs to be something other than silver; I could bronze that and then have the other primary colour be the detailing for shoulders and wrist/ankle brands. Or I could leave the weapon without the further layer of ironbreaker and instead use that for an edge highlight only (giving the gun the darker effect of the guts/joints).

[babyripper]

I’m really digging how clean and fresh it looks. Bright, almost white silver really suits them. Nice job with that! The gun I agree is a bit too plain - needs another colour to give it a bit of variation - especially the axe like section on the front. I actually like the black - keeps it from looking completely robotic. You’ve done a really nice job on this, keep it up!

BabyRipper

Edit: would it be possible to get a shot with the gun on the body?

[Jbizzy]

The red eye glow is killer, nice work. Black shoulders and knees look good. I myself have 40 warriors etc waiting to paint; I hope the new dex comes soon and the dynasties get some cool schemes with rules.

[Overread]

Thanks for the compliments both!

I'm thinking what I'll do is undercoat in white, then Leadbelcher then do a proper wash with Agrax Earthshade.

However I'll leave the guts, arm sockets, arm joints, neckline, basically anywhere moving or shaded without the Ironbreaker layer on top. That should help in giving those areas a different colour toward the effect without me actually having to add another colour. If I leave all joints it also makes it a lot easier when I come to add the gun as I can just leave those sockets and joint area at the agrax earthsade stage.

I've also been playing around with the red. I'm still not happy with the eyes or gun; however I've also tried adding some red between the ribs. I thought of doing this for just the Lords, however having seen it on the warrior I think it adds something good to give a bit more colour, and it goes with the eyes really nicely.

The Black areas I'm still on the fence about. I'm thinking of doing the gun in the bronze from the chestplate, then using a brighter bronze or copper for the shoulders and wristbands whilst saving a gold colour for additional details on lords and other units.

On the gun if the main body is bronze, the blade in silver like the body then all I need is to find a way to get the red effect how I like. I also plan to modify my warriors with the coils from an Immortal kit so those areas would want to be inlaid with red - though I'd rather save all the converted warriors for a final working paint scheme.


I'll build up another warrior and try out the changes and try to get a photo of both with guns on and off.

[babyripper]

Which part of the red eyes/gun are you by happy with? The colour or the way you’ve done the glow? I’d youre looking for an alternate colour then electric blue could do you good, if it’s the glow then I’d say don’t worry about it. It’s a great addition and comes across clearly, at the very least it’s fine for all the basic dudes. For elite infantry and larger things you can spend more time perfecting it

BabyRipper

[Overread]

It's about the glow effect itself. I'd rather try and perfect it as much as possible for these guys so that it can carry forward to the larger units. As its going to be pretty central to the army I think getting it right now will pay well in getting it right later on more expensive units

[Remalis]

I really like the look of it. Clean painting and good use of contrasts.

If you're looking for 'more glowy' a touch of very watered down tamiya 'clear red' (or an equivilant) /may/ do the trick. It's a gloss finish normally and I use it on nids for wet blood effects. Watered down it still holds a gloss but more subtle. YMMV but perhaps worth a shot for the minimal extra effort.

[Overread]

Aye I'll have a play around as there appears to be quite a few gloss/shine effects.

I've also been trying to experiment with some Redstone Spirit although I've yet to get it to properly "work". I hope to at least get that to work as a gemstone effect since I'll be carrying the red forward in the rest of the army so I'll certainly need it for many of the more robotic machine eyes that appear on many units.

[BattleMetalChris]

Maybe a dark silver as a second colour on the gun? Almost a dark grey with just a metal drybrush kind of dark.

[Overread]

I'm thinking that when I paint the model I'll use leadbelcher as the base for most of the warrior and then the tubes on the gun. With Agrax earthshade wash over all that it should give those regions a darker dirtier metal look. The warrior main plates (ergo not the moving bits) will then get the ironbreaker layer on top whilst the main body of the gun will be a bronze colour (probably make the weapons the darkest bronze/copper colour) and will then have the red parts too - I'll also paint the blade of with the silvery metal.