Progress Log: Alpha Legion Warband: "The Last Surprise"

[hd3]

So I finally was able to make a start on my Alpha Legion warband; The Last Surprise. I picked up the old start collecting chaos space marine box, since the Master of Possession is a much better HQ stat wise for the Alpha Legion than the combat patrol's dark apostle. I decided to go with a metallic paint scheme that I'm using based on this video:

 

 

 

I picked up some sector imperialis bases for the legionary rank and file but i ran out of money so i used regular bases for the possesed and obliterators and a recycled sigmar base for the master. 

[hd3]

I've put a leadbelcher primer on 

And added a zenithal highlight with Tamiya bright silver rattle can

[Firedrake Cordova]

It looks like you're off to a good start (nice videos, too)  

 

I do like how the brass/gold came out, using Gore Grunta Fur over Leadbelcher.  

[hd3]

[hd3]

I've finally made a start on my AL warband now the terrain is all finished. Here, I used a thin coat of Vallejo gloss varnish to reduce the surface tension, then a coat of nuln oil gloss to brighten up the recess details. I think I let it pool a little much though. 

 

The first half of the base coat is aethermatic blue which I just took straight out of the pot since the pigmentation is so low. I had difficulty getting it to stick on the back half of the torso though.

[Boc]

The pale blue really turned out well, so worth the effort. Looks very smooth so if it didn't stick well i definitely can't tell from the photos. Also, I don't think there's such thing as "too much nuln oil"

[Firedrake Cordova]

It's a nice colouration  I don't think many people will notice the slight difference in colour on the back of the torso due to the backpack (I suppose you could try painting over it with Lahmian Medium [as it's a matte medium, so should be a bit "grippier"] and then another coat of Aethermatic Blue if it was really bothering you?)

 

I think the Nuln Oil wash worked out quite well - you've got some nice black-lining on the panels. There's a couple of bits of pooling on the silver trim, but obviously that's quite easy to remedy.  

Edited March 29, 2023 by Firedrake Cordova

[Xenith]

3 hours ago, hd3 said:

I had difficulty getting it to stick on the back half of the torso though.

 

This is an issue with the leadbelcher spray and maybe the tamiya - If you spray leadbelcher, then overbrush the whole model with leadbelcher pot paint, this should clear up. For some reason the contrasts and washes don't like the GW metallic sprays. Something something surface tension. 

[hd3]

21 hours ago, Xenith said:

 

This is an issue with the leadbelcher spray and maybe the tamiya - If you spray leadbelcher, then overbrush the whole model with leadbelcher pot paint, this should clear up. For some reason the contrasts and washes don't like the GW metallic sprays. Something something surface tension. 

 

I'll try that on the next one. Do you know if the tamiya spray does the same thing? Don't want to overbrush the leadbelcher and then get the same problem anyway after i zenithal it with the silver

[hd3]

I'm actually looking for suggestions on how to paint this gravel dirt bit here. I normally use biugmans glow and some washes for a clay desert effect but I wanted a starker contrast against the multi coloured rusts I'm going to put over the metal. 

[Xenith]

It might be a bit hard to see in the below photos, but I've used the same bases, I'm not a 100% fan of the texture on the gravel, so I stuck stirland battlemire over the top of the sculpted dirt and was pretty happy - I then did my standard mud scheme, which is wash with agrax, then successively ligher drybrushed of mournfang, XV88, then zandri dust. 

 

 

[Firedrake Cordova]

As that's a Sector Imperialis base, you could always say it was concrete debris or similar, and paint it a dark grey. Or do what @Xenith said  

[hd3]

So I've added akhelian green as a second base coat with a little contrast medium to thin it down. One thing I've noticed is that it is coming out a lot more green than the finished blue in the video guide I was looking at. I had to tidy up a bit with runefang steel which I now will have to tidy over again. I also left a spot you may notice on the back of the powerpack where its just the aethermatic blue which ironically is also coming out more green. I was going to go over this with the akhelian green to bring it in line with the rest of the power armour but I'm now liking the look of the contrasting hues. Like the light is changing across the armour as it reacts. What do you guys think?

 

I'm also looking for good guides on how to paint the cloth tabard and the leather straps and holsters if anyone has a good paint guide!

Edited April 5, 2023 by hd3

[Pearson73]

That's a lovely colour and I agree that having some variation in there is a good thing. Seems particularly fitting for the Alphas.

[hd3]

I finally mixed a little non metallic colours. Here I've done gore grunta fur for the leather over a corax white base, then washed with agrax and runefang for the studs. Then I did rhinox hide for the belt and holsters. For the cloth tabard, I used mephiston red with a black templar and contrast medium wash to make it look grimey. 

 

The fire grunta over the steel came out nice in the leather one but pooled up on the cloth and I'm debating if I want to keep the rust effect it gives or redo it to look more like the brass I intended.

[Grotsmasha]

On 3/30/2023 at 7:33 PM, hd3 said:

I'm actually looking for suggestions on how to paint this gravel dirt bit here. I normally use biugmans glow and some washes for a clay desert effect but I wanted a starker contrast against the multi coloured rusts I'm going to put over the metal. 

 

I've been doing mine in a toxic / corrosive sludge,

Spoiler

 

[hd3]

Damn, I wish I had seen this earlier, I just bought the paints for xenith's solution.  Looks amazing though. 

 

 

Here I've added in the next batch of colouring, Balthazar gold for the belt buckles and retributor for the high lights. I screwed up doing the eye lenses though, next Legionnaries I will follow the paint guide. 

 

I'm using gor grunta fur thinned down by 50 percent for the edges and some of the raised details. I used black legion contrast on the chest pipes and Abaddon black on the sword and gun panels. 

 

I've no idea how to paint the tassles on the knives though. I used contrasting bright colours with agrax but I feel like there has to be a nicer way to do it. so if anyone has any suggestions, please chime in. I also might buy some Tamiya olive drab for the grenade. Ice also added runelord brass with agrax on the metal cables. Im not sure if I should do any further edge highlighting on the body though after I finish with the weapons beyond the bone horns.

 

I also realized how much the runefang steel I used to tidy up the edges sticks out. Any tips on how to make that look a bit more consistent?

 

 

I also mostly like the colour scheme but it's not quite as blue as I want. Should I try mixing some macragge blue into the akhelian green?

 

as always, suggestions for improving welcome 

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2023 by hd3

[hd3]

So I've finally finished the first two Legionnaries. Just in time to realize I don't care for that shade of akhelian green. Thanks to grotsmasha, I found an alternative blend of talassar blue and aethermatic blue that I am going to use for the rest of the warband.

 

I also think for the horns In future, I'm going to start with a darker base tone and cap the horns with a lighter colour. 

 

For the bases, I used streaking grime along the angles and brown and dark red ochre pigments from Vallejo with pigment binder for the rust effects. I tried to do s transitional effect but it sort of blended together in a big mess. For the next ones, I'm going to use a fewer pigments and let a bit more of the metal show.

 

I also think I need a bit more paint or a bit more elbow grease for dry brushing the dirt areas because the Strickland battle mire Is the only bit that came through clearly.

 

I'm also debating if it's worth doing some edge highlighting with iron breaker along the armour joints.

Edited April 14, 2023 by hd3

[hd3]

Here's the new blue blend. I know the akhelian green looks blueish in the photos but it's much closer to green in real life

[Firedrake Cordova]

To be honest, I like both of the colours as presented here  

 

I think the suggestion of a light silver highlight on the armour is a good one - it'll help bring out things like the hard edges of the boots. You could apply it roughly (e.g. with a sponge) to look like chipping, perhaps? (those edges seem like they'd catch a fair few dings).

 

I think adding some scratch highlights onto the rusty areas of the base might help a little, too? As you sound a little unhappy with how the rust worked out, Vallejo has a good video on the subject using pigments and wash (and has an inspection grate as an example, which is kinda similar to your bases), as does Andy's Hobby HQ - I don't know if they're any help?

[hd3]

3 hours ago, Firedrake Cordova said:

To be honest, I like both of the colours as presented here  

 

I think the suggestion of a light silver highlight on the armour is a good one - it'll help bring out things like the hard edges of the boots. You could apply it roughly (e.g. with a sponge) to look like chipping, perhaps? (those edges seem like they'd catch a fair few dings).

 

I think adding some scratch highlights onto the rusty areas of the base might help a little, too? As you sound a little unhappy with how the rust worked out, Vallejo has a good video on the subject using pigments and wash (and has an inspection grate as an example, which is kinda similar to your bases), as does Andy's Hobby HQ - I don't know if they're any help?

 

I do too actually! It's just in real life, the first paint job doesn't look like the photo. Grotsmasha showed me if you do akhelian green to aethermatic blue 2 to 1,  you can get closer to the photo but it's not quite the same. 

 

I was debating doing the darker blue for the body and maybe the akh ath blue mix for the head . Add a bit of contrast.

 

Thanks for the video! I'll investigate next time I'm doing a base. 

 

Should I do a regular edge highlight in the armour seals and a scratch highlight on the body?

[Firedrake Cordova]

38 minutes ago, hd3 said:

I do too actually! It's just in real life, the first paint job doesn't look like the photo.

Ah, so what you're saying is that pointing your camera at the Chaos marine has led to it being corrupted? Or has an abominable intelligence snuck into it when you weren't looking and needs exorcising?   

 

38 minutes ago, hd3 said:

Should I do a regular edge highlight in the armour seals and a scratch highlight on the body?

Yeah, I think that's what I'd look at doing if it were me  

[space wolf]

Watched your video last night, by chance. Well done sir, well done.

[hd3]

So I've been trying out variations on the base paints, I've also switched from runefang steel to the less bright iron breaker for the trim. The first one is just thalassan blue and aethermatic blue. The second is akhelian green and aethermatic blue with takassan blue and aether blue mixed into the centre.

 

Again, in the photos the latter is the colour I want but in real life is much closer to green. I think I still might use a little akhl. green thinned with contrast med under the blue for the top of the power pack and the helmet.

 

I also think I didnt thin the black templar enough for the loincloth and might need more contract medium in future. Hopefully the matt varnish topcoat will fix it.

Edited April 18, 2023 by hd3

[Firedrake Cordova]

I really like that armour colour.  If the camera is being tricksy and not recording it correctly though, then only you can make a decision as to which one is "best", unfortunately.

 

In terms of painting the trim in Iron Breaker instead of Runefang Steel, that's an interesting one - I really like how the helmet horns, backpack, and shoulder pad trims look in the first image, but at the same time the trim on the legs looks a bit dark and indistinct? I'm guessing it's due to the metallic nature of the paint and differing viewing angles between the parts, as it's only the case in the first image?