The Permula Crusade

[Marshal Wolfhart]

"Greetings Brethren!

 

I have been found wanting in the eyes of the Emperor. For decades, the Permula crusade has been underway. Though we slew many of the Emperor's multitude of enemies, praise be, we have not achieved greatness before His omnipresent gaze. Though our defeats were costly to the heretic, the xenos and the witch, all we achieved was tainted.

 

We did not show our colors in pride. We meddled with distractions, we idled when we could have ZEALED!

No more I say!

 

After a long meditation in the sacred painglove i come before you, brothers, to repent. To cleanse the failings of this undertaking.

To renew the drive that once pushed forward our crusade i hereby take an oath for all to witness:

From this day on, none of the knights of the Permula Crusade shall set foot on a battlefield without proper regalia.

The enemies of mankind shall know that it was us who kicked them in the dirt and delivered His mercy in the moment of their utmost shame.

Our banners will fly over their remains and all shall see the black, and the white, and the red!

To victory! For Sigismund, for Dorn and for the holy Emperor!

No pity! No remorse! No fear!"

 

- Marshal Wolfhart in a speech to his men after a long series of meaningless skirmishes

 

Last recent groupshot:

 

 

I have three armies for 40k, as i am heavily struck with gamer ADD it appears. Still i got around to mostly finish the one that is not to be spoken about on this board and utterly boxed my guardsmen as it felt like work to paint rank upon rank. I just can't get myself to paint 5 or 10 models in a row with the same scheme and "worksteps" over and over, so I started painting entire models. It might slow my progress overall but i get much more enjoyment out of my painting time.

So, with some renewed focus on the hobby in general and the other armies out of the way more or less i want to get my Crusade up to snuff.

When i started the hobby in 2005 i started with Ultramarines. I quickly realised i a: had a faible for melee and b: i dislike the posterboy feel. I wanted more grimdark. So i picked up a bunch of new boxes, conversion kits and the Black Templars codex of old. I shelved the Smurfs as an allied contingent or whatever at that time. I painted my Templars in a slightly different way, mixing in dark green and more red than what is seen above. I still have plenty of models of that state which will show up in the not too distant WIP posts. I didn't think edge-highlights or shading was necessary at that time either...

 

Now you know where i'm coming from. I really hope to get bonus drive from this thread (consider this a try at autotherapy, plus i really look forward to some pressure from our reclusiam ) as i show off what i do with my hobby time. My personal aim: No more playing with gray or primed miniatures! (did the latter for the better part of ten years)

 

The first thing to get done is proper photography. The picture above was quickly taken with my phone, i do however have a proper camera including a tripod, so that might help with stark shadows and shaky pics.

- Update: Camera setup works, but pics don't improve much due to poor lighting. Would be thankful for any input on how to DIY a cheap lightbox ;)

 

So, what's to come in the near future?

I want to touch up the models seen above, starting with the bases. The marshal will get a new shield arm to properly represent a storm shield (and get rid of the death watch shoulder pad) and the chaplain will get edge highlighting to the armor and shading to the gold parts. Gun barrels will be drilled open and brother Kevin, atop the gate house in the back, will crawl all over the battlefields of past battles to find his missing backpack...

When that is done, or parallelly, i will work on these to get them to proper regalia:

 

<pics deleted>

 

I'm looking forward to whatever comes from this thread. I'm open to all criticism that isn't outright personal attacks (those would have to be met with bolter and chainsword!) and who knows, maybe i'll dig out some old fanfics of mine or come up with new ones

Enough writing, on with the brush!

 

Here's a link to my imgur album: https://imgur.com/a/jEpqd

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Marshal_Roujakis]

I totally understand where this is coming from... although, I still stay away from edge highlighting as my hands just can't hold still when holding a brush and it turns it horrible... I actually admire the quality of your models as this is my before:

 

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/Marshal_Roujakis/Warhammer%2040k%20Displays/DSC_0010.jpg

 

this is my Champion now...

 

http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/o622/Marshal_Roujakis/DSC01117v2_zpsmkgkaj4u.jpg

 

You're current one which is going to be much more improved, is my level of "I'm done already..."

I can't wait to see your before and after comparisons :D

obviously my photo skills are still lacking... but I need proper equipment first :p

[Bjorn Firewalker]

A fine army, Marshal Wolfhart. In the first picture, did you scratch-build the left Dreadnought's twin-linked autocannons? Edited May 12, 2017 by Bjorn Firewalker

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Thank you, though the camera is really merciful on that picture ;)

 

@Bjorn: Ancient brother Bohmond is actually a Black Reach Dreadnought with the weapons cut off and replaced with autocannons from the cadian heavy weapons team. Bad spots are hidden behind a layer of kitbash like that plate with the aquila on the front of the right arm. Once his base is presentable i will proudly post a close up ;)

[Honda]

The most important point to focus on, is the fact that you are here. We all get distracted. Traitors and Heretics abound, looking for opportunities to sway the faithful.

 

Be strong!

 

Temptation can be easily banished by a full swing of your arm bearing a chainsword.

 

Be steadfast!

 

There will be many challenges forthcoming, but none can overcome ZEAL!

 

Be...a Templar!

[Marshal Wolfhart]

All work is on hold until the challenge of five is completed! What an opportunity to try my camera tonight

 

Edit: Here are two pictures of the five initiates, I would love some feedback on the lighting (mix of actual daylight to lamps) as i will fiddle with that more once i get to photograph painted models.

 

<pics deleted>

 

Also i will cut down on the size of future pictures.

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Marshal Wolfhart]

The five are primed

 

 

 

And the first brother is close to done (touching up the shoulderpads and purity seal, freehands)

 

<pics deleted>

 

Also, barrels will have to be drilled.

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Looks promising.

[Honda]

Your trooper is shaping up nicely. The highlights on the backpack look a little heavy, but can be darkened with a wash, or tidied up.

 

One tip I learned for edged highlights that was so obvious that I never thought about it, was, "You can always go back with your black and touch up some of those thicker highlights."

 

Seriously, I'd give it a go, see one that was too heavy and just think, "Crap, that looks terrible. I'll try harder on the next one", never thinking "Hey, go back and fix it!"

 

What surprised me was the fact that tidying up isn't as hard as putting the original highlight on. :)

 

Anyway, you're doing great, keep up the good work!

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Thank you Honda, i'll come back to that.

i actually tend to do cleaning up a lot. And then redo what i cleaned up too much and then... you get it, right? But yes, that is good advice many people don't consider.

 

Once all five are at an acceptable level i'll come back to each and every one and give them the proper treatment deserving of a Templar. Sadly i'm in the middle of taking exams and plan to go to holidays immediately after with the empress of my IRLImperium. That'll leave me with 5 days tops for painting, so meeting the challenge comes before getting everything right in detail. Which will, in the spirit of this thread, not be postponed before touching the previous WIPs again!

 

Finally i managed to get the Swordbrother with fist close to done. As with the previous brother, cloth will be touched up, muzzle drilled and i'll take another pass at the freehand on the shoulder and the eyes, not wuite happy with either. Anyways, Pics:

 

<pics deleted>

 

(these two were taken with the phone again, can't be bothered to break out the setting at midnight )

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Marshal Wolfhart]

All five are close to finished Shoulderpads, seals and bases tbd. Maybe a bit of cleanup

 

<pics deleted>

 

I did resize the pic which makes it kind of blurry... i'll get proper shots when they're done.

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Challenge against the dawn is completed

 

<pics deleted>

 

Now back to getting proper pictures done and my assault squad!

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Marshal Wolfhart]

I finally got around to get settled with imgur, screw photobucket!

Thank the Emperor i wasn't lazy since the last post here, i'll take more pictures and move some old ones one of these days.

 

For now I'll have my Knightfall vow:

 

 

And renew my oath to never let slip the painting ZEAL again!

 

Here is my crusade at the current state, ill put everything in spoilers to save scroll time ;)

 

Marshal:

 

Chaplain:

 

Emperor's Champion:

 

Terminators:

 

Sternguard (in for repaint to red trim, black pad, red cross):

 

Dreadnoughts:

 

Assault squad:

 

Crusaders:

 

Crusaders 2:

 

I'm almost through repainting my older crusaders, next up will be seven more terminators and two predators!

 

Also, could i bribe a mod into deleting some of the above posts, that are essentialyl pointless without the according pics?

Edited November 15, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Hawklynn]

Has Brother Kevin found that backpack yet?

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Sadly not with the second crusader pic he's in the third row, second from left and i see no exhausts next to that helmet... Someone has to take that daily painglove!

 

When i get around to him i might jsut magnetoze it for the giggles :D

Edited November 16, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Work is getting done on the High Marshal, as posted over on the IF-Expansion thread: Basecoat and first pass of highlights, shades are next.

[Marshal Wolfhart]

WIP shots on the High Marshal. He'll soon be ready to inspect his troops :)

 

 

Tried my hand on wet blending for the first time in earnest on the grading highlight on the cloak and golden armor parts. I'm really pleased with the results, but the black side of the cloak will get another pass.

Then I went on to get some first ever OSL on the parchment next to the lantern. Not sure i'll leave it at that.

I also consider painting the tabard white, because i really think it's too black in black on the front (maybe freehand a cross on there as the store photo has... might see)

Many a thing to be considered, many a brush stroke yet to be made...

[Honda]

Your Marshal is coming along very nicely. I think you did an excellent job on the fabric on the inside of the cloak. That little extra detail really makes it pop. Also, painting on that area must have been character building. :)

 

You are right about the black on black. Something you might consider is working up your highlights from a dark blue or a brown so that the fabric stands out, then when you finish up the detail (e.g. chains) and looks different from your armor which has a grey highlight.

 

He's not an easy guy to paint.

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Fresh from the IFE:

 

 

 

I went ahead and painted to tabard white, just to realize it drowns out most of the details and went back over to get it back to black. Better part of four hours painting for naught...

Same with the face basically, i painted it lighter, then went over it to get it darker, starting the highlighting over. Got to the conclusion i might have painted it to the best of my current ability. I will in the future get another Helbrecht and drill that Tiara thing off to get him a proper helmet, also in hope of a better cast for the model.

 

Oh, Honda, the idea with the brown or blue tint highlight for the tabard is awesome! Wish i had read that before today's painitng session. I'll revisit the model with that input. In fact the model in itself was fun to work on, but finecast properties really ruined it, for example the rivets on the right knee are unequal and one is missing in my case, or the cross on the left shoulder pad didnt have a proper rim so i had to cut it in with the knife. That's really depressing work to be done on what could an awesome sculpt. Also the edges in general as well as some surfaces jsut aren't homogenous and smooth but rather grizzled. Then again, my wife bought this one for me six years ago, so i was inclined to give it my best shot...

Edited December 31, 2017 by Marshal Wolfhart

[Smoke Frog]

I like the colors on your high marshal, he looks great!

[Brother Talarian]

Looks great! Very well done on the black cloak

[Firepower]

A nicely gritty approach you've taken with the big bossman. The scripture on his gun could use a bit of tidying up, though. From what I can see, I think it's indeed within your skill set to 'fix' the face with a lighter fleshtone highlight. Just start small, sit back, look it over, and repeat as necessary.

 

It's a shame you had to work with a bad sculpt :(

[Marshal Wolfhart]

*Blows the dust off*

So, i, um, yeah, okay i'll see myself to the painglove... though i just didn't post i didn't not paint

Let me present my most recent progress (mobile cam and cardbordbox with white paper, nothing fancy):

Reclusiarch Grimaldus:

I mean, i had to at one point and i'm proud with what i did to him ^^

And his three cenobyte servitors:

And then there are the new boys around, my first Primaris, opening with what i intended as a Castellan but might well call my prim. Emperor's Champion:

Accompanied by my first Intercessor squad:

Aaaand Indomitus hit, so:

Just finished this chap tonight with the other two still waitig for the brush. What wonderful models (and what an idiot i am for gluing the shield in place before painting )

There's other things that were painted in the last two years, i'll eventually add new group shots, when i got my work space cleaned up and a proper camera to hand again.

Let me know what you think and thanks for having a gander

[Urkh]

Looking good. I just wish there was more lighting so I could see them better! I usually use two lamps pointed at the front of the minis, but one angled to the left, and the other to the right to avoid shadows and see as much of the mini as possible. I am also just using white paper as my background and a phone camera. Atm, one of my lamps is broken, so i just adjust the brightness setting of the camera before I take the picture.

[Marshal Wolfhart]

Looking good. I just wish there was more lighting so I could see them better! I usually use two lamps pointed at the front of the minis, but one angled to the left, and the other to the right to avoid shadows and see as much of the mini as possible. I am also just using white paper as my background and a phone camera. Atm, one of my lamps is broken, so i just adjust the brightness setting of the camera before I take the picture.

Thanks, didn't even think of tampering with the cam settings, i'll look into that. For lighting i used an office lamp above and in front of the models, might change the angle on that, with two softer lights behind the camera.

 

On another note, i plan on redoing my bases with some martian dust stuff, is there an alternative to the GW technical paint that works as well?