Advice/feedback on painting chips & battle damage on black

[firestorm40k]

Hi, I'm currently painting a Kill Team (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/350211-kill-teams-kill-zones-of-the-odothese-sector-update-12oct), a diy chapter with almost-black/very dark grey armour. I am depicting them as survivors of a series of ambishes/traps, so want to put the odd scratch/chip on the armour to represent where bullets have grazed the armour, that sort of thing.

 

I don't want to go all out on chipping, like for example Grizzly_bear's superb Scythes of the Emperor (http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/290022-scythes-of-the-emperorim-backagain/page-1), as I've already highlighted the first miniature, but I just want a couple of 'scratches' on each model.

 

I've had a few trial attempts, I was just wondering if anyone had any feedback, or better ideas to be honest!

 

First attempt: sponge with Boltgun Metal, make more prominent scratches with Mithril Silver, then try and get a shadow effect with a line of Chaos Black/Abaddon Black:

 

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/firestorm40k/Kill%20Team%20Project/2018-10-16%2020.32.05_zpsfxlr7kra.jpg

 

I need to get a smaller sponge applicator, as this is messier than I'm aiming for.

 

Second and third attempts: a few flicks of Boltgun Metal, followed by Mithril Silver:

 

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/firestorm40k/Kill%20Team%20Project/2018-10-16%2020.32.50_zpso85mqdla.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/firestorm40k/Kill%20Team%20Project/2018-10-16%2020.33.37_zpsinm36n2e.jpg

 

Closer to what I'm aiming for, but I still think they're missing something - I want them to stand out just a little more from the armour.

 

Fourth attempt: Boltgun Metal, mix Boltgun Metal and Mithril Silver, then highlighting the 'bottom' of the scratch with Mithril, finally shading with a black line at the top (not very clear on this pic, sorry!):

 

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c274/firestorm40k/Kill%20Team%20Project/2018-10-16%2020.34.27_zpsil6tjtpn.jpg

 

The shape of this isn't quite right, but it does stand out a bit more against the armour, which is what I want.

 

Any feedback on which method works/looks best? Or any suggestions for better methods I could try?

 

Thanks for looking and for any comments! B)

[Lord Raven 19]

I don't really like damage on my models but I suppose a drybrush of a dark brown followed by a stippling of silver could work.

[Honda]

Similar discussion: http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/350614-chipped-black-armour/?p=5174103

[Subtle Discord]

On page 48 of Legion Rising I talk a little about the way I apply sponge chipping; in particular, I use clamping needle-nose tweezers to grab hold of a small chunk of sponge and if I want more control I can clamp it so only a tiny tuft is protruding. If you want a more subtle chipping effect try to find foam with smaller bubbles and experiment with how much paint you'll need on a bit of primed sprew before committing to a model. I talk more in depth and about other tricks that help me in the article along with some images, so maybe it'll give you some perspective.

[Arkhanist]

I quite like this method for battle damage on black/dark grey armour; re-use the edge highlight colour to do long thin scratches, and add a lighter 'flare' where scratch and edge meet. (starts at 14:45)