How to airbrush Dark Angels vehicles? Beginner questions

[Cpt. Bannockburn]

Hi everyone,

 

I've purchased a new airbrush and watched a few instructional videos. However, I've got a specific question that I haven't found an answer to, and I hope that someone is able to help me.

 

I'm familiar with the concept of pre-shading, although I haven't tried it yet. Since I do want to test it, and I usually prime my models black, I'd like to ask you for recommendations for my vehicles.

I plan to practice on a few rhino chassis before graduating to my Thunderhawk.

 

Do I:

1.) Prime black

2.) Spray everything Caliban Green (thinned of course)

3.) Pre-Shade (which color would be best? A blue tone? Black?)

4.) Light spray of Caliban Green again

5.) Highlight

 

Or

1.) Prime with Vallejo surface primer bronze green or nato green

2.) Pre-Shade (same question as to the colour)

3.) Spray Caliban Green

5.) Highlight

 

 

Thank you for your help!

[Major_Gilbear]

Apologies if you've already tried this, but have you searched YouTube for tutorials of this type?

 

In truth, all these things are much easier to see/watch than they are to explain/read. An example of one such tutorial by PensacolaWarhammer was posted up here, but I'm certain that there are lots more (and which will show you how to acheive what you're after).

 

For what it's worth, the more usual route is to prime and then do a "greyscale" version which is then overcoated with thin layers of the final colour to acheive the pre-shading effect. However, there are lots of other ways of achieving this too.

[Cpt. Bannockburn]

I've watched a few videos, but they didn't really help me. The one you linked was unfamiliar, so I'll try that one after work. Thank you for that.

 

For what it's worth, the more usual route is to prime and then do a "greyscale" version which is then overcoated with thin layers of the final colour to acheive the pre-shading effect. However, there are lots of other ways of achieving this too.

 

In what color would you prime in this scenario? A grey as well?

 

Edit: Funny, I also paint 5th Company. Scrolling through your painting log now  :)

[Major_Gilbear]

Well it depends.

 

As Caliban Green is dark, I'd start with a black to get better contrast - with grey as your dark colour, it may not show through the green all that well. With lighter colours like red, you may prefer to start with a grey however.

 

Personally, I'd suggest that you go from black to white to get the most contrast you can; if after applying the green you want to lower the contrast, you can always just apply a second coat of the green.

 

As for not finding any suitable videos... Well, I'm surprised actually! Since Caliban Green is actually quite a dark military green, I would think that there's lots of videos showing how to pre-shade with an airbrush (not least, all those historical models that are also in dark military greens).

[Cpt. Bannockburn]

I probably was too narrow in my searches :)

Thank you for the suggestions, I'll see what I can find after work!

[Bung]

The question is, how much work do you want to invest.

I personly work with the black and white technic for tanks and other stuff.

 

1) I start with a dark grey, a mix of 70% black and 30% white primer (i use Vallejo primers for this).

2) I work up in some steps to mix ratio of 30% black and 70% white. How many steps you do is your decisssion.

3) wash the recesses with pur black for shadows

4) now highlight the edges with white

 

5) this is an optional step. Here i start with the weathering, do some sponge chipping with grey, scratches etc. 

Its easy to fix mistakes now with your previous mixes of grey

 

6) Spray the tank with translucent layers of your main color, so the color transition and weathering shows through.

 

7) Now you can ad additional weathering etc.

[Ovidius Incertus]

A good pre-shading tutorial, albeit using an ink as a base color can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgEwHQ1W0oM .  (This also more or less illustrates what Bung described and what the Major was talking about with his astute "greyscale version" comment.)

 

Forgive the xenos heresy!

 

What isn't visually clear from the beginning, although Les explains it, is that he primed all over with black, then he primed from above with a mid-/dark- gray, then he did a final highlight with white on the highest surfaces.  The first two steps aren't really obvious when he first starts out because you don't see the mini from below; if you did, you'd see the black shades.  The technique is really obvious when he does the skin with a green ink and then you'll be able to see the three pre-shades creating light and shadow.

 

If you're interested in post-shading, this video can illustrate that pretty well (more xenos!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjfA5BLaczk .  The post-shading becomes very obvious along the jawline and in the cheeks, I think.  (You also get to see a pro not get the results he wants and have to adjust.)

 

If I were doing a vehicle in the color you're looking for, I'd post-shade rather than pre-shade, but either way works.

[Cpt. Bannockburn]

Thanks everyone. I'll watch those videos tonight and let you know how it turns out with my test rhino :)