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Need Some Advice from my Wolf Brothers


Grimfoe

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OK. So here's my problem. I have a pretty big Space Wolf army. That is, I have a lot of painted figures. The vast majority were painted 15 or more years ago and they are kitted out for 2nd edition rules. Not a big deal, but for the army to be truly effective, I would need to rework them or add models, etc. I also have quite a few unpainted models. I've come a long way, financially, in the last 15 years and I can get what I want more freely than before.

 

The problem I'm having is that I don't particularly like the way I painted my models 15 years ago. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a bad painter, but I don't like the blue. I've painted a few models since coming back into the hobby, but I don't want to keep matching my old army. I'd like to paint my wolves grey.

 

So, what do I do? Do I repaint the power armor on all my old models? Do I keep painting the new models to match the old? Do I just leave the old alone and paint an entirely new force in the colors I like?

 

Off the top of my head, this is what I have painted:

 

Ragnar

Njal (old pa)

Ulrick

Bjorn

10 blood claws

10 blood claws with jump packs

30 grey hunters

10 long fangs

3 rhinos

2 whirlwinds

1 vindicator

1 Land Raider Redeemer

1 Drop pod

10 old, metal terminators

5 new terminators with forgeworld and custom bits

8 wolf scouts with various armament

5 wolf guard in pa

1 wolf guard in pa with a jump pack

rune priest with jump pack

wolf guard with jump pack

1 really old, rogue trader dreadnought

 

Unpainted:

Lone Wolf in TDA with twin thunderhammers (just cause it's cool)

2 wolves

New Box of Grey Hunters (unassembled)

2 or 3 more Wolf Guard in Terminator armor

Logan Grimnar

Njal in Terminator armor

Lucas

6 Long Fangs (mult melta, sarge has plasma)

3 drop pods

5 thunder wolves

Canis

Plus some extra SM vehicles, etc.

 

So, what do you guys think? What should I do next. I think I may be leaning toward painting a new force that is Grey. If I decide to do that, I'll take my newer terminators and repaint their armor. I'll also probably take Njal as I would like to keep him available for my army. If I decide I want Ragnar, I'll make him from that cool BA charactor with the huge chainsword. I hate the old model.

 

The other consideration is time. I have three children that are all into the game now. This is awesome, but it is also burdensome. I'm helping my 13 year old daughter put the finishing touches on her Black Legion (well, it was mine 15 years ago, but hers now). I've painted a Crimson Fist force for my 8 year old son. This force needs some additional models, but now he's making noise about the Grey Knights. My youngest son is playing orks. He's probably the one I'd like to paint for the most as he's the most dedicated. While he can't paint a lick, he'll sit with me and "help" as long as I'm willing to paint.

 

 

Wow, hand cramp.

 

Anyway, suggestions are welcome. What direction would you go in?

 

Thanks.

I had the same issue, as my old wolves were the ice-blue colored wolves. My new wolves are the heresy colored wolves. So I just focus more on building and painting them. My old wolves are in storage. At first, I thinking to keep my HQ's and IC, Wolf Guard Pack Leaders ice-blue for now, to have them stand out from the heresy colored troops. In time, I plan on slowly turning my entire army into the heresy colored wolves.

If you know anything about layered glazing (as in with canvas paintings) you could try using an acrylic medium as a 2:1 ratio with whichever grey tone you settle on, and use the mix to glaze over your bluer models. It should tone down the saturation to a more grey without losing much of whatever blending you might have on your models. It'll likely take some practice at first, but it's cake once you know how to work with it. Plus the medium works as a varnish, so two birds, etc...

 

As for whether you should... I like grey over blue, but I'm perhaps the only person (that I've seen on these boards atleast) that prefers going with a soft blue-grey undertone and strong white highlights. Feels more wintery and snowy to me. Others seem to prefer their Wolves darker.

 

From your "new" list of models to paint, you don't really have that many that are in a usual core force. One box of Grey Hunters and a pack of Long Fangs... the rest are more unique troop choices. Since it's such a small sample by comparison to your previous force, I would suggest going grey (as is the trend nowadays) and view this new force as perhaps being from a different Great Company with Logan, Njal, Lukas, and Canis being painted a mix between the two schemes. Some things to keep in mind, Logan and Njal's armor are way older than the rest of your force, so a little wear and tear wouldn't go amiss... and Lukas has been around longer than your standard BC, so his armor would be closer to a GH. As for Canis... you think that mangy mutt bathes?

 

All in all, I think it's an opportunity to build factions or divisions within your current force.. like Marines vs Special Forces (....or Air Force vs Stargate Command *geekalert* >.> ).

I also had a blue wolf army kitted out with 2nd ed. gear, When I came back to 4th ed. rules I chose to start from scratch and gave the wolves a simple green bath which conveniently made all the power fists etc. fall off my bloodclaws as well as give me a fresh pallet to work with.

 

But...

 

I like Wulfebane's idea, maybe even paint your newer stuff with your blue scheme, then grey them all in that glaze style to get a uniform look. Especially given how much you already have painted up, would be a lot of work to re-do.

Honestly, I really like the blue/grey that you've been able to capture on your minis. If that were to be a compromise I think I'd like it. I know nothing of glazing, however, so I'd have to educate myself a little. I did just pick up the 5 DVD series produced by miniwargaming and glazing is one of the topics in there, so I'll watch that.

In the meantime, here are a couple of minis that are typical to what I have painted from long ago:

med_gallery_33642_2040_46803.jpg

med_gallery_33642_2040_30591.jpg

You can see that I have a fair amount of free hand that I don't really want to have to paint again. Some of my oldest models did use transfers, but the bulk of the minis that I really like have the company and pack markings hand painted. Come to think of it, even those army badges are.

So you can see, I'm not sure that the armor blending is all that good. Is this something that I could easily glaze?

Sorry if the question is ignorant, I really know nothing about it.

Also, I started work on a grey test mini last night. I'll post pics when I get done.

For that amount of blue you'd essentially end up re-glazing the entire model (having to pick around the finer details and non-blue colors) which would prooobably take near as much time as simply redoing them in grey and building up your highlights again... considering your level of detail.

 

To be honest, I like how they look (grey be damned) and if it were me, I'd just paint the new ones grey and under a different company to give you some variety and so you can decide later which you like best. Consider the first batch your pre-heresy scheme, so to speak. :P

Alright. So it sounds like Wulfbane is voting that I repaint only the models I want to use going forward and paint a new scheme from here on out.

 

What do the rest of you think?

 

I'll need 3-5 Grey Hunter Squads going forward. Of the three I have, I painted one and I'm happy with the way that came out although it's strictly 2nd edition in it's armament. I'd probably scrap the other two as they were painted by someone else and I don't like the way they came out. I could simply repaint them grey. I'll have to buy more models for additional squads.

 

Other than the hunters, I have pretty much everthing I need. I'd probably have to buy a forgeworld dread to make a new Bjorn, a few more drop pods and some bikes as I've always wanted some.

 

Your comments and opinions are appreciated.

 

Thanks.

What color are they? Shadow gray or SW gray?

 

I found that if you put a badab black wash on shadow they turn a nice and dirty gray, what i'm planning on doing to my full army

 

You could try some washes to turn your old army in to what you like more

The test mini I'm working on uses the foundation grey, then the codex grey with a final highlight of fortress grey. I'm thinking the same thing you are, it will look very nice with a Badab Black wash, but I'm waiting until I've painted more detail for that.

 

I'll try and get the mini done in the next few days.

 

 

Also, will the washes work on my old army? They've been clear coated. I thought I'd have to paint them over.

Minor update: I was working on the Grey Hunter test mini yesterday. I painted with Adeptus Battlegrey, Codex grey and fortress grey with a badab black wash. Not having much experience with washes, I did it in that order. Might as well have not bothered.

 

After the wash, I repainted with Adeptus Battle grey, leaving the darker wash in the recess and I'm hoping to paint the detail work and finish with at least two more levels of grey on the power armor. I would like to finish today, but ^_^ work is in the way.

 

Hopefully I'll have a test mini done by Wed or so.

 

Thanks, and keep your opinions coming! It's very helpful to hear what you think. Makes me know that I'm not being entirely neurotic about my toy soldiers.

Minor update: I was working on the Grey Hunter test mini yesterday. I painted with Adeptus Battlegrey, Codex grey and fortress grey with a badab black wash. Not having much experience with washes, I did it in that order. Might as well have not bothered.

 

I done this, but the Black Wash before the Codex Grey & Fortress Grey Highlight. With the wash what not working for you?? As one of the key area (just guessing) to make sure it dose not go on to heavy & in patch. Just make sure that there is some water on your brush, I alway wash my GW Wash brush before going to the Badab Black wash or what ever type of wash.

 

You can see my own Space Wolves by these links. As said I use Adeptus Battle Grey as my main colour, Badab Black wash, highlight with Codex Grey & then fine highlight of fotress on the edge of the armour plates, etc....

So far doing pretty well in the tournament scene with the force ^_^

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...0&start=250

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...=217834&hl=

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...=215563&hl=

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.p...=223020&hl=

 

http://www.the-vanus-temple.com/?p=2266#

 

http://www.the-vanus-temple.com/?p=2263#

 

http://fromthefang.blogspot.com/2011/02/wa...s-painting.html

 

http://marts-warhammer-40k.blogspot.com/20...ted-armies.html

 

http://incunabulum.co.uk/blog/2010/10/15/b...wolves-1750pts/

 

Here with video (the army change a lot since this tournament with a whole host of new conversion, idea, etc...)

 

http://incunabulum.co.uk/blog/2010/08/22/e...-of-the-armies/

 

Only once I can rememeber that this time.

 

IP

I like that color scheme a lot. The black and red really set off the grey nicely. Looks GREAT on the table.

 

The only reason the wash didn't work (I think) is because I did it at the end, thinking the highlights would come through. Now I have to build up the highlights again on the mini.

 

I think it will look good. It looked pretty nice before I did the wash, tbh.

I like that color scheme a lot. The black and red really set off the grey nicely. Looks GREAT on the table.

 

The only reason the wash didn't work (I think) is because I did it at the end, thinking the highlights would come through. Now I have to build up the highlights again on the mini.

 

I think it will look good. It looked pretty nice before I did the wash, tbh.

 

Ah yes. For me I done my Wash before the highlight, can't rememeber but I think I done my for the same reason you found out. However if it where Blood Angels for exsample I usely do the Highlight then the Wash, which you can also see a topic of my BA army kicking around the fourms. Just depend the colour & as why it good to alway try out on a test model first.

 

Just some thing I'd do the wash before hand. While other you will need to wash to help blend in the colours.

 

IP

Minor update: I was working on the Grey Hunter test mini yesterday. I painted with Adeptus Battlegrey, Codex grey and fortress grey with a badab black wash. Not having much experience with washes, I did it in that order. Might as well have not bothered.

 

After the wash, I repainted with Adeptus Battle grey, leaving the darker wash in the recess and I'm hoping to paint the detail work and finish with at least two more levels of grey on the power armor. I would like to finish today, but :) work is in the way.

 

Hopefully I'll have a test mini done by Wed or so.

 

Thanks, and keep your opinions coming! It's very helpful to hear what you think. Makes me know that I'm not being entirely neurotic about my toy soldiers.

 

 

For my army they will be the blue grey for the most part, but I will use the combo you mentioned for my Relictors. I think a mix with AdeptBattleGrey(ABG) and codex will be better as codex after the wash on ABG is too stark.

Ah yes. For me I done my Wash before the highlight, can't rememeber but I think I done my for the same reason you found out. However if it where Blood Angels for exsample I usely do the Highlight then the Wash, which you can also see a topic of my BA army kicking around the fourms. Just depend the colour & as why it good to alway try out on a test model first.

 

Just some thing I'd do the wash before hand. While other you will need to wash to help blend in the colours.

 

IP

 

Yeah, I agree. Sometimes before highlights, sometimes after.

 

It seems for bright colours, after. Keeps it coherent.

 

For dark colours, before. Gives it definition.

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