New Trends - Weathering and Battle Damage

[mario]

OK...here we go. I found 2 models from the contest I was referring to, and since they're posted on CMON, they're public. Both of these models have numerous gushing comments with high ratings.

 

Rating: 8.7

 

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/i...467cfe5fe2e.jpg

 

8.7...mould lines and all.

 

 

Rating: 8.0

 

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/i...47413513801.jpg

 

*The bottom of the left foot is bare primer.

 

 

This is what I'm talking about, folks. Look at the actual paint job, and not the weathering. Look at the painting, modeling and poses...stagnant, mould lines, obvious brush strokes, tide lines...the list goes on and on. Before weathering, these models would have received 5's...maybe 6's. But, to quite a few onlookers, these 5's and 6's get ramped up to 8's...and for what? A few dark squiggles, and a half dozen brown washes?

 

I don't personally care what people want to do with their own miniatures. However, I find it vexing that so many are accepting of this "cheap trick". It degrades our painting hobby, and the community suffers.

You just demonstrated that you care what other people do with their stuff more than you probably should. You also have shown that you think your opinion is worth more than the opinion of others, and at that in a context where mastery of the topic is not even a prerequisite. Coolminiornot.com is free for everyone to rate however they like, the total score is not supposed to be the one you like, that they get if you vote.

 

These miniatures don't look half as bad as you make them out to be. Even without battle damage and weathering I would give them a six to seven from what I can see in these photos (with five being the mythical averageness they call table top standard). They are rather neatly painted (above table top level) with nice shading. I haven't seen mould lines but I also haven't looked too hard for them and in my rating system that would qualify as table top standard in a case like that. They have drilled bolters too!

 

What are you complaining about? People don't just magically start painting the most amazing simulacra of life with their first miniature, or do they? :)

 

Just create your own online gallery for miniatures painted without "cheap tricks" and state these in the rules so people can see what not to do with the miniatures they submit to your gallery. Then you should be able to find something to complain about (and be happy) when people do not play by your rules.

 

"A few dark squiggles", "a half dozen brown washes", "degrades our painting hobby", "the community suffers". Really, that's how you roll?

 

Get over yourself.

[Terminatorinhell]

well well, this is a fun topic :)

[barek]

OK...here we go. I found 2 models from the contest I was referring to, and since they're posted on CMON, they're public.

...

This is what I'm talking about, folks. Look at the actual paint job, and not the weathering. Look at the painting, modeling and poses...stagnant, mould lines, obvious brush strokes, tide lines...the list goes on and on.

 

1 These models are MUCH better then what I can do. I like and appreciate them. For me to be able to paint like that is something to strive for.

2 (More importent) Thank you for teaching me how to SEE. Now you pointed out the flaws I can see them too. And I discovered these faults on my own models too. ;)

[Starks333]

You just demonstrated that you care what other people do with their stuff more than you probably should. You also have shown that you think your opinion is worth more than the opinion of others, and at that in a context where mastery of the topic is not even a prerequisite. Coolminiornot.com is free for everyone to rate however they like, the total score is not supposed to be the one you like, that they get if you vote.

 

These miniatures don't look half as bad as you make them out to be. Even without battle damage and weathering I would give them a six to seven from what I can see in these photos (with five being the mythical averageness they call table top standard). They are rather neatly painted (above table top level) with nice shading. I haven't seen mould lines but I also haven't looked too hard for them and in my rating system that would qualify as table top standard in a case like that. They have drilled bolters too!

 

What are you complaining about? People don't just magically start painting the most amazing simulacra of life with their first miniature, or do they? :rolleyes:

 

Just create your own online gallery for miniatures painted without "cheap tricks" and state these in the rules so people can see what not to do with the miniatures they submit to your gallery. Then you should be able to find something to complain about (and be happy) when people do not play by your rules.

 

"A few dark squiggles", "a half dozen brown washes", "degrades our painting hobby", "the community suffers". Really, that's how you roll?

 

Get over yourself.

 

 

again, you make this about the person and not the topic....this entire topic has been how its NOT ABOUT that, its about opinions preventing people from improving, that is IT

 

YES HE CARES about other people, you have to be a moron to not see that, he doesnt "mind" when people do something for their personal enjoyment disregarding whats needed to improve, thats a personal choice, and everyone does it...he DOES care when people (without realizing) prevent themselves from improving because they substitute knowledge and fact with opinions

 

you know why??? because hes a teacher, im not talking because he has a job that gives him the title, i mean he is, in his heart, a teacher...he is about teaching the right way, the right way is simple...the way that leads to constant improvement....its not a specific 1 2 3 4 5 step process where you do each step as described in the book of all knowing....its a process that simply requires you to know, and understand what you ARE doing and what you need to do, and what you are trying to do...and why it does or doesnt work

 

but clearly the people who argue this in this thread dont seem to get this, because they keep referring back to the elitist, opinion, and other personal crap

 

CMoN ratings are an example of of this lack of knowledge and understanding, for reasons previously stated...does this mean they cant have an opinion? no, does it mean its less important? no...does it mean its less educated on the thing they are rating? yes

 

 

he was not judging the people who painted the miniatures, hes simply stating why he thinks the work is overrated, because everyone sees the things "they cant do" and just go ZOMGS I COULD NEVER DO THAT, and then give it a 10.... "freehand masturbation" creates the same effect....its where people put freehand on a model just for the sake of putting freehand, since everyone is always amazed by it

 

right now its "weathering masturbation" where weathering is being used for the sake of it, rather than for a purpose

 

the problem is, when you make this issue known everyone who follows opinion instead of fact gets all defensive and starts screaming at you and calling you an elitist, instead of taking the information and using it, they ignore it all

 

by all means ignore us, thats a choice, and a fair one.....but if you actually care to learn or want to learn how to learn, then try it, try doing what we explain...

 

you might be surprised to find out information is useless without understanding, and opinion is useless without knowledge(the combo of info and understanding)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alex

[barek]

you might be surprised to find out information is useless without understanding, and opinion is useless without knowledge(the combo of info and understanding)

 

As a martial artist with ... (enough) years of experience, I know exactly what you mean.

I also know that you can't show people the things that they don't want to see, unfortunately.

[DaemonFae9]

It's kind of weird, I sort of see both angles of this debate.

 

on one hand, I feel lunchbox and co have very valid points in that:

 

-certain "techniques" are being overly relied upon because they have the added benefit of being able to cover up a weakness in the painter's technique, thus turning them into a staple, a shortcut, rather than the embellishment they are meant to be

 

-judging by untrained "laymen" will always be unfair to skilled artists (and not just in painting minis i might add) simply because they are NOT able to grasp what is special and great about certain minis, in favor of going with their "hey this looks kewl" gut feeling.

 

 

on the other hand, I feel that lunchbox and co are:

 

-really letting their pent-up frustration kind of get the better of them

 

-are not realizing that in competitions of this kind, trends are a real force not to be ignored, even if they gall you due to them letting some people get away with murder (like that termi with the bottom of the foot being bare primer, BAD!)

 

 

 

As with most things, the truth is in the middle (though from my perspective it's closer to lunchbox and co at this time).

 

The usual solutions apply:

 

-roll with the punches, wait for the "fad" to pass, or start a new trend to direct the starry-eyed sheeple masses.

-Do it Better than They do. Make the ultimate weathered model, but do it not as a shortcut, but in the best, most realistic, ungodly skilled fashion you can, and they can't

 

The best solution is as ever unobtainable, being that judges need to be either selected more carefully or trained to spot cover-up behaviour.

 

 

This argument is fairly common in all kinds of applied art, comic books in particular come to mind. once you gain an appreciable level of understanding in what makes good art (and you don't even have to be able to produce it to have this by the way), you will become appaled at the kinds of things these "comic gods" get away with.

 

 

 

here's some examples, they might make you all smile again :P

 

1) here's how your spine does *not* twist no matter how heroic you are:

 

linky

 

2) Todd McFarlane does not know how many right hands a human has, or is just generally confused about fingers:

 

linky

 

3) I dare you to position your head relative to your neck like this chick does

 

linky

 

4) oh dear oh dear... i can't even find words for this one

 

linky

 

5) Greg land is so lazy, he traces over photos, and then traces his own drawing over and over:

 

linky

 

6) Finally, there is Rob Liefielf, you can say so many bad things about his art, but someone already did it for me (in particular, read the bit about Rob and drawing feet)

 

Best linky yet!

 

 

I hope that made you all chuckle a bit, don't let it all get you down or destroy the please you take in creating the things you do. Lord knows *we* on this forum like them, and your creations bring joy to us all, and something to aspire to, I think you are all brilliant artists, just try to remember that there is only ONE person that needs to like what you have created. You.

[Starks333]

-really letting their pent-up frustration kind of get the better of them

 

can you really blame us considering whats always said in response?

 

-are not realizing that in competitions of this kind, trends are a real force not to be ignored, even if they gall you due to them letting some people get away with murder (like that termi with the bottom of the foot being bare primer, BAD!)

 

we do realise, and we do do our own thing, or use the "trends" the way we want(i mean lunchie still uses NMM for example)

 

we know why trends exist, and we know what they create...we understand the entire reason behind it(or at least i do) its not the fact it happens, its the fact we want to try and change it for at least some people, for the better...we dont care if people choose to do things their own way, we dont....we do care when it ruins the things we love/enjoy

 

 

that being said, i cant agree more with the comments and links regarding the comics...a PERFECT example....that stufff is so common too, and is a great example

[LunchBox]

OK...here we go. I found 2 models from the contest I was referring to, and since they're posted on CMON, they're public. Both of these models have numerous gushing comments with high ratings.

 

Rating: 8.7

 

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/i...467cfe5fe2e.jpg

 

8.7...mould lines and all.

 

 

Rating: 8.0

 

http://www.coolminiornot.com/pics/pics13/i...47413513801.jpg

 

*The bottom of the left foot is bare primer.

 

 

This is what I'm talking about, folks. Look at the actual paint job, and not the weathering. Look at the painting, modeling and poses...stagnant, mould lines, obvious brush strokes, tide lines...the list goes on and on. Before weathering, these models would have received 5's...maybe 6's. But, to quite a few onlookers, these 5's and 6's get ramped up to 8's...and for what? A few dark squiggles, and a half dozen brown washes?

 

I don't personally care what people want to do with their own miniatures. However, I find it vexing that so many are accepting of this "cheap trick". It degrades our painting hobby, and the community suffers.

You just demonstrated that you care what other people do with their stuff more than you probably should. You also have shown that you think your opinion is worth more than the opinion of others, and at that in a context where mastery of the topic is not even a prerequisite. Coolminiornot.com is free for everyone to rate however they like, the total score is not supposed to be the one you like, that they get if you vote.

 

These miniatures don't look half as bad as you make them out to be. Even without battle damage and weathering I would give them a six to seven from what I can see in these photos (with five being the mythical averageness they call table top standard). They are rather neatly painted (above table top level) with nice shading. I haven't seen mould lines but I also haven't looked too hard for them and in my rating system that would qualify as table top standard in a case like that. They have drilled bolters too!

 

What are you complaining about? People don't just magically start painting the most amazing simulacra of life with their first miniature, or do they? :P

 

Just create your own online gallery for miniatures painted without "cheap tricks" and state these in the rules so people can see what not to do with the miniatures they submit to your gallery. Then you should be able to find something to complain about (and be happy) when people do not play by your rules.

 

"A few dark squiggles", "a half dozen brown washes", "degrades our painting hobby", "the community suffers". Really, that's how you roll?

 

Get over yourself.

 

Mario...I've read a lot of your posts throughout the B&C...I know you're NOT an idiot. Thus, I feel like you are taking this the wrong way. I don't care if people want to glue their minis down by the head, instead of the feet. All I'm saying is that some painters rely so heavily on stuff like this, that they overlook the real details...the mould lines on the first mini...on the tubing behind the storm bolter. The unpainted foot on the second mini. These are details that a painter would make sure they saw...I know, because I've been guilty of similar errors...as recently as a few months ago! I overlooked a small spot under a weapon where a faint glimmer of bare metal was showing through. A judge had to point it out to me, and I was supremely embarassed...I should have seen that...never should the judges have seen it. I missed it because I lost focus, and was trying to get the mini completed, instead of finished. However, it's much easier to overlook such basic things, when the painter is focussing more on making the weathering stand out, than the model. This is all I'm trying to say...these aren't "bad" models, and the artists aren't bad people. That's why I made the comments about the models...not the painters.

 

Starks is right...I'm a teacher at heart. It makes me sick that these days, kids have calculators in class, used as a shortcut, instead of learning how to work through an entire problem...make sense?

[DaemonFae9]

-really letting their pent-up frustration kind of get the better of them

 

can you really blame us considering whats always said in response?

 

-are not realizing that in competitions of this kind, trends are a real force not to be ignored, even if they gall you due to them letting some people get away with murder (like that termi with the bottom of the foot being bare primer, BAD!)

 

we do realise, and we do do our own thing, or use the "trends" the way we want(i mean lunchie still uses NMM for example)

 

I'm not blaming anyone =)

I think it's a perfectly normal reaction, I'm a bit of a (mediocre in my opinion) artist myself, and I know all too well how it feels

 

we know why trends exist, and we know what they create...we understand the entire reason behind it(or at least i do) its not the fact it happens, its the fact we want to try and change it for at least some people, for the better...we dont care if people choose to do things their own way, we dont....we do care when it ruins the things we love/enjoy

 

 

that being said, i cant agree more with the comments and links regarding the comics...a PERFECT example....that stufff is so common too, and is a great example

 

The thing that is probably really getting you guys is that you are quite powerless to really change it, hence your massive, if understandable, frustration.

 

When I look at this thread as a whole, I see you guys trying your hardest to defend something you love, and to try to explain to others who do not have painting minis as their greatest passion why it hurts you. They can't truly understand why you feel so passionately about it. And because they -can't- they feel as if you are also saying something about them and THEIR painting, unable to see they are two separate things (all perfectly human, I assure you, put away the inquisitor hotline).

 

I really do hope that pointless weathering as a shortcut will be recognised for what it is at some points, and will be stamped out. But more than that, I sincerely hope you will all continue to paint those minis I love to look at here, and on other sites.

 

Because no matter what, I assure you they make some of us very happy, and allow us to dream =)

[Starks333]

The thing that is probably really getting you guys is that you are quite powerless to really change it, hence your massive, if understandable, frustration.

 

pretty much :)

 

When I look at this thread as a whole, I see you guys trying your hardest to defend something you love, and to try to explain to others who do not have painting minis as their greatest passion why it hurts you. They can't truly understand why you feel so passionately about it. And because they -can't- they feel as if you are also saying something about them and THEIR painting, unable to see they are two separate things (all perfectly human, I assure you, put away the inquisitor hotline).

 

exactly...this is apparent in everything across the world too

 

I really do hope that pointless weathering as a shortcut will be recognised for what it is at some points, and will be stamped out. But more than that, I sincerely hope you will all continue to paint those minis I love to look at here, and on other sites.

 

Because no matter what, I assure you they make some of us very happy, and allow us to dream =)

 

we will, after all we do enjoy it....I myself am simply not interested in GD any more since its not something I do enjoy for the reasons stated

 

 

:)

 

 

PS maybe its coincidence, but Im a fan of the dutch (the international footie squad)

 

 

Alex

[SteelRat]

I think it's a trend in modeling, period. I do standard modelling, too, and a quick glance at Model Railroader or FineScale Modeller all show pictures of some HEAVILY weathered models. And yes, I think you're correct that some modellers use it to cover up their shortcomings.

[LunchBox]

I think it's a trend in modeling, period. I do standard modelling, too, and a quick glance at Model Railroader or FineScale Modeller all show pictures of some HEAVILY weathered models. And yes, I think you're correct that some modellers use it to cover up their shortcomings.

 

Hey man...just saw your post...welcome!

 

<edit> CRAP...I just realized that post was 2009...not 2010...sorry for stirring the pot again.

[doshin]

In response to the original thread;

 

The underlying thesis of your statement seems to be this.

'I paint my machines of death to be pretty and clean just like GW tells me. ("proper techniques" you called them) Now gamers are using legitimate scale modeling techniques that make me feel funny and I don't like it so I'm going to use it as a crutch to attack their abilites as I am envious or just plain negative and don't want to have to work any harder than I already do in order to help evolve the artform'

 

Weathering is an important part of any armor piece. Overdoing it is no worse than sissy marine armies that do none at all. There is nothing worse than a table full of brightly polished armor and vehicles that look like they just rolled off of the assembly line backed up by overglossed shiny marines that look like they've been lovingly rubbing one another with hot oil. Not to mention that the color schemes chosen by GW are RETARDED! I'm going to paint all my guys bright BLUE or RED so they are easier to shoot and kill. They're so tuff they don't mind getting shot at all. In fact they love it. That's why most of my models are posed on all fours.

 

But you know what's more important than weathering? Not ruining it by using a paintbrush. You guys talk about your extreme highlighting and blending of acrylic paints as if they actually look good. Those techniques have a complete lack of subtlety. Subtlety is what sells a miniature. (OH BUT THEY LOOK GREAT IF YOU GO STAND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. SEE HOW GOOD THEY LOOK FROM THE BACKYARD, maybe but they don't make you want to get any closer do they?) You can't do SHADING and FADING to bring out raised edges and panel lines with a paintbrush. And NO you cannot "DRYBRUSH" with acrylic paints. You might think you are but you're really just smearing wet paint. That is why so many of you opt for penciled in highlights because ACRYLICS DO NOT DRYBRUSH. If you're still using a paintbrush to ruin your models you might as well quit anyway. GW's right off the lot looking tanks look more like something that you bought at Toys R Us than a Scale Model that anyone put even a moticum of effort into.

 

I see lots of "MASTER PAINTERS" and "PRO PAINTED" models on ebay. Those guys can hand brush on all kinds of neato icons and and extreme eyelash highlights but that doesn't distract from the fact that they can't make anything look real. I haven't seen a decent piece of GW armor completed in years. Even the Eavy Metal team's entries that are in the codices are a newbie modelers' joke. If you look at the rhino models those jokers haven't even figured out what is a seam and what is not a seam. Some of them are so dense that they highlight the seam that they didn't bother to finish. GW still hasn't figured out that painting a black vehicle doesn't work if you base it in FLAT BLACK. There's no going darker than black geniuses. Even more common on ebay are "PRO PAINTED" pieces of crap covered in mold lines and seams. Notice how the really good paintjobs just say PAINTED not Master painted?

 

Yeah, that's why wargaming models never have any DYNAMICS or SUBTLETLY. The guy that spreads half a cup of weathering agent and rust all over his vehicle is at least making an effort to take things to the next level. This is much more productive than crying about getting left behind because you're using the same bored technique that has plagued our hobby and robbed us of ANY MODELING VALIDITY WHATSOEVER for almost 20 years. Games Workshop, Citadel, and White Dwarf have refused to evolve for too long now. They keep gamers in the dark concerning advanced modeling techniques and fail to acknowledge work based on creativity and skill. They only show 'techniques' if they stand to profit from the sale of the next imitation hobby tool piece of crap they put on the shelf. They disqualify or refuse to print pictures of anything that is sculpted from scratch or utilizes any non-gw bits as if somehow that would steal food from their children's mouths.

 

If GW had any brains or even ethics at all they would print anything and everything that their readers had to offer them. They would respect and appreciate someone's work for what it is instead of picking it apart or ignoring it because it doesn't suit their agenda. There should be 100 pages of user photos in every white dwarf and those techniques should be explored rather than ignored. Not to pick at old scabs but Victor Hardy's GOLGOTHA is the perfect example of this. He steps in with a miniature painted a thousand times better than anything that GW ever dreamed of creating and they eliminate it. That is the perfect example of how pomp and arrogance control this hobby from the inside and out.

 

You guys can keep suckling on GW and everything that they feed you and continue to be looked upon by real modelers as hacks or you can evolve and get on board with the rest of us. The train is leaving and it is heavily weathered.

[Vaaish]

Seriously dude, do you have a chip on your shoulder or something? This is the second thread I've seen you post almost the exact same thing (although the first one was more condensed). I don't believe every model HAS to be weathered to look good, nor do I believe every model that doesn't looks good. What is or is not realistic in the light of a science fiction future is really up to the painter himself. Saying that something MUST be weathered to advance the artform is just as bad as saying the lack of weathering limits the artform.

[doshin]

"Saying that something MUST be weathered to advance the artform is just as bad as saying the lack of weathering limits the artform."

 

No you are wrong. Those two are the same thing. Say the same thing. And support everything I said.

 

I have to assume that you meant to type something contrary.

 

It is inferior toolsets, and GW's proliferation of shoddy painting techniques from the 1960s that are hindering the advancement of the artform. Read Fine Scale Modeler and you will see that modeling methods, when openly shared and tweaked by the enthusiast artisans, grow and change on a very frequent basis. The techniques are tried and retried by the best modelers in the world until something better comes along. It is not that much different from the open license software community. GW thinks that they're the Microsoft except they haven't released a new version or even a patch in two decades.

 

In the above mess of ego stroking and firemen contests there are references to how little gamers care about non-GW contests because those judges don't know what they're looking at or don't know how to judge their superior miniatures properly. That is exactly as pretentious as great guitar players using the term 'progressive' as free license for bad songwriting. Those people have two eyes and one brain just like the rest of us. Chances are if they're involved in scale modeling at all they've been doing it longer and harder than yourself and have more knowledge than a 100lot of us. Even if they are Joes and Janes off of the street they still have the ability to tell the difference between what looks convincing, real, dynamic, subtle, and what looks like a Hanna Barbara cartoon. If your work is lost on average folks, not unlike music, you have failed as an artist. So run off to your Golden Demon doing exactly as GW has trained you so you can be rewarded for being the most conformed robot on the table. Such whiners have adapted and cannot compete without the special treatment they have come to expect as obedient lapdogs.

 

The fact that this goes on robs us of validity in the modeling world which in turn limits our opportunities and drives good people away. :)

[Vaaish]

No, they say different things. My point is that weathering does not inherently make something better or worse. It's the appropriate application of all techniques that creates the art. There is a place for weathering, just as there is a place for clean models. To say something must be weathered to be a higher artform is flat out wrong because it implies that weathering is appropriate to every aesthetic. You need to do what makes the model most fitting to it's place. If you want your troops parade ground clean, that's your prerogative and it can be done to look just as good as the guy who has mastered the art of making his model look like they haven't seen a coat of paint in centuries.

 

Let's just say I disagree with the entirety of your statements about the accessibility of art. There is too much ground to cover as to why art doesn't have to be understood by the untrained to still be a success as a piece of art and it's quite frankly not worth the effort to condense an entire art education into a forum thread.

[Vet Sgt Ezekiel]

Personally I think the 'fad' of adding realism to minis in recent times is refreshing. Ever since i first rolled the dice with a GW game its been the same formula and I've very rarely seen minis painted in a scale modellers way.

 

Its down to personal preference really and adding too much realism i.e overdoing the weathering is just as bad as making a mini too cartoony.

 

If i showed somebody who wasn't involved in the hobby two mins, one done in the generic clean Eavy Metal style and one done using scale modellers techniques I would say the 'realist' mini would get the vote. Grown up men with toy soldiers like me like to take the toy-esque look away from the models. Some gamers aren't bothered but a lot of people would agree the stuff looks cooler when its gritty and real especially terrain. A bit like comparing Manga to a live action film. Most people would rather watch a real film as its easier on the imagination so to speak. Its a weak analegy I know but you get the idea.

 

Personally i don't like NMM or a lot of the very pastelly looking techniques seen around. I can totally admire the skill , time and artistry in such techniques but it just ain't me.

 

The eye of the beholder and all that.......

[zxyogi]

I agree with all 3 of you!!!....all to an extent!

I have never liked the "Tron" highlighting effect GW do their minis,it looks [to me]silly!

At the end of the day its personal preference,i like seeing the parade ground Marines as much as i like the battle scarred marines,its something i am starting to do with mine.......dirty gritty Marines/vehicles but with a few cleaner fresher Marines thrown in [just arrived for combat].

;)

[IanV]

I love both! I love Joe Tomazewski's, Darren Latham's and Vincent Hudon's NMM's and extreme HL's. I love Luke McFarlane's superclean blends. I also love Keith Robertson's more subdued style as well as John Blanche's weathered blanchitsu. Not to mention Jeremie Teboul and Mathieu Fontaine, there weathering and realism is amazing. IMO styles only makes this hobby more interesting. As long as you can see the skill and effort put into a mini I say to hell with the style.

[Gavin]

Battle damage:

I've seen it done really well at times, but a few occasions I have seen an amount of combat damage added that just makes me go "I find it hard to believe their armor hasn't failed yet...". A few bullet holes, some gouges, etc... looks good... looking like they were the target during target practice for the entire Chapter.. not so much. lol.

 

Weathering:

Armor (vehicles):

I've seen many armor vehicles so covered in mud and gunk right at the very bottom of the model that you can't tell if there's even paint under it, and then the very top of the model is spotless. If anyone has ever went 4 wheeling, or if you're lucky enough to have been able to see tanks and such just back from military maneuvers.... you'd realize that the tracks get as much dirt high as low.

So I tend to find that models that use a certain amount of 'logic' when placing the elements of dirt and grit seem to appear more realistic. If it's heavy at the base, it should taper off as it gets near the top. If it's light at the bottom, it should taper as it rises. anything that has a hard line where it's clean after a point.. ruins the effect.

 

Armor (troop):

Same general opinion as vehicles. If it's got some 'logic' to it, it tends to look better in my opinion. If there's lots of mud.. uphill in combat, they'd probably have been pushing off with their hands to keep momentum/balance and downhill they're liable to have fallen and slid down rather than ran down. so.. the more mud and spatter you put on them, the higher up it should go.

 

@doshin: I've seen two of your posts both bashing GW with obvious and blatant hatred. You've made the point that you love to complain about GW, now move on and say something else, that has some quality to it.. Also, before bashing other people's equipment, skills, talents, or opinions.. post up some images of things you've painted. I've been painting 2 months and have pics (taken with the camera in my phone) up already of the 1st 3 models I worked on. The only other thing I can think of is that you're just trying to get a rise out of people. At best that is childish, petty and from what I've experienced on the B&C here, generally not appreciated.

[Vet Sgt Ezekiel]

I love both! I love Joe Tomazewski's, Darren Latham's and Vincent Hudon's NMM's and extreme HL's. I love Luke McFarlane's superclean blends. I also love Keith Robertson's more subdued style as well as John Blanche's weathered blanchitsu. Not to mention Jeremie Teboul and Mathieu Fontaine, there weathering and realism is amazing. IMO styles only makes this hobby more interesting. As long as you can see the skill and effort put into a mini I say to hell with the style.

 

A couple of names in there I wasn't familiar with Mathieu Fontaine being one. I had a look at his site and in particular his tutorials. Found one on doing 'true' metallics which is just the advice i've been after recently.

 

Thanks :lol: