Search the Community

Hello everyone, this is my very first attempt at modeling and painting so please give me as much advice as you can. I am honestly a little hesitant to post after looking through everyone else's WIP, so please be gentle . I am currently working on some Atlantian Spears, which is a minor footnote successor chapter to the Blood Angels. Their main claim to fame is not answering the call to return to Baal, and having a major emphasis placed on their Librarians. I chose them accidentally, I was trying to make Space Sharks and my attempts at a sea green/gray tinged armor ended up a much brighter teal than I expected. So a quick google search led me to the Spears, and I thought "screw it, let's go for that then". I had the push together marines from the Recruit edition starter box, and they are all painted except for one last guy (the only one without a helmet, which is intimidating me into putting it off lol). So this is my group from the recruit box https://imgur.com/H22TfYT https://imgur.com/ykrJAdD https://imgur.com/8nS5rGS https://imgur.com/rwlwikF https://imgur.com/050vGDd https://imgur.com/050vGDd https://imgur.com/ChozWEF I know they are very rough, but I am torn about whether I should try to go back and touch them up or if they are too chunky looking as it is. I had issues with trying to thin my paints, I could never get the ratio right and it seemed far too watery and light, so I'd end up going back over it not thinned at all to try and fill in the gaps. Which leads me to my next group, I started painting and was instantly hooked, so I already picked up a box of Primaris Intercessors and started to prime them as well. I enjoyed modeling them a lot as well, the recruit edition was push fit and very specific on what goes where so when I opened this box and realized I could just go crazy making them however I wanted I had a blast. https://imgur.com/2UjrlCf This is some of my Intercessors after 1 coat of white Vallejo primer. I was actually curious because I could never tell how primed I needed it to be. This is after 1 coat and I feel like it's still way too gray, but my first batch took 3 coats until I thought it looked right and I'm wondering if that's part of the reason they are so chunky looking. For comparison, here is the last of my squad from the starter set with 3 coats of primer on him, which I feel like looks way better but I am going into this completely blind so I may be doing everything wrong lol. https://imgur.com/6PKKP9g Well, that's all I have right now, comments and criticisms are more than welcome! Like I said, I went into this completely blind, I watched two or three Duncan videos just to get some ideas but for the most part I just went for it. My main questions right now if anyone could help me out are 1.) Are my coats too thick? Everyone keeps saying "thin your paints" but I've never gotten a clear explanation of how EXACTLY to do that? I've been dipping my brush in my wash cup and tapping it dry on a paper towel, but it seems like it still makes the paint way too runny. 2.) Where does everyone land on the primer? 1 coat? 2 coats? Until it's completely white? Or just enough that the paint holds to it? 3.) Did I mess up by gluing them to their bases before painting them? I may try to paint around their feet but I know it won't be pretty lmao. Thanks everyone, I know they're rough looking but I'm honestly loving the hobby and I personally can tell a big improvement with each new model I make. Hopefully a few more months of practice and I won't be causing all of you pros physical pain having to look at what I've done