The Neurode Crusade

[Honda]

Those guys turned out just ace. Like them a lot.

 

I would like to posit for consideration as you look ahead at your task list.

 

"Tutorializing is not painting". ;)

[Golf33]

Nice work!

 

Tutorials don't have to be a huge amount of work - just a series of work in progress shots and a few comments. I plan to take a few extra shots of my Marshal as I add the next couple of details, both so I have a record and so I can share the techniques I am developing.

Edited May 16, 2014 by Golf33

[Brother Christopher]

As for the tutorial, I couldn't find the spare 10 minute to finish the 'example marine.' The tutorial will be divided into 2 or 3 parts. The first is "body - basic colours and techniques," the second is (or will be) "detail," and the third (if there will be one) is weapons and backpacks.

 

If I were to name this tutorial, it probably would be CHRIS' CLASSIC economical BLACK TEMPLARS (for beginners).

 

Blind to the newest developments in painting black (grey basecoat+washes; paint-guns; vertical highlighting etc.; which I decided to ignore in order not to be forced to repaint that chunk of my army which is already painted), I still follow the principles laid down by GW years ago in Codex: Black Templars and How to Paint Space Marines, which I managed to grasp and "master" to some extent. These basics over time were improved by my painting habits and various observations. The technique is time consuming (around 1,5 hour per marine), but I'm satisfied by the final results.

 

Additionally, I would call the technique "economical," because it uses a set of basic colours. Granted, the range of my paints extended over the years from a basic set suggested on the back of the Sword Brethren box, however, it still is far from wide. To start with Warhammer was a big financial hit (AoBR+Battleforce+SB+BT upgrade+EC), and I wanted badly to have all those minis, so I decided to curb costs down and get only the bare minimum of colours. Back then, it was a good decission, as I wouldn't be able to make the best of more colours.

 

I'm still using old Citadel paints, so what I'll do is use "basic colour designations like "medium grey" or "black wash" and provide the name of the paint I'm using in brackets.

 

Either way, enough of the chitchat. Pictures to come!

 

CHRIS' CLASSIC economical BLACK TEMPLARS (for beginners)

Vanguard Sword Brother

 

I. Black base (chaos black). Then highlight all edges with medium grey (codex grey).

 

I'm aware that you shouldn't highlight all edges, only those which catch light from an imaginary light source. But, in all honesty, I don't know why, I like all my edges painted. It gives the mini a kind sharpness and looks great from a distance. Also, highlighting all edges is quite hard and requires much practice (2 years in my case).

 

It also is a good idea to paint grey the bits which are going to be of different colour, like purity seals or holsters. That way, the final clour (say, brown or bone) will cover the given detail more easily - grey is not as dark and hard to cover as black.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070295_zpsc79c3848.jpg

 

II. Second layer of highlights, light grey (administratum grey)

 

Don't worry when you mess the lines a bit. You can always get back to them, and improve the slips of the brush.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070299_zps9954997c.jpg

 

III. Base colour for detail. Bone (bleached bone) for purity seals; red (blood red) for shoulder pads.

 

Paint light colours first, then go to the reds. As I'm using a small jar, so after clearing a red brush out of paint, the water becomes pinkish-redish. The dissolved red paint in the jar can sometimes mix with your other colours and affect the light ones. I remember I ruined a number of shoulder pads, which had a pink tint that I noticed only much later.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070301_zps1e40d4e8.jpg

 

IV. Add detail to reds. I use a mixture of black (chaos black) and red (blood red) to get the shade which satisfies me. This is arund 1/4 of black and 3/4 of red. With the colour, paint a line inside of the shoulder pad's trim and inside the eye lens.

 

I'm sure that this step can be skipped, when you have a proper, dedicated dark red.

 

Base dark-grey metallic (boltugn metal) for grenades, harness, etc. Highlight the metal bits with a drybrush of light-grey metallic (mithril silver).

 

Reds don't seem to affect metallics, but remember that after cleaning your brush from a metallic colour, some of the metallic 'glitter' is on the surface of the water. Later, after you clean your brush in such water, and then continue painting, you can discover that some areas (black especially) glitter a bit. I recommend changing water after finishing with metal colours.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070350_zps1c164086.jpg

 

V. Wash the metallics with a black wash (badab black). Wait untill it dries, then add one more layer of light-grey metallic (mithril silver). Add a speck of white (skull white) in the corner of the eye-lens.

 

For the gold details, I used a mixture of gold (shining gold) and light-grey metallic (mithril silver). Then, I washed it with a brown wash (devlan mud).

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070356-Kopia_zps33129b75.jpg

 

VI. Paint the leather elements (holsters, pouches) with brown (bestial brown). Highlight with lighter brown.

 

Bestial brown is my only brown. To get lighter and darker shades, I mix it with a white or black paint.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070407_zpsfd48e578.jpg

 

VII. Finishing touches. Get back to the places you're not satisfied with (e.g. silver from painting the harness on the purity seal) and make them straight. Add detail like scripture on purity seals, different colours of lenses, buttons on equipment, etc.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/tutorial/P1070410_zps75c29525.jpg

 

Next part - detail and Maltese crosses.

 

So, I presume that there are no revelations here. I guess, this is a good method for starting with your BT army. Or maybe I believe that, because it was for me... Who knows.

 

I hope that someone will find this useful in some way. Feel free to comment.

[Brother Christopher]

ETL progress update.

 

I started working on my venerable dreadnought. I don't know why, but don't feel like finishing anything. It's better to stop a given project at 70%, do another one to 70% an then consider finishing both. Duh...

 

Pictures:

 

Highlighted with codex grey, then administratum grey.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070416_zpsd3450289.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070417_zps5ee5d9e5.jpg

 

Legs have one layer of highlights.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070418_zpsa993c578.jpg

 

And the top and bottom dry-fitted together.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070419_zps4a3e8b70.jpg

 

It's a bit messy, but I'm trying out a new "messy" approach. The idea is to trade quality for speed in the initial stages, and after doing most of the job get back to the imperfect places: to redo slips of the brush; to make the lines finer etc.

 

Also, as an experiment, I decided to measure the time it takes for me to finish models. As it usually takes me months to finish a squad/unit, I want to know much time it really takes. So, the dreadnought is my first time-controlled project. I just hope that I won't forget to start the stopwatch in the future painting sessions... Right now, elapsed time: 25 minutes. It included doing a base layer of black and the highlighting.

[greggles]

Cheap trick for raising the height of the dread. Stack some magnets between the top and bottom sections. (If you magnetize it).

 

Second the administratum grey after codex grey. It makes it pop so much more...but man is it trying tracing those lines twice. Thanks for tutorial, and continued progress photos!

[Brother Christopher]

Slowly, but progressing. I need to focus badly on my thesis and don't have much time to spare. Nonetheless, here's a small update on the venerable dread.

 

Base layer of metallics.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070437_zps7e6e12bd.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070436_zpse87ca782.jpg

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070438_zps7d3e5364.jpg

 

Can't wait to the time I'll be able to devote more time to this project. After applying some paint, the model begins to stand out. I'm loving the detail.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Brother Cristopher

[Acebaur]

Looking good!  I like the freehand cross on the back, well done!

[Arthanor]

Promising! Looking forward to more! May I inquire what scholarly pursuit is delaying my brother in mustering his forces? It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling to balance life, study and 40k

[greggles]

I'm always so impressed by everyone's freehand.  I left my scout's pauldrons uncrossed until I can figure out how to do them properly...  Do you varnish before you put the cross down?

[Brother Christopher]

Promising! Looking forward to more! May I inquire what scholarly pursuit is delaying my brother in mustering his forces? It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling to balance life, study and 40k

 

Sorry for the off-topic.

 

Literary criticism, fantasy literature. I'm writing about dealing with international crises and dealing with the threat of totalitarian rule. And the work I'm analysing is... The Lord of the Rings (I wanted to do Harry Potter too, but I'm running out of time). I'm portraying Mordor as a tyranny and showing how the Free Peoples handle the threat with the focus on Gandalf as an almost autocratic leader, who can be trusted with the authority he holds, because he can resist the temptation of absolute power. So, a bit of politics, a bit of ethics, and a great dose of geekness. It sounds kind of lame, though. It doesn't contribute in any significant way to the development of science, but - who cares. I like Gandalf, despite the fact that he's a witch.

 

.... I probably should name my chaplain (or any other high officer) Gandalf.

 

I left my scout's pauldrons uncrossed until I can figure out how to do them properly...  Do you varnish before you put the cross down?

 

I just paint it, no varnishing, no nothing. Well, sometimes in cases of bigger and more elaborate freehands, I make a pencil outline. And doing scouts' pauldrons is amazingly tricky and unpleasant. I don't know why, but I find it much more a strenuous and tiresome task than doing PA pads.

Edited May 20, 2014 by Brother Cristopher

[Arthanor]

 

Promising! Looking forward to more! May I inquire what scholarly pursuit is delaying my brother in mustering his forces? It's nice to know I'm not the only one struggling to balance life, study and 40k

 

Sorry for the off-topic.

 

Literary criticism, fantasy literature. I'm writing about dealing with international crises and dealing with the threat of totalitarian rule. And the work I'm analysing is... The Lord of the Rings (I wanted to do Harry Potter too, but I'm running out of time). I'm portraying Mordor as a tyranny and showing how the Free Peoples handle the threat with the focus on Gandalf as an almost autocratic leader, who can be trusted with the authority he holds, because he can resist the temptation of absolute power. So, a bit of politics, a bit of ethics, and a great dose of geekness. It sounds kind of lame, though. It doesn't contribute in any significant way to the development of science, but - who cares. I like Gandalf, despite the fact that he's a witch.

 

.... I probably should name my chaplain (or any other high officer) Gandalf.

Man.. and there I am working on a science PhD when I could do something like that! Any chance of a study of 40k with Abaddon/Horus and Chaos as the tyranny and the Imperium/Emperor instead of the Free People/Gandalf?

 

That's one thesis that would get read if you post it on these boards! ;) Mine.. I'll be lucky if 2 people beyond my committee read it!

[Nemac Vradon]

I've just read through this whole log and I am loving what you've done. The Stormraven is fantastic and the female Inquisitor is just ace, and it's a really solid looking army all round. I have a shed load of marines I was unsure what to do with but I feel inspired to start a small force of Black Templars. Keep up the epicness!

 

Nemac

[Honda]

I probably should NOT name my chaplain (or any other high officer) Gandalf.

 

FIFY

 

There is a time for ZEAL and there is a time for preparation. We do not always get to choose the time of each. So prepare yourself Brother, for what is at hand. In this moment, BE A TEMPLAR and address the immediate need.

 

This battle is long. There are times when we must give pause, that we may sharpen our swords, that we may slay the enemy with greater efficiency.

 

We are the Army of ZEAL. As any force engages the enemy, there will always be an ebb and flow to the battle. We know that you will be there when the need is greatest.

 

You are a Templar.

 

No more need be said.

[Brother Christopher]

So, re-post of the progress on the Venerable Dreadnought:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070439_zps496ba0d4.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070440_zps71963975.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070441_zpsa8c58943.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070442_zps6a4feffc.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070447_zpsd4a7667d.jpg

More ETL progress. I absolutely abhor painting white. Nonetheless, shoulder pads are ready (kind of) for painting crosses:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070451_zps5912622f.jpg

[Brother Christopher]

A small update. A bunch of Templar crosses. This is seriously tedious work, but totally worth it!

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070464_zpscdc25625.jpg

 

Looking at the picture, I'm thinking "zeal and devotion" (or "I could've used the decals). Obviously, the crosses need some adjustments, but there'll be time for that later on.

[greggles]

Lovely crosses.  They're better then stencils and decals!

[Andhil]

But...But....How? Mine always turn out.....twisted, with wrong proportions (like, one fat limb, with another one being waaay too long, and another one being to thin.) 

 

Great work, Brother. I'm seriously impressed by the uniformity of your crosses (within the reasonable limits of free-hand, offcourse).

[Brother Christopher]

Thanks mates!

 

Andhill, it's all about practice, I suppose. I also used to have huge problems with that, but somehow that improved. I'll maybe post a 'tutorial' how I paint the crosses.

 

EDIT:

BT ETLIII badge added:

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/ETL/P1070469_zps80ac115d.jpg

Edited May 29, 2014 by Brother Cristopher

[Brother Christopher]

As I really should focus on my studies now, I decided it's the right time to make a list of what I own. Here is the approximate list of Neurode's 1st Battle Company's military assets. The idea is that everything listed below is just a part of the Crusade. That way I explain to myself the lack of proportions of various units, like dedicated transports for each squad or the number of Chaplains, or the shortage of Apothecaries.

 

The Thunderhawk Transports and the Cruiser are just there for fun. Anything else is my actual model list. Units in square brackets are things I want to buy/build.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/conversions%20and%20stuffs/Random%20Stuff/Untitled-2_zpseaa636df.jpg

 

I can't wait to have more things painted and make a similar list, just with pictures of my stuff. Ah, in 2-3 years that might happen.

[Brother Christopher]

The deadlines are deadly. so I can't find time to devote to ETL. I'm doing so much sitting and writing now, that I can't find the strength to even further strain my back and paint some miniatures. Enough of excuses, though. As I do need some time to unwind and I'm a marshal of a BT crusade, I decided that it is time to do a body check.

 

Over the years, my crusade became somewhat neglected: it grew uncontrollably, the new models piled up in boxes, but I had no concrete grasp or idea of how many man I have. Moreover, the units are scattered: some are where I live, some are in my home town. That makes things even more complicated.

 

With the new edition and more import of shooting, I feel I have to equip some more marines with holy bolters. But how many? I did not know. Add to that special weapons and things become even more complicated. But during my last visit home I counted those marines I could find and I already had some data. Now I could add to that what I have here, where I'm spending most of my time and where most of my painted units are. After doing some counting, I know where I'm standing.

 

But counting stuff in a box is no fun, is it? I found it to be a great opportunity to take all my initiates and neophytes out (for facilitating the counting process) and as they stood there on the desk, I took a photo of my poor, neglected guys. The photo is bad due to terrible lighting and me not having a tripod, but it gives a general idea of things. And... when I decide to do a check-count, I have my Crusade's strength documented.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Neurode%20Crusade/P1070519_zps92e444b1.jpg

 

After my defence, I'm planning to do a more thorough count of all my forces and take more pictures then.

[hart3856]

I love that!! I just sent that to a new member in our 40k group. It is very easy to follow!

[Andhil]

I like how you named all of your Battle Companies after LOTR locations. 

[Brother Christopher]

I like how you named all of your Battle Companies after LOTR locations. 

 

Yeah, I used to be a huge LotR fan and now, because of my thesis, I'm getting psyched about it again. So I figured I could merge my two favourite fictional universes. This was just a makeshift thing, but I'll work on it. The Neurode Crusade once was the Dol Amroth Crusade, so I believe that heritage should be preserved.

 

Now, because of the thesis which is due in a couple of days I have little time for anything. As the crusaders are staring at me from the shelf, I decided to continue a little walk down memory lane. This maybe isn't the best time for doing this, but I had to do something which isn't time consuming and is 40K-ish.

 

All of you are sharing amazing stuff and I also want to be a part of this and contribute in some way!

 

So here is my idea of "army through the ages:" a series of (bad, due to the strong artificial light) pictures showing the various stages of my painting.

 

Power Armour:

 

The Otmar Stage: first attempts at painting

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Neurode%20Crusade/P1070578_zps8d2d7f91.jpg

 

The Dol Amroth Stage: I discovered highlighting and drybrushing, but still applied 1 layer of colour (minus purity seals).

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Neurode%20Crusade/P1070579_zpsba90ce60.jpg

 

The Neurode Stage: 2-3 layers of highlights, drubrushing, washes, steadier hand.

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Neurode%20Crusade/P1070577_zps589086ce.jpg

 

Neophytes:

 

This guy's face turned out surprisingly neat! But the white trousers are good for a hardcore techno disco...

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Neurode%20Crusade/P1070580_zpsf7d64e39.jpg

 

Painting faces is still a huge pain!

 

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k260/krj_38/Neurode%20Crusade/P1070581_zps629de14f.jpg

 

Personally I love watching others' picture updates and hope that some of you like that too, even if the update makes no sense!

Edited June 6, 2014 by Brother Cristopher

[SCOTT_FRANCIS]

I am dreading painting my Neophytes as I have never painted flesh and faces. Thats why all my Templars wear their helmets. 

[Honda]

@Brother Cristopher: That was a nice stroll down memory lane, now wasn't it? You have certainly come a long way from your beginnings...and you're just getting started.

 

I am dreading painting my Neophytes as I have never painted flesh and faces. Thats why all my Templars wear their helmets.

 

 

Well plastic scouts certainly made conversion work a lot easier. I'll post some of my helmeted scouts in my thread for you so that you do not have to feel compelled to paint faces. In general, I am of the opinion that not wearing a helmet is a great way to eliminate yourself from the SM gene pool. ;)