Big Guns Never Tire, WIP Marine Chapter.

[Storm Hawks Legion]

so, I've been gone a while, if you don't remember me, don't feel bad I wasn't that memorable, but I'm back now.

so, my intent with this thread; something to kick my butt back into gear when I start lagging

I created a DIY Marine Chapter, named them the Forge Hawks

I intend to collect an entire chapter, eventually, for now, I'm sticking with a company.

This is what I have now, pretty close to a full company, except I was quite a bit younger and less skilled, and less patient when I built them

I know intend to go back, slowly but surely and rebuild them, along the lines of

Leave No Model Unconverted - WORKS IN PROGRESS - The Bolter and Chainsword

truescale, with other ideas stolen from around B&C as I go,

to date, I got suckered into buying a Dark Vengeance box, not sure how that happened, but, that's what I'm starting with so, way we go.

I started with the bikes

nothing to fancy, mostly just removed the more obtrusive DA Iconography and painted them up

my bike Squadron!

the Attack bike I built before going on Haitus...

sorry if the photos aren't up to typical B&C Standards, but I use what I have on hand, witch aint too much...

recommendations appreciated...

now, I like and enjoy Converting and Kit bashing, my GS-fu is very weak, so I try and avoid that much as I can

I also am not a big fan of painting...

reading peoples articles around B&C now, painting seems to be much more sophisticated and complex than I remember, so, if people would give me some advice/ point out some tutorials I would be appreciative

and so, lets see where we go from here...

edit: spellcheck only goes so far...

[Brother Pheidias]

Looks a little similar to the Howling Griffons, but otherwise a very nice force. For pictures, I recommend daylight, a single-coloured background (a piece of paper can suffice), using the macro-function (flower-icon on most digital cameras), and an online Photo-host like Photobucket.

[Storm Hawks Legion]

"I'll be back!"

 

Got my Terminators cleaned and assembled before the weekend, didn't get a chance for photos and posting like I wanted too though...

so I'm posting them now

 

Converted Sergeant

 

the chest plate is actually a standard Marines chest piece... plus a trimmed down Shoulder guard and MK VI helmet.

the older marks of armor are a mark of rank in my chapter, especially the MK VI, so, determining that the original face plate was all but un-usable, I put this together, I did the same with some of the Assault on Black Reach Terminators as well.

Still some GSing to do, fill in the top of the armor where the wings should have been, and under the chest...

and put a belt back on him

 

the entire Squad

 

haven't done much with anyone but the Sarge yet, still thinking about them

want to mod the chainfist, turn it into a large grinder, after all it was designed to breach bulkheads, a grinder or steel saw would make more sense to me than a chainsaw for that purpose, anyone know of any parts that look like a steel saw or a grinder that would work? considered an Ork dread's buzz saw, not sure where to get one or if it's as massive as it looks.

 

Pheidias, I have incorporated two of your suggestions so far, and to much better results, as for the other two, Photobucket keeps telling me I already have an account, but won't send me a password reset e-mail, or any e-mail for that matter... not in my junk folder not in my inbox... but it says the e-mail has already been used for an account, still working on it, might get it up for next update. As for Sunlight, a rather difficult proposition as I'm currently occupying a basement apartment, to get Daylight I'd have to truck everything I want photos of upstairs, then figure out a way of setting it up for pictures, without attracting attention to myself, not the best neighbourhood...

see what can be done, these photos were taken on my stove under the kitchen light, the hood light, and my painting light I pulled over, much better, but still a little on the dark side.

 

[Storm Hawks Legion]

"I'm proud of what I am; I am a librarian!"

 

got some time today and cranked my librarian out. trimmed some of the DA Iconography, I was actually very proud of how this guy came out, then I saw the photos and he's not nearly as clean as he seemed... little late now, and I'm still proud of how he looks

 

especially the orange robe

I really had some doubts as to how it was going to come out, but I think that looks pretty good.

 

now I just gotta figure out how to use him, never had one so I never figured out how to use them, never figured out how to use them so I never got one. now I have one, now I need to figure out psychic powers...

[Storm Hawks Legion]

well, not going so well,

first test miniature... there are parts of it I like

I'm actually fairly pleased with the left pauldron

aside from that, the purple is either not watered down enough for a wash, or is just  the wrong color, I was hoping it would help blend the two halves together, maybe I should be trying to go the other way? still a lot of touch up work to be done, which definitely contributes to the sloppy look, but I don't want to go and do a whole lot more if I just have to strip it down and start again.

 

thoughts or suggestions?

[Storm Hawks Legion]

Well, since no one seems to care about my painting abilities, I'll go back to what I can do well, Dreadnoughts.

 

"Dread nought but God."

 

Venerable Brother Lenus, from the standard model I have cut off and raised the Sepulcher, that's about it.

on another note, where would someone go looking to acquire a set of Sentinel legs? I have a conversion I want to do but, haven't done the leg work yet...

[lionofjudah]

eBay or bartertown for sentinel legs. I like the split color scheme you have going on. Bigger pics would help(of course my internet is on my phone;)

[Storm Hawks Legion]

finally got Photobucket working, now it keeps telling me "that extension is not allowed in this community,"

what am I missing?

[Brother-Chaplain Kage]

What file type did you save the pictures as?

[Storm Hawks Legion]

on my computer they're .jpg

I can upload them to B&Cs gallery and display them that way, but uploading them to Photobucket, I click the image box, it asks me for a URL, I get...

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/VenerableBrotherLenus.jpg

an image, never mind me, I'm just, exhausted, and going crazy...

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Loving the Dread! very cool.

 

What's the purple paint you've been trying out though, maybe I missed something?

[Storm Hawks Legion]

It's Vellojo violet, I listed the colours on the description in the gallery, should have reiterated here for clarity though...
tried again this morning,

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/a42cf1f7-eb5a-4a6d-bbe3-7c8c1f46462d.jpg

I was told be another thread to shade in the contrasting color, hence the yellow shaded with a blue, and the red shaded with a green, course it's not exact but, with my paint selection nothing is...

the green is also way to light I think...

 

the blue I think works though

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/TestMiniature3.jpg

try and finish it this afternoon, see what I get

[GodEmperorOfMankind]

Thanks for the clarification, I meant why are you using the violet for shading?

 

Personally I don't think it works, what is the end result meant to look like? You said another thread told you to do this, can you show an example?

 

My suggestion would be to do the basic colours as you have (I think you've got them down well enough) then do some basic sading with a wash like nuln oil, then highlight with the basic colours again and a little white. But that's just my 2 cents.

 

Keep it up though mate

[Storm Hawks Legion]

I rather dislike this whole "responsible adult" thing, I don't have time to do what I enjoy anymore...

but that sounds rather whiny and immature doesn't it? sigh...

 

Sorry Angels, I thought I replied to you before now, apparently not.

 

I don't have a link to the thread before, however a member recommended shading with the contrasting color. He also provide a link to a youtube video on color theory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGuP9PAL2Wk

in the video he discusses mixing paints with their contrasting color to darken the shade, I kind of didn't watch the video the whole way and skipped that part, my father would say something to the effect of "can't scratch my ass but tear it all to pieces."

 

but I did go back and try it, I don't have pics, but it didn't turn out pretty either

 

so I finally went out of my way to get some nuln oil, and I don't have photos of that either yet as I didn't get my sergeant done in time for the weekend

 

I do have photos for this post though

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Vindicator/VindicatorMarkV14.jpg

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Vindicator/VindicatorMarkV12.jpg

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Vindicator/VindicatorMarkV5.jpg

 

a prototype Vindicator Mk V

fairly simple conversion, could have gone better, I couldn't salvage the interior bogeys so at the front the track is only supported on one side, I also don't have enough track to continue till it's invisible under the hull, and it shows...

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Vindicator/VindicatorMarkV6.jpg

 

but it's completely magnetized, goes back and forth to Vindicator and rhino, and anything else I own the parts fpr

[helterskelter]

If you look on bits websites, you can pick up extra track to finish where you left off, so no worries there. Kudos on magnetising to make your onmi chassis, and as for the shading, less is more :)

[Forté]

Colour theory is a good way to vary how your painting looks. Takes a lot of practice but very rewarding too.

[Storm Hawks Legion]

"To follow your instincts and to inspire your men, by your example, you have to be with 'em. Where the metal meets the meat."

remember that Sergeant I referenced in the last post?

I present Sergeant Malcolm Fey First Sergeant Second Company

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Painted/1stSergeant2ndCo1.jpg

He's the First of the new Marines, tall scale and in proper armor

he still needs his extra kit, grenades, fighting knife, etcetera, and his powerpack isn't done yet

but he's done enough to post for C&C

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Painted/1stSergeant2ndCo6.jpg

to show the height difference

I'm reasonably proud of the showing, he's the Sergeant from DV, I originally wasn't sure what I'd be able to do with it given the nature of press fits and the difference in styling from the monastic DA to a very straight laced vanilla heraldry, but I think he looks just fine.

the conversions should be pretty self evident

 

if people would like fluff I can try and write some up, seems to be what people are doing, I've got a few ideas for him, might write it up and post it this weekend

[Storm Hawks Legion]

so, ETL III is coming, sounds like a decent excuse to actually move on my army, would be nice to actually get some honors, though I highly doubt I'd manage any of the special commendations.

 

E Tenebrae Lux

from darkness, light

 

should be fun

[Storm Hawks Legion]

"got red on you"

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Painted/1stSergeant2ndCo8.jpg

 

I'm pretty happy with him, I think he came out really well, especially as I was aiming for table-worthy maybe a little better since hes the sergeant of the squad.

 

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Painted/1stSergeant2ndCo9.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/Painted/1stSergeant2ndCo10.jpg

 

I think the holster and the grenades cover the plasticard at the waist well enough, the, roman esque thing in the front covers the mess of a crotch left from the press fit.

 

so, for ETL I have on my table unpainted, a vindicator, a venerable dreadnought, the rest of Malcolm's squad, which can count as a unit entry on their own, and a 5 man terminator squad. the dreadnought still needs legs, which I'm hoping will arrive with the tracks for the vindicator by the end of the week.

 

I would also like to get the tactical squad and the terminators all re-done for tall scale, but I'm rapidly running out of time and may have to paint them as is.

[Monstra Sumus]

He looks very well put together mate, the nuln oil works wonders for the scheme. A slightly thinner layer for the blacks and metallics will see your future models shine. 

 

The vindi conversion I like a lot, reminds me of tanks from the Great War. 

[MagicMan]

That Sarge has come out looking great. :)

Nice work on the freehand eagle/bird/hawk, too.

[Storm Hawks Legion]

thanks guys, it means a lot to have people say that, almost makes me think I'm good enough to share this board with some of the other guys on here.

 

@Tyrax

That's what I was going for, I called it a mark V after the British Mark V tank, the elliptical treads have a great trench clearing ability, and allow for easier scaling.

I while ago a guy made a life sized Rhino for the release of DoW II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PEU_201IfI

on the first hit on the red car he seems to have some trouble scaling it, with the tracks set up this way, there would be no problem scaling the car, which as a vehicle of the emperor's finest, well, you don't get a second chance at first impressions, especially when its the impression your tread leaves on your enemies mode of transport.

[Moonstalker]

An entire company is a huge undertaking. You're insane to try to do an entire chapter.

 

But it's the good kind of insane.

 

I didn't watch the video, but the elements of color theory it sounds like they were trying to get into are probably beyond your skills as a painter. For what you're doing, I'd probably focus on getting your reds and yellows down nice and vibrant, with clean dividing lines between them. A white primer underneath them is probably going to make that easiest. Then, a wash! Try something like 25% nuln oil, 25% reikland fleshshade, 25% lahmian medium, and 25% water. If you can get a syringe (for measuring precisely by ml) and an empty paint pot (from the local craft store or online), you can mix up enough of this wash ahead of time that you can get a consistent effect across all your models and not have to mix up more of it all the time. This should give you a dark reddish wash that will help tie the yellow to the red together while picking out the details and adding a bit of shading. The lahmian medium in there will keep the armor looking matte. Then I'd probably thin your yellow and red down with water and carefully paint them onto raised areas/avoiding recesses to bring the color back up/add some highlights.

 

For guns, the joints, etc, just hit it up with a black. The metal you can then paint with a dark metallic (leadbelcher from GW, gunmetal from vallejo). Once the metallic dries, wash it with the nuln oil and (optionally) drybrush it with the metallic color again.

 

You're on a good tack with the eye color. Yellow + red = orange, and orange and blue are good contrasting colors. So using blue as a spot color for the eyes will help make them pop. You could also go green, since it will directly contrast with the red.

 

Have you thought of using decals for the symbols and numbering? You might be able to find something to match in the B&C's decals database. All you have to do is order some transfer sheet paper online and then print the decals onto it with your ink or laserjet printer. Much easier (and much sharper) than trying to freehand all those letters and badges.

[Storm Hawks Legion]

well Kit, if you think this is insane, I probably should tell you what the original plan was...

 

in other news,

I'll definitely have to try your wash recipe, not sure when I'll get back to GW, as for the basecoat, the black stays, at least till this can is done, then I'll probably be halfway through a squad and have to get another black can so...

 

I'd like to do a bit more with the eyes, I found a tutorial on making them look like they glow, but I haven't tried it yet.

 

as for the decals... I have often sat, and thought, "gee, wouldn't it be nice if GW would make decals that would work for this chapter, nah, I'll never find any..."

 

I would love to do my own, which of course opens them up to designing a new chapter symbol, this one I've always done because I could do it free hand, if I'm doing my own decals, I may change it.

 

"and now.... Shebang!"

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc470/IroncladDreadnought/Projects/2nd%20Co%201st%20Tac/2ndCoTac1.jpg

 

2nd Company 1st Tactical squad, they're a little shorter than Veteran Sergeants are, but their just as fierce

everyone of them has had their legs lengthened and re posed, the arms I'm not gonna do much with, mostly because I don't think I can do much with them.

 

I know, three of them are well past basecoat, therefore well past ETL guidelines, well, I'm gonna go get some simple green this morning, toss them in for the weekend, they're the testers I've been posting, or talking about anyway, back left is the mixed paint shade, kind of hard to see in the shadow but, he's there.

 

I've used brake fluid before, haven't used simple green, I'm told there won't be an issue leaving them over the weekend, I know with the brake fluid, well, I fished some models out when I moved I'd dropped in to strip the year before, but, that may have just been because it was pretty well loaded when they went in, not much paint came off.

 

I think that's a decent bit of work for two nights.