Whether to Weather

[Hildebrandt]

Hi all,

 

I have several models in my Blood Angels army "done". But they're so clean. I like the look, it's so snappy and fresh! But is it unrealistic?

I'm looking for opinions from you guys on why you either leave your guys with clean new paint jobs, or if you make them look like they've travelled through the seven layers of hell.

[Jolemai]

First off, we'd be happy to see some of your models over in the Blood Angels sub-forum

For my Blood Angels, I don't use weathering. My in game excuse for it is that I feel the Blood Angels take exceptional care of their vehicles and equipment to preserve the work of the Chapter's artisans. I use a white undercoat too, so my models can be rather bright and it's an effect I like.That said, I have used some Tin Bitz on exhaust/flamer vents in the past and I'm purposely sloppy with my basing to "represent" a clay-type mud splatter.

[duz_]

I dont weather my guard army

Logic being its generally fresh out of the factory before it gets destroyed it doesnt get a chance to weather

My GK's I don't either mainly because I'm lazy but also I prefer a "dirty" look as opposed to weather

 

I can definitely see more of an argument for SM equipment to be weathered than their human counter parts

 

Up to personal preference and perseverance

[Carlson793]

I'm usually playing Salamanders or Red Scorpions, so try to limit my weathering to muddying up the ankles/feet. I figure both those chapters would be keeping their armour in good repair between battles, but there would be dust, dirt, and mud picked up while foot slogging across battlefields.

 

I do, however, weather vehicles and energy weapon tips. Sooty exhausts. Discolored metal barrels on meltas and flamers. Small streaks of oil from bolts and rivets.

[Ovidius Incertus]

I am a fan of weathering.  The battlefield is harsh, especially when you're Astartes.  They crush through walls, get shot constantly, fight on worlds with harsh environments, acid rain, etc., so I see no reason why they would be clean unless they've literally just stepped off a Thunderhawk.  They're also so big compared to the human scale environments they operate in, so I imagine they are constantly hitting their armor on corners or wedging through normal-sized spots.  So I at least weather high wear areas like knees, elbows, shoulders, boots, helmets, although leaving battle damage off is personal choice.

[PeteySödes]

100% preference IMO. I really dislike the overly bright airbrushed toy look on 40k models but theres also a point where weathering looks like your hiding flaws. I paint my wolves with a reasonable amount of weathering to give them some grit and gravitas but I also think that BA or ultras look great a bit shinier too.

 

Find your style and go for it!

[Atia]

100% preference IMO. I really dislike the overly bright airbrushed toy look on 40k models but theres also a point where weathering looks like your hiding flaws. I paint my wolves with a reasonable amount of weathering to give them some grit and gravitas but I also think that BA or ultras look great a bit shinier too.

 

Find your style and go for it!

I think that's a pretty good answer :)

 

I wouldn't go for "no" weathering - backpacks, feet or weapons get durty, if you want to do it a bit more realistic. How much weathering - that's on you really! Some armies tend to go well with more weathering - Death Guard, Iron Warriors, Carcharodons, or even some Xenos factions. White paintjobs also like weathering. There are a lot of different products out there that can help and make the whole process rather easy - from technical paints, to weathering powders, oil paints, filters, streaking effects or clear airbrush paints for heat effects.

[JeffTibbetts]

I went through this a while back. I do love a clean marine, having been conditioned through Second Edition and all that. There are tons of reasons why they should be that clean, and Blood Angels are a prideful bunch that like their bling, so you can imagine them spending a little time on this stuff.

 

That said, when I painted my Knight I went nuts on the weathering, and frankly I had so much FUN painting it, I decided to completely change the paint recipe for my marines, being sure to add lots of battle damage, pigments, etc. this time around. I find them FAR more enjoyable to paint now, but they do take much longer. 

 

I think it's at least worth asking yourself if you're more interested in getting them on the table first and foremost, or if you want to spend a little extra time. There's nothing to stop you from doing both, either. Paint them clean, and when you have time go back and add in the weathering and damage if you want. It's pretty much always the last step, so you can literally save it for last. Like, next year kind of last. 

 

I think the weathering gets them a lot of attention as well. A lot of people just really get into it, and want to pick up and look over your models. It's that extra step that can make a big difference if done well. 

 

Clean marines are nice, but well-weathered marines look the business, for sure. 

[Formerly Wu]

I find that, at the very least, a light Steel Legion Drab drybrush on the edges of a model give it a nice blended tone that helps mute out some of the overly clean/bright effect. For an example of how that looks on red, take a look at the enginseer and commissar I recently finished.

 

You can take it further- my Dark Angels were thigh-deep in mud and it looked great- but a bit of drybrushing is a good place to start.

[Dagoth Ur]

While I can see the appeal in clean Astartes, I just can't stand my own if they are weathered. I don't know what it is but I just need me some of that grime and dust and rust.
If you want a few examples of weathered Blood Angels, here are a few of mine
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/319941-amidst-brethren-we-bleed-amidst-ashes-we-prevail/

I dont weather my Blood Angels very much, just the slight silver sponging and diluted nuln oil wash. :)

[ElectricPaladin]

I think this is really up to you. I don't see anything wrong with a "clean and pristine" Space Marines army for several reasons:

 

1. Space Marines are ritualist freaks who like to lovingly go over every detail of the gear after every engagement, including repairing every chip and scratch on their armor.
2. Space Marines specialize in rapid insertion strikes rather than long drawn-out battles.
3. It's perfectly reasonable that your models are somewhat idealized versions of what your army would "actually" look like. After all, what are the chances that everyone in your force is standing in a cool pose at the exact same moment?

 

So don't worry about it. Do what you think is cool.

[JeffTibbetts]

I think this is really up to you. I don't see anything wrong with a "clean and pristine" Space Marines army for several reasons:

 

1. Space Marines are ritualist freaks who like to lovingly go over every detail of the gear after every engagement, including repairing every chip and scratch on their armor.
2. Space Marines specialize in rapid insertion strikes rather than long drawn-out battles.
3. It's perfectly reasonable that your models are somewhat idealized versions of what your army would "actually" look like. After all, what are the chances that everyone in your force is standing in a cool pose at the exact same moment?

 

So don't worry about it. Do what you think is cool.

 

 

For some reason your third point made me actually laugh out loud. Like when you tell a kid to freeze and they take another half-second to put themselves into a very particular "freeze position." Like someone just yelled at your army to freeze, and they all strike these typical Astartes poses on cue.