Tips for painting these two blacks

[Valkyrion]

 

I know they're AoS pictures (boooo!) but it's actually to test a black tyranid scheme out (yay!).

 

I don't line highlight, so if anyone could advise how to achieve a similar result with drybrushing and washes that would be ideal.

I think I prefer the more grey colouring of the dreadlord, looks almost metallica, but the spinal tap none more black could look suitably sinister on tyranids without doing the shiny xenomorph thing.

 

All help appreciated!

[Firedrake Cordova]

I could be wrong, but the wings on the first one look like they've got a bit of brown in them? In which case, you'd be looking at the "Skaven greys" (Eshin Grey, Stormvermin Fur, Skavenblight Dinge). Don't forget that you can easily make highlight tones by adding ivory (or yellow) to the base colour.

 

For highlighting, I'm guessing Artis Opus' videos on a Tyranid Harpy and dragon skin would be helpful?

[Valkyrion]

My drybrush game is decidedly bang average, but its the best game I've got - I'm not at Artis Opus levels of wizardry, nor am I spending that kinda brass on brushes I haven't earned!

 

It was more the colour choice than technique anyway. As you say, the top one looks like its got a hint of brown, and the bottom seems to highlighted with blues maybe - neither colour I've ever used to highlight black before - mechanicus > dawnstone > administratum is my black, but I think that will look too inorganic on nids. 

[Firedrake Cordova]

Whilst the Artis Opus Series D brushes are nice, Army Painter's Masterclass drybrush set and Artify''s drybrushes are similar and a lot cheaper (although I've never used them).  I thought the videos might be useful for any ideas on how to approach drybrushing wings - obviously I was distracted by the dragon example images and forgot Tyranids don't really have many wings.   

 

You're right about the second one having some blue ink it - maybe Dark Reaper, Thunderhawk Blue, and Fenrisian Grey mixed in for the final highlights? 

 

I think the main thing if you're going to be washing your models is to make sure the base coat isn't black (just a dark off-black), so that the washes can darken the recesses.