Home-brew Chapter: White Vipers

[jester_prince]

I've reinvented my home brew chapter (previously the Iron Hawks until a GW employee made them an official chapter). I wanted to alter their colour scheme anyway as I felt the previous colour scheme was a bit dark and I wanted to try out some new painting techniques, so they have become the White Vipers.

 

It was also an excuse to buy a new boatload of minis.

 

Lots of TLDR, be warned sorry.

 

Old colour scheme:

 

First attempt at the colour scheme and weathering was this squad, I decided the camo triangles needed to be darker once weathering was applied.

 

Weathering was done using the Hair spray technique.

 

Lieutenant painted in the same scheme. Again it’s a bit muddled and camo is more of a suggestion, later models would have better contrast.

 

Captain, outlining the camo added a bit more definition to the camo but takes more time to do, I would continue this on characters and display models later but impractical for rank and file if I want to get troops on the table fast.

 

Smash captain kitbash. As my force was to be primaris only I didn’t want to include the older marines due to the scale discrepancy. However I always love melee units with jump packs, so for now hes a counts as.

This model forgoes the Hairspray technique for more traditional weathering chipping, I think I prefer the end result but again not feasible to do on all units if I want to get them painted and on the table.

 

 My second full squad of rank and file. Using the revised recipe, using the hairspray technique.  

I think this creates the right balance of contrast on the Camo, without losing the details that occurs with some camo schemes.

 

Reiver squad, this was me putting my skill to the test, I really adore these models and I wanted to make them look the best I could so I went all out. I went with the classic chipping technique. You can also see my chapter markings some of the shoulders. These guys are magnatised (for kill team) so they are missing some shoulder pads, I will attempt to find some bits.

 

Redemptor, not fully happy with this guy, I need to clean him up a bit and add highlighting. He looks too dirty, even by my standards.

 

 

 

“Shrike”, of course they were going to be Raven Guard successors, definitely not any other Legion that favours subterfuge and sneak attacks.

 

 

Eliminators up next:

 

And the first of 3 baby carriers/stealth dreadnaughts  (I love these daft models)

 

Librarian is nearly finished, I can’t decide on how I want the sword to look, a glowing sword kinda seems unstealthy, but then again hes a librarian, he probably walks around shrouding himself in peoples minds rather than actively trying to sneak

 

My special project

This one is on hold until we get a clearer picture of THAT image.

 

Also to come, 5 Inceptors, 3 Supressors.

 

 

Edited February 17, 2020 by jester_prince

[Frostbit3]

Looks great. I like it when models look like they’ve been in the war zone for awhile.

I’ve done an army where I didn’t clean up the base rims because I liked how it looked but I wonder if it wouldn’t help your guys stand out from the bases a bit. It looks like you did it in a couple guys here and there.

[War Angel]

You should paint the bases, it would make them pop so much more, in a good way. Otherwise, these guys look great, looking forward to an army picture.

[Kolgrim DeathHowl]

Excellent painting and conversions!!

[jester_prince]

You should paint the bases, it would make them pop so much more, in a good way. Otherwise, these guys look great, looking forward to an army picture.

 

I will. I am going to base all the units once I have finished (and added decals) the Battlesuit and eliminators and then do the bases all at once.

[DaBoiKyknos]

Models are looking great! How does this hair spray technique work your mentioned?

[dex_911]

Yes please explain the hair spray technique. Also I would love a paint recepeie on how you achieved the 'white'.

 

Looks great!

[jester_prince]

Okay, so.
 

Models are looking great! How does this hair spray technique work your mentioned?

 
The hairspray technique is basically a method of chipping paint realistically. Its often used by WW2 tank modelers and they favour it because you are actually chipping paint away. This gives the chip actual depth, which is subtle at scale but you can tell.
 
To achieve this.

• Base coat your mini with a decent primer, if you can get the base colour you want to show through you can skip the next 2 steps.
• Then paint your model all over where you want chipping, colours that contrast your final colour work best. In my case I used a dark metallic metal.
• I tend to varnish this layer for added protection, but in theory this isn't needed.
• Take regular cheap hairspray you buy from your local supermaket, I use Morrisons own brand and spray the whole model. (AK interactives chipping fluid also works in exactly the same way and I have trialed it but have not noticed any real difference in quality).
• Leave it to dry for a few hours.
• Apply the final colour of paint (in my case a very light grey, white and camo stripes), I use an airbrush to do this step.*
• Once dry, apply water to the model in areas you want chipping. This will react with with hairspray layer under the top layer of paint and you can carefully remove chips with a soft brush and a toothpick. 
• Leave to dry.
• Paint the rest of the model.

*I see no reason why application with a brush won't work aslong as your not washing the hairspray layer away. Spray can may work here too if its not a plastic based primer but I havn't tried this.
 
It's a fairly simple method to get some realistic chips and importantly, quick to do for rank and file troops and vehicles.

 

 

Yes please explain the hair spray technique. Also I would love a paint recepeie on how you achieved the 'white'.

 

Looks great!

 

So the off white is acheived using 50/50 "AK Interactive Streak and Grime" and  "AK Interactive Dark Streak and Grime".

 

1. So following on from the above steps the top layer is Vallejo Sky grey with Vallejo White sprayed top down using an airbrush. 
2. Paint the whole model as you please. You might want to throw a matt varnish over the model now.
3. Apply the 50/50 mix of Streak and Grime to the whole model (I like to do it after painting the entire model as it desaturates it and ties all the shades together, though if you want a higher contrast apply this before you paint other details), this will look super duper scary.
   
   DO NOT PANIC! This is normal, It will look like a muddy brown mess. You do not need to let it dry before moving onto the next step, nor do you need to worry about it drying out.
4. Gently dab the model using a Cotton Swap soaked in White spirits and start removing the streak'n'grime. Please note that this WILL soften the acrylic pain underneath so you need to using a dabbing motion, not a pulling/pushing motion. The acrylic wont flake off or anything and once dry will be fine, but while the white spirits is wet you should be gentle, especially if hairspray has been used previously.

Remove as much or as little of the Streak and Grime as you like.

 

It will stain everything slightly, including your hands (so wear gloves, and when using white spirits a resperator). I like this over the whole model as previously stated as it desaturates everything slightly and pulls all the colours together, then you can highlight with the original colour. For instance I then like to go over the stained white with pure white and highlight the edges.

 

Its a good way of creating focal points on models too. I like to leave in in the recessed areas and on the feet as this is where most of the dirt will collect and as I move to towards the head remove more.

 

You can take your time and even go back to it later with more white spirits if you feel its been to heavy, as it will reactivate the enamel paints for days after. They do not reactivate with water. Or go back with more Streak and Grime if you decide you want more as it blends super easily with previous layers.

 

You can also achieve similar effects with Oil washes and white spirits, though I have yet to explore this, but would open up a whole world of colour blending.

Edited February 23, 2020 by jester_prince

[Ryltar Thamior]

oh man, that's some really nice and striking camouflage AND a decent off-white! Well done!

Very cool conversions you've got going, as well. 

I might draw some inspiration from your success with the wedge camouflage as applies the Badab alternate colour-scheme enthusiasm that's going around recently

[jester_prince]

oh man, that's some really nice and striking camouflage AND a decent off-white! Well done!

 

Very cool conversions you've got going, as well. 

 

I might draw some inspiration from your success with the wedge camouflage as applies the Badab alternate colour-scheme enthusiasm that's going around recently

 

If you do, please share them here, I love to see more Camo schemes on marines.

[DaBoiKyknos]

Thanks for the answer! Might try this myself.