Task Force Umbra - a Raven Guard 5th company WIP

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

is 55 points just the scout squad? You aren't getting points for the LSS as well?

I see now.

 

No, the LSS was done before ETL started so it's just the Scouts sadly.

 

Vow two will be bigger, but I'm not sure what it'll be yet.

[librisrouge]

Wow, that is just awesome. That kinda work is why this inquisitor likes to peek in on the Ravenspire from time to time.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Wow, that is just awesome. That kinda work is why this inquisitor likes to peek in on the Ravenspire from time to time.

Thanks Frater, glad you like it. I really wanted to do justice to such an underloved model.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the Scouts and their transport.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Vow two for ETL:

I've had a couple of nights working on them now. The drybrushing is done and I've got the grey and most of the metallics down in preparation for the great Nuln Oiling. They're very satisfying to paint so far.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Making progress. Just need to tidy up the inevitable stray brushmarks, then it'll be Nuln Oil time.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

More progress on the Reivers:

I'm really enjoying painting these guys, they're such great models. And I've never had so much fun painting Space Marine helmets. I've still got the leather to do, which will help break up all the black, and the highlights on the weapon casings. Then it's just decals and basing left.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Painting is complete!

I'm hopefully going to get started on the 30 decals this squad needs this evening, and after that it's just basing. Ideally I'll get this vow done by the beginning of next week, but it doesn't look like I'll have time for much more. Maybe I can squeeze in a lieutenant or a squad of Aggressors...

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

TL;DR - sometimes printers are dicks.

 

So the Chapter badge and the battlefield role icon have gone onto each mini. Then I hit a snag when I realised I didn't have a high enough Gothic number for the left knee squad marking.

 

Off I go to B&C's decal repository for a sheet of white-on-black gothic numbers, fire up my printer, and....nothing. Elderly laptop refuses to connect to even more elderly printer. 4 hours later when I finally get them to talk to each other, my black comes out pink.

 

Fine, my printer is nearly 10 years old, maybe it's time for a replacement. So Tuesday evening sees me trying to install a new printer. It takes a whole 24 hours to download and install the framework and drivers to make it work, so my decals didn't get printed until last night. I've got two coats of varnish on them, and will hopefully be able to get a third sprayed on tonight.

 

As such my decal plans have slipped substantially, but I'm still hoping to get the rest of the decals and the bases done over the weekend. Still hopeful I'll be able to add at least a Primaris Lieutenant for vow three.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

I'd like to think I've gotten fairly good at applying decals now. I've been doing it fairly regularly for 18+ months now, I've probably applied 100 or so at this point to a variety of miniatures, and my processes have gotten sharper. But this was a new level of transfer hell:

Trying to get the squad number on the kneepads of my Reivers has been a nightmarish ball ache. The kneepad seems to be almost conical, so getting a flat transfer to lie flush has been hellish. I've applied three coats of Microsol, made relief cuts, trimmed away excess material, and still some of them won't sit!

It's only one or two that aren't quite right still, so I'm hoping that they won't be too noticeable once everything is varnished, but it means that I only got started on my bases last night, and a third vow is looking increasingly unlikely.

[duz_]

That is dedication brother! :tu:

 

Once you finish a squad of markings we need a picture sure it'll look great on the tabletop!

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Second vow is finally completed.

I really enjoyed painting these guys. I love the Phobos pattern armour, the leather webbing, and the big weapons, but there's also a few nice details like the screen on the Sergeant's arm and a few little cables that make the painting process interesting. I'm looking forward to picking up some of the new Vanguard squads when they come out.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

The Reivers are well done.

[Dracos]

GFD sweet work love the bases

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Thanks chaps.

 

I think I’m done for ETL this year but I’m going to keep working on my RG alongside some terrain. And I can’t wait until the new Phobos boxes come out, I’m going to be all over some Eliminators.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Some post ETL progress being made.

I'd hoped to get this guy into ETL but I just didn't have time. I'm pretty pleased with how he's going, I'm really trying to up my highlighting game.

[duz_]

Highlighting these guys is painful!

 

I like the shiney shoulder pads :tu:

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Highlighting these guys is painful!

 

I like the shiney shoulder pads

I think I'm going to do a few edge highlights on this guy's armour, there's a few places where the drybrush hasn't taken as well as I'd like.

 

The shiny shoulder pads are purely temporary, it's just a pre-transfer gloss varnish.

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

Hot damn that LT looks badass

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Hot damn that LT looks badass

Thanks Frater. I’m pretty pleased with how he’s going. It’s such a great model, I really wanted to do it justice.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Second Lieutenant, Raven Guard 5th Company

I really enjoyed painting this guy, lots of interesting bits. I also got a chance to try out Raven Guard skin, though I'm not a big fan of helmetless Astartes so it might be the first and only time I get to pain super pale skin.

I've got three Aggressors up next, and I'm going to try to get a full army shot done at some point this week.

[Shadow Captain Vyper]

I think the skin looks great, and I look forward to seeing you give it another go when you buy the new Shrike ;)

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

I think the skin looks great, and I look forward to seeing you give it another go when you buy the new Shrike

 

Thanks Frater.

 

Sadly I think new Shrike is an abomination and I shan't be going anywhere near him. Next on the RG shopping list (once I've painted my Aggressors, Devastators, Predator, T'au Kill Team, Red Hunters Chaplain, Red Hunters Lieutenant, Inquisitor & retinue, Cawdor gang, Aeronautica Imperialis squadron, and a big pile of assorted terrain) will be an Invictor, a squad of Eliminators, a squad of Incursors, and maybe some Phobos character conversions with a spare box of Reivers I've got lying around (who will all be wearing helmets like the Sensible Marines they are.

[Bjorn Firewalker]

Excellent work on the LT.

[golfdeltafoxtrot]

Up next on the painting table: