General Disarray Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 I thought it would be good motivation for myself to keep a plog of my ETL III painting. As someone that first got into this hobby back during 2nd Edition but still hasn't finished painting a complete unit (so much gray plastic so little time) I'm determined to start getting stuff tabletop ready. I'm also hopeful that it will help speed up my painting improvement. So without further ado, let us begin: My first vow is Cypher. I kitbashed the model together from leftover bits. I previously picked up a DA accessory sprue for kitbashing and have acquired various DA bits from bits bags. Cypher has the DA robed body, DA armored torso, DA hooded head w/ bionic eye and arms from the standard Assault box set, DA backpack and BT sword. http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher001.jpg I took the plunge and used greenstuff for the first time. I had planned on researching tutorials and all that good stuff but in the end I just tried to wing it while our little neophytes were taking their afternoon rest/nap. I cut off a chunk of greenstuff, remembered to remove the little chunk where the colors met (I read that somewhere online) kneaded it together, got a little rolling pin from the playdo toy bin and found a metal tool that had a little angled paddle on the end that I found with my wife's nail files. The plan was to roll the greenstuff flat and use my trusty exacto knife to cut two triangular pieces and use those to add robe to the torso. I put the green stuff on waxed paper thinking that it wouldn't stick to it but I was wrong, greenstuff totally sticks to wax paper. I think I didn't let it sit long enough either because it was very tacky and taffy like. The initial application was a bit horrid so in true BT fashion I gathered my zeal and pushed on and added more greenstuff on top. The second time the greenstuff handled better, I think because it had sat longer, and I remember that I read that water makes handling it easier so I dunked the little nail hygiene tool thingy in water and used it to smooth out the triangular pieces of greenstuff and I got it to a good enough standard. Then I primed it. To properly consecrate it with zeal I hummed/sang the 'Stones while I did it, I see gray plastic and I want to PAINT IT BLACK! My can of black primer is so old it has the Evil Sunz logo on it. Sigh. It's okay, I'm not old, I'm just venerable. http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher002.jpg Paint: http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher004.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher003.jpg I painted the robes Rotting Flesh (I've since washed it with sepia and plan to highlight them with Bleached Bone). I like the way the Rotting Flesh looks, I'm going to use it as a base for my BT tabards as well. Does anyone else use it? I'm using Cypher to practice my edge highlighting and by practice I mean attempt it for the first time. I have some Citadel brushes, they're red and about two decades old (a recurring theme here, no?) and apparently of my two Fine Detail brushes one looks brand new and one doesn't come to a point anymore and always has a few bristles pointing out by themselves. Guess which one I grabbed to start highlighting? Now, a good craftsman never blames his tools and even if I had been wielding a brush made with hair plucked from the mane of unicorn by a virgin maiden under a full moon in a forest glade on the second Tuesday of March during a leap year and secured onto a mahogany handle custom carved to fit my hand with mithril socket my painting was still going to be far from perfect. I managed to clean up the highlights with Chaos Black, a great eraser of errors (but we all know that when you're painting there are no mistakes just happy little accidents, thanks Bob!) Although there was a moment of fleeting panic when I thought I didn't have a pot of black paint, then I remember the old dried up paint pots buried in the closet, I unearthed the Chaos Black, added some water and zeal and mixed it back to life with some toothpicks. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 I made the armor highlights with Warpstone Glow. I wanted to try to be evocative of the old Rogue Trader color scheme of all black armor with red chapter icons. I think for the vow complete photo I'll have Rogue Trader open to the appropriate page. The binding isn't in the best shape and I can't track down the litle blurb where the DA's primarch is referred to as something like General Lionel Algonquin but it's still a cool book to reference. The metal parts were painted with Boltgun Metal and the sword scabbard got painted Warpston Glow. I think the greenstuff robe looks decent now that it's painted. (my massive first draft post was eaten by the warp so now I'm doing it piecemeal). Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3705283 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Moar Paint = Moar Better http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher005.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher006.jpg I painted all of the chapter icons, bionic eye lens and scabbard seal ribbon Mechrite Red, painted the face Ratskin Flesh and painted the plasma coils and barrel muzzle Alaitoc Blue (I think, I have lots of blues). I've also washed the robe and face with Gryphonne Sepia and the armor with Thraka Green. I'll probably wash the bolt pistol with Badab Black I forgot it last night. On the to do list is to highlight the robe with Bleached Bone, highlight the face with Cadian Fleshtone, cover the Mechrite Red with Wazzdakka Red and paint the plasma glow effect (probably two more shades of blue and then the white highlights). For basing I think I'm just going to water down some white glue and use it to stick sandbox sand to it and then paint the edge brown. The goal is to have Cypher done by Tuesday at the latest so I can move on to a Crusader squad for vow 2. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3705294 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 3, 2014 Author Share Posted June 3, 2014 Painting is done. Basing will be done tomorrow and then I will post pics here and in the strategium. The only part of Cypher I'm not happy about is the plasma gun glow effect. I'll need to check up on some tutorials to help me improve on it. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3705611 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honda Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Very nice. I think you'll get closer on your plasma glow if you mix some white in with your blue, then do a light dry brush over the coils and the immediate edges where you have the darker blue. Well done and Congratulations on your very "near" completion. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3706309 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCOTT_FRANCIS Posted June 3, 2014 Share Posted June 3, 2014 Very nice Brother, very nice. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3706612 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 Considering that the perfect is the enemy of the good, and obviously a gateway to the corrupting influence of the Ruinous Powers as shown by the foul pink Emo Children, I have declared myself finished with painting Cypher. He's good enough and I'd much rather move on to a vow with BT models than fiddle with Cypher for another week. Basing materials have been stuck on. Materials being a few pieces of brown rock from GF9 and sandbox sand stuck on with superglue because I couldn't find our neophytes' bottle of Elmers. I will get some beige paint on it tonight and quick drybrush so I can post it in the strategium. Pics: http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher11.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher12.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher13.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher14.jpg The edge highlights look better when looking at the model from the perspective of other models than when looking at it from standing over the table. It makes sense because I was holding it and looking at it from that perspective while painting it. The shoulder pads aren't bad but aren't ideal either. Trying to make 6Ed shoulder pads with trim look like 2nd Ed shoulder pads without trim was a bridge too far especially if I wasn't going to take the time to shave/file the raised trim off. I expect to do better when I move on to traditional BT color schemes. The plasma pistol glow effect is ok. The slightly blurry photos make it look better than it does in real life. I painted the coils dark blue, added a layer of medium blue that didn't fully cover the bottom areas of the coils but did cover the edge of the pistol frame around it. Washed the area with blue wash, added a layer of bright blue and then added white highlights. I didn't take the time to do any mixing of colors to blend them together better which probably is the main reason it looks a little flat to me and not quite "glowy" enough. I'm glad he's done and I look forward to tidying up his base and moving on to bigger and better vows. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3707930 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCOTT_FRANCIS Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Well done Brother. Another completion for the Black Templars. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3707976 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 5, 2014 Author Share Posted June 5, 2014 Vow Complete http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/P1100504.jpg Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709228 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 5, 2014 Author Share Posted June 5, 2014 For my second vow I'm choosing a Crusader Squad. Sword Brethren with power sword Initiate with power axe Initiate with multi melta Initiate with flamer 6 x Initiates with bolt pistol + chainsword 10 x Neophytes with bolt pistol + chainsword/knife/sword All of the initiates except the heavy weapon and special weapon are modelled with Khorne Berzerker and Assault Marine legs so I think the squad will have a nice theme of charging the enemy when I have them all done. I'm going to give them all corkboard bases that I will paint up as concrete/roadway/urban area to help tie them all together. All of the models are already assembled except I need another 6 Neophytes. I think I'll swap out the GW legs with others to help make them look less static in contrast to the running Initiates. I'm excited to paint a whole squad. I think batch painting suits me better. Painting Cypher taught me I need more patience. I tend to want to touch things up and do little fixes as soon as I spot them and often that's too soon and the paint is fully dry so my touch ups created more areas to fix. When I'm painting 20 at a time I wont be going back to touch up model #1 until I finish working through the other 19. I will try to get the basing and priming done tonight. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709260 Share on other sites More sharing options...
greggles Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Looks good. When taking photos of the miniatures, try pulling the camera back. Some cameras have trouble focusing when extremely close to an object. If you pull back the camera a few inches, it will allow it to focus better, and let us see all the work you've done! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709304 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 5, 2014 Author Share Posted June 5, 2014 Looks good. When taking photos of the miniatures, try pulling the camera back. Some cameras have trouble focusing when extremely close to an object. If you pull back the camera a few inches, it will allow it to focus better, and let us see all the work you've done! Yes I definitely need to improve my photography. I'd assign a Remembrancer to my Crusade but nobody wants to apply for the job anymore now that the HH books have shed some light on the working conditions and life expectancy. Sometimes the view of the picture on the camera seems fine but then when I crop it (because I think you guys are more interested in my models than my kitchen table or home decor) it blurs. The only solution is for me to paint more models and get more practice. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709450 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 5, 2014 Author Share Posted June 5, 2014 I forgot to post this before. I like to listen to music while painting or converting and I try to pick songs that are in keeping with the theme/mood of whatever I'm working on. Here's a song that I used to help keep up the motivation to finish the last few details on Cypher. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjwFe6okyUw Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709495 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andhil Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 because I think you guys are more interested in my models than my kitchen table or home decor Who knows, one of us could be an interior decorator..... The Plasma glow on the pistol looks awesome. Funnily enough, on the blurred picture it looks even more realistic. Either way, looking good, hope you've got some more stuff coming! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709720 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golf33 Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Plasma glow looking very nice now! Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3709886 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Moar Pictures (these will be the last ones of Cypher, I'm moving on to vow #2). http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher24.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher23.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher22.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher21.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Cypher20.jpg Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3710342 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 because I think you guys are more interested in my models than my kitchen table or home decor Who knows, one of us could be an interior decorator..... The Plasma glow on the pistol looks awesome. Funnily enough, on the blurred picture it looks even more realistic. Either way, looking good, hope you've got some more stuff coming! http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/KitchenDecor.jpg The light fixture isn't that great, it's what was in the house when we bought it and we don't want to replace it until we remodel the kitchen (which will happen eventually). In order to snazz things up my wife decided to replace the plain glass bowls with canning jars to give a more character and Southern flair. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3710345 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Vow #2 posted in the strategium. Crusader Squad (knight variation) 335 points Sword Brethren with power sword Initiate with power axe Initiate with multi melta Initiate with flamer Initiate x 6 Neophyte x 10 http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/vow2.jpg Quick question, does it matter what wargear the neophytes have? As long as I paint 10 Neophytes its all good right? Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3710359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Vow #2 kitbashing has begun! http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Neo2.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/Neo1.jpg SM Scout body, Chaos Marauder legs, Catachan Command Squad bolter arm, Catachan knife arm, chopped up SM shoulder pad, BT accessory, Empire Greatsword head, Empire longsword blade. The head wasn't a great fit on the body and it's created a bit more of a hunched pose than I wanted. However, I think it still looks cool and has a nice dark Blanchitsu kind of feel. I think it will paint up nicely. My vow is for Neophytes with ccw and bp but I'd like to include this guy as a counts as even though he has a bolter, hopefully that's ok. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3710368 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCOTT_FRANCIS Posted June 6, 2014 Share Posted June 6, 2014 Erm, problem, I don't think you can have 10 Neophytes in that squad, the Sword Brother no longer trains Neophytes. I would ask our more knowledgeable Brethren to answer this question. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3710370 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 6, 2014 Author Share Posted June 6, 2014 Erm, problem, I don't think you can have 10 Neophytes in that squad, the Sword Brother no longer trains Neophytes. I would ask our more knowledgeable Brethren to answer this question. That would be bummer. The SB upgrade should offset the points lost by losing a Neophyte so it should still be worth 335pts I think. They all need to be painted so I'll just do it and worst case I'll just have an extra. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3710434 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share Posted June 8, 2014 Updates are going to be slow this week. I'm at the beach on a family vacation but I brought my models and paints so I will be working on my vow. I Wil post pictures when I get home this coming weekend. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3712613 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 13, 2014 Author Share Posted June 13, 2014 I will try to take some pictures tomorrow to post a progress report. Things are going reasonably well with the exception of the shoulder pads. Other larger areas on the minis look fine, small details look fine, the shoulder pads have brush strokes which makes them look like they were fingerpainted. This is doubly troubling because obviously I would have to have tiny gnome like hands to finger paint the shoulder pads so it also implies that I'm a mutant and I abhor mutants. Considering my paints are old, some seem fine (the foundation paints work great) some of the layer paints were gloppy so I tried adding water and stirring them with toothpicks and shaking them vigorously. That seems to have only helped somewhat. I will follow Brother Acebaur's advice in his Jericho Crusade thread and order some flow improver. While I wait for it to arrive I will leave the shoulder pads alone and move on to other areas. Hitting the heavy bag until fatigue dulls the hatred of the brushstrokes also works but I'd rather spend that time painting. Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3718197 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Reinhard Posted June 14, 2014 Share Posted June 14, 2014 Erm, problem, I don't think you can have 10 Neophytes in that squad, the Sword Brother no longer trains Neophytes. I would ask our more knowledgeable Brethren to answer this question. That would be bummer. The SB upgrade should offset the points lost by losing a Neophyte so it should still be worth 335pts I think. They all need to be painted so I'll just do it and worst case I'll just have an extra. Technically, the raw says you can't, but i'm not sure i believe this was intended. I would take the problem up with Captain Semper, as there's bound to be a slight disrepancy regardless Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3718556 Share on other sites More sharing options...
General Disarray Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Actual update pictures to show that I've been painting. It's been a little slow but I'm trying to be methodical about it. Paint all one color then go back and touch up the mistakes then move on to the next color. I think it would be neater if I used the fine detail brush more often instead of trying to make do with a standard or starter brush but mentally it's demoralizing to think that I'll paint 20 models with just a fine detail brush, y'know? I'll double check all the colors I'm using and post a list tonight or tomorrow, I think I could do most of it from memory but I want to be sure of accuracy. The neophytes are almost at the point where I will wash them, I'm thinking of using Devlan Mud everywhere, and then doing a few highlights. The maltese cross reminds me of the iron cross which makes me think of the Red Baron. With that in mind I wanted to try to tap into the theme of Richthofen's flying circus and include some red to make them more vibrant. I figure the Templars want the Emperor's foes to see them coming and see their impending doom. I didn't want all the black to imply that they're sneaky because I think the Templars want everyone to see them doing the Emperor's will and they are fully confident that they're going to win so there's no downside in letting the enemy know you're coming. http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/neophyte4.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/neophyte5.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/neophyte6.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/neophyte1.jpg http://i402.photobucket.com/albums/pp103/Dead_Funny/neophyte3.jpg Link to comment https://bolterandchainsword.com/topic/291829-my-etl-iii-plog/#findComment-3722599 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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