15 Shades of Grey, A new start.... with Primaris,

[furstyferret]

Well, I'm definately subscribing to this one 

 

A man cave is something we should all aspire to. I've just got a wee room, nothing on your scale. It'd be great to get half way through a game and know you can leave it out and it'll be fine until you finish it.

 

Cheers man

 

If you enjoy it and it looks good, what more can you ask!? I like the way you haven't covered everything in wolf pelts and have used the knot work to tie it all together.

[CaptainStabby]

Yeah I love the Dwarf Bitz. I use them all over the place for my short abhumans that may or may not be allowed to be discussed here.

[Dantay VI]

You mean Ratlings? Sure, you can discuss them in the B&C :p

 

Will post an update tonight.

 

Fursty. I do not like the idea of festooning vehicles in pelts, it just isn't practical, and yeah the knot work is a great thing for individuality, but works well to unify the forca nad break up all the grey. 

[Dantay VI]

Okay, a quick update.

 

I am still tossing around 2 names for the Achilles. Herja & Hrist. Folks seem to be angling more towards Hrist. Will think on it another day or so.

 

Did a bit more paintwork on my tank

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151118_122256.jpg

 

Had to go back to trying to make a Mech grey from dawnstone and black, then a wash of nuln oil. I think I will have to do the time intensive step of painting panel by panel and write down a paint formula.

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151118_122315.jpg

 

I do have a question. Should I do a design on the shields as I normally do with infantry, or do I go really simple like a basic quartered design, or a rune? 

The reason for asking is that I am going to put a knotwork design on the main body and possibly top. I do not want to overload the thing in bling, and also I do not want to potentially have clashing designs. Shields are magntised as is the cannon, so they can be removed for weapons destroyed markers.

I also plan to do excess shields so I can hand them to opponents as kill markers/trophies if they take it down.

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151118_122331.jpg

 

Tried the FW technique for exhausts, what do you think?

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151118_122345.jpg

 

Lastly, quite chuffed with the lenses. Again for te headlights went with the FW idea of using black and greys to simulate a standard headlight. A bit crude but effective. Just need to paint in the bars across the lens. I also went black to white for all the other lenses then washed in glaze and gloss varnished. Such a time saver when there are tons of them and all differing colours. I'll definitely do it again this way.

 

Let me know your thoughts, and thanks for looking :)

[furstyferret]

Looking good so far. Are you doing the bit under the main gun metal as well or leaving it Space Wolf grey?

 

Love the heat staining on the meltas. What did you do for that? I might have to steal that one.

 

Not sure about the shield design. If you're covering most of the hull side in knot work, you might want to keep the shield a bit less 'busy'.

[Vykryl]

Maybe use some basic shield designs to add some color without all the knot work. Seems 2 tone quarters and swirled quarters were commonly used designs.

 

http://imgkid.com/authentic-viking-shield-designs.shtml

 

Herja - Devastation or Devastator

Hrist - Shaker or Quaking One

Did I find the correct meanings? I'd go with Herja as the more fear inspiring name. How would Hrist fit this beast of war?

 

Looking good as usual Dantay. What caught my attention was the one track link with an aquila on it. Who's vehicle did the crew steal that from to get moving again? :D

[Dantay VI]

Hi Vykryl, Yup you got it with the names and thank you for the link. I have several of the designs in here but there are a lot I do not. Il will be using this quite a bit I think.

 

Fursty, the staining was a wash of seraphim sepia, followed by reikland flesh shade, blood letter, leviathan purples, guillemann blue, then nuln oil. Leave a wee gap between each colour as you go. The blue does not show so well. That reminds me I need to add a dab of grey around the edges of the gun barrel as sooty deposits..

 

The section below the gun will probably go grey. I was wondering though, keep the quad cannon black, make it a deep red or go grey like the rest of the tank?

 

In other news I have decide to call the Achilles Herja! It is a more feminine name, and devastation is her game! Will save Hrist for my Vindicator.

 

What do you think of the design for Herja? Its still a bit rough, but looks good so far... Thoughts??

 

 http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151118_221237.jpg

 

Winter is coming!!

[Vykryl]

The teeth and tongue could use a black outline as they don't stand out well. The design is another good one. Your vehicles will definitely be distinct from each other and have personalities :)

 

I think I'd like to see the shield colors before making suggestions on the gun's color.

 

Keep this up and you may get me energized again. Have dabbled a bit but been too wore out lately to work on much :(

[Dantay VI]

Thanks Vykryl.

 

I hope I can help get you energised. It is a struggle to do anything when you feel worn down.

 

The black outlining will disappear in due course. I just don't have the right grey just now, so I used the blacl to help outline the design. The tongue and teeth will stand out plenty when I am done, Don't worry ;)

 

As for shield, I am thinking Black and red, with blue runes, or red and yellow with black runes. Thinking the former, so that it is nice and dark. Or maybe a simple pattern, we will see.

 

Oh you asked about the tracks before. Every 13th track on a land raider if put on correctly is an Imperial Aquilla. This is because the oter 12 tracks represent te 12 High Lords of Terra and the 13th track symbolises the Emperor, if my memory serve correctly.

 

Hope you get your mojo back.

[Dantay VI]

Okay, so I was asked quite a bit over on the AoD forum about how I do my designs

 

There are loads of cool designs out there and while quite easy to do on paper they are a nightmare to recreate on the side of a tank with all the lumps, bumps sponsons getting in the way etc.

 

So how did I do it?

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151120_120200.jpg

 

I drew the design on paper and then cut it out. Once this was done I placed it over the area of the tank I wanted the design to be in and stippled the paint on.

 

Be careful with the paint, I go from design to tank, so I do not get any splodges of paint where I want my design to be.

 

When done you now have an outline of the wolf head.

 

This could be done with any design, Templar cross, crowns anything at all.

 

As an aside, with the wolf head it would look totally cool to stipple with red and do a black wolf head, so it looks surrounded by blood!! Maybe a cool idea for a Warhounds design??

 

Or An Iron Warriors skull, with some orange for rust or red for blood of fallen enemies surrounding it, 8 pointed stars you name it..

 

Next step:

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151120_121344.jpg

 

Start the outlining. I start off with very dilute Balthasar Gold and at this point you can be as messy as you like. You can also go outwith the outline you have done to compensate for any bumps or what-have you. 

 

Thats the first 2 steps so far. Depending on hopw neat you were you can now go back and tidy the outline before doing any designs you want to do, or continue with the gold and start doing whatever you want.

 

Just remember to keep the paints really thin, so you can easily correct any mistakes. If paint is too thick not only is it hard to conceal, but you get ridges of built up paint everywhere.

 

Will post more soon, let me know your thoughts..

[Dantay VI]

Part 2.

 

Okay, so with the watered down Balthasar Gold, start marking out the designs you like.

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151120_185357.jpg

 

As you can see it is looking pretty shocking at this point, in fat if you change the snout, it looks like a dragon!! But I would not worry, the main thing is to get a rough position of where you want your lines to go

 

Next you would use your armour colour. I am using black because I do not have any grey and I do not want to custom mix it until I need to use a big batch.

Anyway with the armour colour you now start outlining and tidying thus:

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151120_193112.jpg

 

A quick note, because the paint are pretty diluted the gold will stay liquid throughout the tidying process, so if you mess up the black, you can easily go back with the gold and correct anything you want.

 

And that is how to get a design down on a tank 

 

Looks pretty good & you could leave it as-is, but for me I am going to highlight it up wit a series of shinier golds.

 

One thing I have noticed i that the GW golds look a lot shinier when you add water to the paint, does anyone else notice that?

 

Let me know what you think  

[Dantay VI]

 A bit of tidying but knotwork finished up.

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151120_221831.jpg

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151120_221846.jpg

[Dantay VI]

Honest opinions please.

 

I am in 4 minds over this shield.

 

1. It looks okay.

2. Might look better in black & bone, (Long Fang colours)

3. Design doesn't work and looks like the wolf is being asked to fetch a ball

4. Ball fetch picture, maybe just drop the shield altogether

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151121_221808.jpg

 

Really need help with this.

[Dantay VI]

This is the black and white/bone

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151121_235232.jpg

[Vykryl]

I think the shield looks good but agree the two designs don't compliment each other. Could try switching the shield shape to something more angular. Not sure about the colors. Like the yellow and red but it clashes. White and black looks good. Maybe a hexagon with runes of power and protection?

[Dantay VI]

Hi Vykryl. I have actually ben contemplating a rectangular shield like those on the Space Wolves power armoured sprues, as the more I look at it, the more I am unhappy with it.

 

What do you think to black and red? Maybe use Blue for runes?

[Ambrosius_]

The wolf's head on the hull looks great; thanks for the tutorial.  Definitely prefer the black/white shield over the red/yellow, personally.  To me, the focal point of that piece is the wolf head, and the bright colors on the shield are drawing attention away from it.

[Vykryl]

Maybe make the shield same color as the hull with just runes on it. Something that won't try to compete with the knotwork but still add some character.

[Dantay VI]

Thanks Vykryl, and Ambrosius.... I am putting the shields on the back burner for now or I will stall out on this mini-project.

 

So what have I been noodling around with instead?

 

Well I decided to focus on another area of the tank. Normally I have a set game plan of what I want to do, but with this tank I am just winging it, and I am not enjoying it much. I keep questioning what I am doing and I am struggling to get a "whole picture" in my head.

 

I am worried it is going to get a little "bitty" with things here and there. So it seems a bit daft, but I dropped the knotwork. Herja means devastation.. So I tried to merge a skull to a wolfs head. Again the indecision is kicking in a bit. If it is okay do I do it on both sides?Should I put it centrally. Should I put a skull to one side and a wolf head to te other, like life & death?

 

Am I overthinking it?

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151122_203645.jpg

The red outline will be gone, the wolf head is a metallic black, while the skull is XV-88. In order to blend them in, do I do the wolf head a brown colour, so it looks like the skull is almost jumping out? Or do I do it in silvers, or do a silver wolf and gold skull?

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151122_203703.jpg

Forget the shield, as it might be going

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151122_203855.jpg

Both sides, one side or middle? I do have a plan to put a Valknut or another symbol in the centre.

Or drop it as it is too 40K looking?

 

Seriously this thing is giving me a headache, I might just end up shelving it...

 

Thoughts please?

[Vykryl]

Do a kill count on the opposing plate :D Give me the measurements of the plate and I can try to fit/alter one the designs I found to it, if you want a simple knotwork pattern. I rather like what you have but I doesn't fit fit your normal aesthetic. Time for my weekly recharge session. Will see what I can come up with when I wake up.

[Dantay VI]

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151122_221921.jpg

 

Just for fun... :)

 

30mm by 23mm for the front panels Vykryl. I know it isnt my normal style. I wanted somthing quite visceral, like a snarling wolf head or skull, which would strike terror into someone as this behemoth careened towards you spitting fire, and killer microwaves..

 

And thanks

[Ambrosius_]

Definitely wouldn't do a metallic on a metallic (ie silver on gold) for the wolf head and skull.  XV-88 and black like you have it or XV-88 and brown would be my vote.  Or even some combination of black and gold to match the wolf head on the side.  Whatever colors you use, I like the asymmetry of just having the skull on one side.  I'd do something different or nothing at all on the other.  These are little nitpicks, though.  Looks really good! 

[Dantay VI]

A bit more noodling around.... So overwhelmingly, folks are not keen on the wolf skull combo.

If truth be told you are right, and it is one of the reasons that I really value your critiques and opinions.  Without it I would not grow as a modeller and a painter.

The aesthetic is all wrong & while quite ell executed, it just does not fit.

 

So I sketched up something.

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151123_122155.jpg

 

The knot-work will run across the rack guard along the top of the Landraider, with the head section sitting just below the headlights.

The head is not knot-work per se, but at this scale knot-work is getting too complex to be done well, so I went with a softer more rounded tribal effect, which I reckon blends pretty well.

 

I do have a few other knot-work ideas up my sleeve, which I can sketch out and possibly one or two wolf head ideas.

 

This knot-work will be over both track guards, but the head is optional.

 

Do I go with a skull, so it is like life and death, do I do two heads the same, like twins.. Or do I do a decorative border  or blank so I can add a kill marking or something?

 

Let me know what you think. :)

[Vykryl]

That's a better looking option. I didn't fully come too yesterday evening to try my hand but will when I get home tonight.

[Dantay VI]

Hi Vykryl, it is all good fella!!

 

I'd rather you rested and recharged your batteries. Besides I want you to finish the awesomeness that is the Hel-Frost Vindicator ;)

 

I do look forward to seeing what you do come away with design-wise though... One of these days though, you are going to have to use some of your own designs on your models too..

 

Made a quick start and a very rough first go at the knot-work designs..

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151123_214004.jpg

 

I could possibly drop the head down a few millimetres, and I am thinking to extend the loops to the lights to almost make shoulders behind the Wolf head.

 

http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb456/dantay_xv/20151123_214019.jpg

 

The red eyes are going and the black lining will disappear when I get my grey paint.

 

What do you think?!?