The 18 Legions, a painting experiment: April 2 update

[Ovidius Incertus]

So project ADD has taken over again, and I've decided to try my hands at a much wider variety of paint schemes (and to use some of the guys from my BaC box set).  I am going to paint a legionary of each of the 18 Legions during the Great Crusade.  This will also give me a chance to practice oil paint weathering before I go and mess up my Knight projects.  I'm going for gritty and dark all around.

 

Not trying to do anything special with most of them as far as posing or basing, although some of them have FW Legion-specific bits.  I do have plans for a Heresy Iron Hands army (got a number built up already) and a small force of Iron Warriors.

 

The first up are an Ultramarine, an Iron Hand, an Iron Warrior, a Son of Horus and an Imperial Fist.

 

The Ultramarine:

 

Look at me, I'm a sergeant!

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%201_zpswbkbr37z.jpg

 

The Imperial Fist:

 

Fighting through a long siege on some world or other.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IF%201_zps8s8bv8zq.jpg

 

The Iron Warrior:

 

He's going to be slogging through the mud with his heavy bolter, as any self-respecting Iron Warrior would.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IW%201_zps1q08hqrt.jpg

 

The Iron Hand:

 

Suitably bionic.  Desert base to go along with the theme of my IH and Mechanicum allies.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IH%201_zps0k7wzax2.jpg

 

The Son of Horus:

 

Tip of the spear and all that.  Looking for something to smash and/or choom!

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/SOH%201_zpscqk1pwx9.jpg

[Ovidius Incertus]

Started the project.  Primed all five legionaries black to get a suitably dark tone for everyone, UM and IF included.

 

I am using the FW IH scheme with all its intricacies.  Only got a chance to put the Rub n Buff pewter on last night.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/Iron%20Hand%201_zpshl2on1uk.jpg

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/Iron%20Hand%202_zpsh2uublrf.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/Iron%20Hand%203_zpsfp1ajoys.jpg

 

Feel like a dummy, because I forgot to drybrush the backpack, and that means breaking out the mineral spirits to clean a brush after 30 seconds of painting.  Ugh.

 

At any rate, this is the first time I used the Rub n Buff product and I quite like the results for this specific drybrush application.  To achieve that exact look of the FW IH scheme, I think this product is just different enough from your standard metallic acrylic that it changes the effect subtly but noticeably.

 

Tonight I'm going to try to lay some paint on the UM and the IW.  For the IW, I'm going to experiment with Vallejo's air metallics line in the Burnt Iron color.

[Ovidius Incertus]

Have been keeping up with the painting a bit a day and have finished the airbrush portion on the UM and gotten base coats on the IF and the IW.

 

I'm pleased with the results so far, even if my pictures wash a lot of shading out.

 

UM:

 

Primed black, base coat Vallejo GC Night Blue, highlighted Vallejo MA Blue (love the color), final highlight a mix 3:1 mix of VMA Blue with VMA Light Sea Blue.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%202_zpsh9wctztq.jpg

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%203_zpsfvrmpvlv.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%204_zpsvh9bw2n2.jpg

 

IW:

 

Primed black and base coated with Vallejo Metal Color Burnt Iron.  Absolutely love this product.  Tried it for the first time here and it sprays great at 15 PSI unthinned, coats well, etc.  And Burnt Iron is absolutely perfect for my conception of the IW paint scheme.

 

I'll drybrush highlights of chainmail or similar before doing an oil wash of brown/black.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IW%202_zps9g9zuuer.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IW%203_zpsjp4bnxpu.jpg

 

IF:

 

Primed black and base coated with VMA Middle Stone.  I was wavering on what to use for the base coat, but the Middle Stone over black really achieved the look I was going for.  Next layer will be VMA Ochre and a final shade of VMA Golden Yellow.

 

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IF%202_zpscudfcuat.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IF%203_zpsqaitbr2u.jpg

 

Thanks for looking!

[Bernard The slayer]

cool premice

[Ovidius Incertus]

Have been working slowly, and this is where my slow painting really kills me. Lots of time lavished on one mini.

Gotten work done on everyone but the Iron Hand. Had to back burner him because I realized I didn't have any Tamiya Clear Yellow, which I need for the FW recipe, and all the local stores had none, but I lucked out earlier this week and found some while on vacation.

The Iron Warrior and Ultramarine are nearly ready for oils; the Fist and Son are plugging along.

Some pictures (major apologies for horrible quality: I didn't realize the flash was on and it makes these colors waaaaaay brighter than they actually are...that Fist looks like he's glowing ). Realizing how washed out everything looks. Ugh.

Bobby's boy in blue:

Terrible wash out in the white portions. Helmet crest and other details basically done, but he's pretty much done save for the exhaust vents on the backpack and the weapons and transfers.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%206_zpsgtj28h1p.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%205_zpspfmuwnrh.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%207_zpsrsafai8d.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/UM%208_zps0nxdlii6.jpg

Perty's mud-slogger:

Used the FW IW transfers, and they're pretty nice. Haven't put the one on his knee yet. Tried painting hazard stripes on his right pauldron and it was the most frustratingly poor painting performance I've ever had. Just could not get the stripes remotely straight. If anyone can give me tips on masking curved surfaces, I'd appreciate it. HB and helmet left to finish, basically, before washing.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IW%206_zpsfrtozlbl.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IW%204_zpsqlkpn4xt.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IW%205_zpsmuqma6u6.jpg

Roger's golden boy:

Needs cleanup work all around, right pauldron and at least one elbow pad need painting as well as sundry details and the bolter.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IF%206_zpspdivztsp.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IF%205_zpsvjfmcu3o.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/IF%204_zpsnz89upvu.jpg

Harry's green machine:

Used Sotek Green, Kabalite Green and Sybarite Green over a black base. It looks pretty good, but will need to be way toned down with washes to make it grimdark enough for my tastes. Lots of work left on this guy.

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/SOH%203_zps470xdrlh.jpghttp://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/Oat_Action_Man/SOH%202_zpslwdpu9q7.jpg

Thanks for looking.

[Corswain]

Looking good so far. Really crisp painting.

Interesting colours on the Fist and SOH, I'm looking forward to seeing them finished.