First time painting battle damage, C&C appreciated

[thewarriorhunter]

I've always painted in a clean and 'battle ready' style but I feel that needs to change. My basing is starting to be more distressed and battle damaged so I want my marines to match.

 

For the large chipping I sponged on Vallejo Natural Steel and Air Metallic Black. I think they were a little too thin (I added some water, habit) so they look a little splotchy. I think if I didn't thin that might come out better.

 

The scarring was Vallejo Black, then Dark Gray, and the Silvergray to highlight up. I'm wondering if the black is too stark a contrast and if I made the initial scar with Dark Gray I would like it more?

 

I am out of my comfort zone and don't like it, but I'm not sure if that's because it's new to me, it's only on part of the model and looks incomplete, or perhaps it's complete trash and I need to try a different approach. Let me know what you think, and feel free to tell me what I can do better.

 

[Bryan Blaire]

It looks good, although it also looks like some heavy damage. Maybe try a little less paint on the sponge, and for that light grey, maybe consider a brown for the damage chips?

 

The highlighting under the scratches looks a bit thick in places, so you may consider going over them with your base color to thin it out a little. It makes the scratching look more like deep gouges, but there are a couple of the scratch lines that don't appear to be full black (like it got filled in).

 

I'm like you, I usually paint my Marines more at the start of battle - you've gotten further along on the battle damage than I usually do. About the farthest I've ever gone is metallic scratches and chips.

 

Something I always see recommended is do the majority of your weathering where logically there would be the most wear - so the feet, knees, elbows, hands, and pauldrons are the places most likely to see more chipping on a Marine - Dreads are possibly similar, may just need to adjust some (central torso is a lot larger, so probably takes more damage).

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

I could see myself doing battle damage on Veterans and such, personally.

 

I think your battle damage almost looks... stylized. Think Borderlands or TF2. It almost seems stylized toward that near-cartoon style.

[thewarriorhunter]

I could see myself doing battle damage on Veterans and such, personally.

 

I think your battle damage almost looks... stylized. Think Borderlands or TF2. It almost seems stylized toward that near-cartoon style.

 

I felt the same and that was my fear. I don't want a 'cartoony' look. I appreciate your feedback.

[Zephaniah Adriyen]

 

I could see myself doing battle damage on Veterans and such, personally.

 

I think your battle damage almost looks... stylized. Think Borderlands or TF2. It almost seems stylized toward that near-cartoon style.

 

I felt the same and that was my fear. I don't want a 'cartoony' look. I appreciate your feedback.

 

Just trying to help. Bit of feedback for someone who's asking for it, yeah? I figure it's a look SOMEONE might want, and I actually think it kiiiiinda fits with your Chapter's general look.

[PeteySödes]

I think the stylized look would be mitigated by some dirt! The damage itself is on the right track though. If you used some washes or glazes to break up or shade the armor panels a bit I think that could do the trick. Pigment powders also work really nicely and could help here.

 

Your paint is really smooth and clean which is great! It’s always easier to dirty it up than it is to “clean” a messy piece IMO. I’d just keep playing to find what you like because I think your totally on the right track.

[Bung]

The main problem for me is that the armour in generall is to clean. You got no contrast on the plates and painting the clean scratches makes it look cartoony.

The scratches are well painted and would look great on a weatherd model.

Maybe have a look at armour scale modelling vids. They are great for such stuff when painting Space Marines etc.

[K0rtmer]

I'm currently levelling up my chipping and weathering skills and have just finished watching this, which I found very helpful and inspiring:

 

 

My chipping often doesn't look good because I do too many chips. Less is more. Like somebody said above, it's important to put them where they'd naturally occur. This would be my main suggestion for you: your chips aren't where you'd expect them, hence the overall appearance is a bit 'off'. 

 

Looks like you have decent brush control though, which is a great place to start from. 

[Ovidius Incertus]

The main problem for me is that the armour in generall is to clean. You got no contrast on the plates and painting the clean scratches makes it look cartoony.

 

 

Concur.  Too little depth in the plates makes the battle damage stand out because it's the only feature.

 

Also agree that some of the highlights are too thick, but that's more of a practice with brush control issue than a theory issue.

[thewarriorhunter]

I appreciate all of the feedback, and there will be some blue added to the knees do help break things up. Here's a couple completed Intercessors so you all can see my finished product:

 

 

I guess this is one of those things where I need to do the whole thing to see a complete look. I also agree that less is more. I've been looking at lots of models that have battle damage and I can already see some simple things I can do differently with the sponging.

 

 

 

Also agree that some of the highlights are too thick, but that's more of a practice with brush control issue than a theory issue.

 

 

Totally agree. Brush control and bad brushes. I've been trying to make my beat up synthetics work but they are shot. I just ordered a new set of kolinsky brushes that a friend has raved about. I've got a W&N series 7 that has been my workhorse so I'm done with synthetics. Adding some newer brushes that are smaller will hopefully help my highlighting game as the tips will be more precise.

[thewarriorhunter]

Oh, and this is the base that the Redemptor will be going on:

 

[NiceGuyAdi]

With the chipping, maybe think of the armour plating as having three colour layers: your clean "battle ready" outer, a base material on the inside, and a primer material in between them. Like this bowl:

 

 

You'd sponge on only the primer material, then trace that carefully with a brush. That way the chipping looks like it's going through consistently, which I don't think you'll manage to get if you sponge both the base material and the primer.

 

Thanks for sharing your WiP, it helps everyone to see your experiences.

[thewarriorhunter]

I'm currently levelling up my chipping and weathering skills and have just finished watching this, which I found very helpful and inspiring:

 

My chipping often doesn't look good because I do too many chips. Less is more. Like somebody said above, it's important to put them where they'd naturally occur. This would be my main suggestion for you: your chips aren't where you'd expect them, hence the overall appearance is a bit 'off'. 

 

Looks like you have decent brush control though, which is a great place to start from. 

 

That was a really good video, thanks for sharing. I think I'm going to give what he did a shot and his sponge tip of what not to do is exactly what I did.

 

I'm not sure what colors I should chip with now... he talks about going up a color and then down. I'm concerned that might be too bright but I'll give it a shot and see how it turns out.

[thewarriorhunter]

Alright, round two is up. Redemptor's left leg is the new attempt:

 

 

[K0rtmer]

Wow, that's so much better than your first go. Fantastic improvement. Good choices of colours too - a dark brown and silvery metallic tone is what I would've suggested.

[Dosjetka]

Try #2 is a marked improvement over the initial test. :tu:

Don't be scared to also add some scratches here and there with your brush. Just make sure that you keep the thin and that the highlight you add beneath it also stays very thin. Inspiration below (test model of mine that I painted a few weeks back):

Hidden Content

[PeteySödes]

Yea im with Dos, combine the two and you'll be golden. I still think you could use a "third" color in there. I think a gentle dusting of dirt pigment to match the almost sepia base would really make it work.