Night Lords PLOG - the next instalment .....

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Greetings brothers, misguided loyalist and foul heretics alike…..

 

I have been lurking around for a few weeks, drawing a little inspiration from the various WIP posts, I’ve been away from the hobby for well over a decade – my last painting efforts being the Emperor’s Children around the time of the IA article--- hence the screen name, back when all there was to go on was a paragraph of pretty basic fluff!

 

I have recently relocated from the UK to Melbourne, Australia, and found myself with a lot more spare time. Following a brief dalliance with converting up a Dark Elf Blood Bowl team (low cost outlay). I decided I was ‘just’ going to paint a few tanks up for a little bit of a pastime, so I watched a few online tutorials and lurked in the shadows of the board – but I found myself getting sucked into the Horus Heresy. ( The tanks will appear soon enough…)

 

So, cutting a long story short I decided to try out some Night Lords  (I figured they could be used in both 30k and 40k)– I have to lay the blame here on Heinrich and Dan the Deamon., I loved the character and thought put into each model, so I couldn’t resist trying my own hand….

 

I’ve no fluff or background as yet – I’ve got my Night Lords omnibus on route.

 

Here are the workings of my first efforts – a Terror Squad….

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2nvcm6u.jpg

 

http://i57.tinypic.com/v63ojp.jpg

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/xepn55.jpg

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/bhn59d.jpg

 

I shall have the test model scheme up in the next day or so.....

 

I am planning on adding pouches, the odd chain, skull etc depending on what I can dig up...

[Sgt. Blank]

Welcome - looks like you are off to a good start. I am confident you'll enjoy the Nightlords Omnibus; Aaron Dembski-Bowden is a great writer and is at his best with this trilogy.

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Well, here we go 1 completed Night Lord and one almost completed guy....

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/2e0shzk.jpg

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2rm1838.jpg

 

Not bad for my first Marine in well over 10 years..... I have to say I am very impressed with the increase in miniature quality over the years! Maybe I'll dig out one of my 2nd edition Gretchin! Haha.

 

I am quite please with this one. I think I should make the effort to make a light box, as I struggled to get good pic despite my wife's ridiculously expensive camera!!

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

The second guy just needs a backpack - i'm doing them in batches, so will finish it with the rest of the squads.

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/29xdva0.jpg

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2cmnped.jpg

 

I am pondering about painting terror markings on the helmet - anyone with any hints and tips? I'm a little wary about wrecking the model!

[SkimaskMohawk]

Hey, I found it a lot easier to try on a practice helmet first. Skulls can be pretty classic, but you can use anything that would instill fear

 

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/3/21/697696_md-30k%2C%20Blue%2C%20Gold%2C%20Horus%20Heresy%2C%20Lightning%2C%20Night%20Lord%2C%20Skull.jpghttp://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/3/30/700263_md-30k%2C%20Blue%2C%20Gold%2C%20Horus%20Heresy%2C%20Lightning%2C%20Night%20Lord%2C%20Skull.jpghttp://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/4/20/706634_md-30k%2C%20Blue%2C%20Chain%20Glaive%2C%20Gold%2C%20Horus%20Heresy%2C%20Lightning%2C%20Night%20Lord%2C%20Skull.jpg

 

[Reyner]

Wow they look awesome, the Terror squads really suit the MK5 legs. May just have to buy some for my fiancée for her slowly growing Night Lords collection (currently the Heresy Raptors, Sevatar, the 40k Night Lords hero and some other random bits). How are you doing the blue?

[Bob Hunk]

I am pondering about painting terror markings on the helmet - anyone with any hints and tips? I'm a little wary about wrecking the model!

Excellent work! Personally I'd say leave it, he looks great how he is.

[MrBear]

Looking really good to me, especially if you haven't painted marines for a decade.

When it comes to terror markings... I'd second the recommendation to practice a bit if you have any spare bits to try it on, or have a picture of a marking you like as a reference when you paint. It's not difficult though, it just takes some patience and a steady hand.

[Pearson73]

Great work on the armour; both colour and lightning detail.

[deathspectersgt7]

NIce!!!

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Thanks for the encouragement guys -- I must say doing the first one was quite a lot of fun, but painting up four more and repairing the abortive test model has been less enjoyable. I'm still trying to get into batch painting, as it isn't really feasible to do everyone as a single mini.

 

I have primed and done the blue in batches, then added the lightning before going on to the metallics. 

 

Wow they look awesome, the Terror squads really suit the MK5 legs. May just have to buy some for my fiancée for her slowly growing Night Lords collection (currently the Heresy Raptors, Sevatar, the 40k Night Lords hero and some other random bits). How are you doing the blue?

 

 

The blue is pretty much 'not set' yet, as I've been experimenting. Here is what I have done so far, and what i've figured out. Hopefully it will help you out a little.

 

I used a black primer, then I've used the following, applied with an airbrush. ( Just discovered this method of painting and having a lot of fun with it!!)

 

Vallejo Premium Dark Blue ( on the next 4 marines I am currently working I've actually mixed this with a some black to get a really dark blue base coat and then add a heavy highlight of neat Dark Blue, I'm going for a lot of thin coats as opposed to a few thicker ones)

 

Initially I used Vallejo Premium Cobalt Blue (first mixed with the Dark Blue) on the two posted marines as a heavy highlight.

 

I've since switched the Cobalt Blue to Vallejo Model Air Blue Angels Blue - using this as a fairly heavy highlight

I've then lightly dusted the models with VMA French Blue

I've then used as a final very light highlight VMA USA Intermediate Blue (its a blue grey) --- to be fair, you could probably skip this step with the airbrush as just paint it on during the re-hightlight.

 

I've then done the lighting - this is just a mid blue, a very light blue and then white. I used GW Alaitoc Blue, Lothern Blue and White. Obviously use a very fine brush and limit the white to the parts where the forks of the lightning split. I have then tried the 'juicing' technique with an airbrush where you use a very diluted 90:10 mix of thinner and white and very lightly dust the white bits of the lightning. Use a really low PSI on this part. It did work ok on the two I've posted. However, the last lot I did were over done and I had repaint over the lightning and re-do it all, so be careful

 

One the two posted models I found the overall blue of the armour looked a little too blue ( I am not doing Ultramarines!! -- I was however using the Cobalt blue, which in hindsight I think I applied too much), so it will need a tone down of ink wash, i've used Army Painter Strong tone mixed 50;50 with Naggaroth Nightshade. I've then glazed it with a 75;25 mix of the same. I've found that if you just use the strong tone it looks too black and wipes out the highlights.  The first wash made it still a little too blue. I do avoid the lightning as much as possible with the glaze, as it'd wipe out the effect, although the blueish wash does help blend the colours together. On my current models I have not used the glaze, as I use an oil wash later.

 

The blue/strong tone wash does tone down the blue a lot; but you do have to re-do the highlights. Even after trying my second technique of the VMA colours. the blues will still need the wash to bring the blue down. It seems a pretty standard approach.

 

To top all this off I gloss varnished the whole model and did a black oil paint pin wash after painting everything, then used the cotton bud white spirit trick to clean it up. I am thinking this might negate the need to do the above mentioned glaze. I've yet to get to that point yet on my working models. The pin wash did help the bones and the shading between the brass trim look great, so I'd heartily recommend it. If I remember I will post a pre and post oil wash picture in future.

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Hey, I found it a lot easier to try on a practice helmet first. Skulls can be pretty classic, but you can use anything that would instill fear

 

 

Thanks for this - a simple tip and one I honestly hadn't thought of!! I do like the bloody-eyes on those MK3 heads -- might have to get me some of those bad boys!!

 

 

Looking really good to me, especially if you haven't painted marines for a decade.

 

When it comes to terror markings... I'd second the recommendation to practice a bit if you have any spare bits to try it on, or have a picture of a marking you like as a reference when you paint. It's not difficult though, it just takes some patience and a steady hand.

 

 

Thanks for the praise - I've checked out your Mongrels of The Eight Thread when I was trying to deciding what exactly I was going to paint up. There is a lot of very impressive Night Lord threads out here, without which I doubt I'd have took the plunge. I have really enjoyed reading your fluff and seeing how you've built your marines.

 

I would say I've literally not painted anything for well over a decade - but I ended up painting (and converting) a Dark Elf Blood Bowl team, which meant I had a lot of dark blue, so Night Lords seemed a natural use for all the paint..... I really need to finish them off... so many things to paint, so little time!

[MrBear]

 

Thanks for the praise - I've checked out your Mongrels of The Eight Thread when I was trying to deciding what exactly I was going to paint up. There is a lot of very impressive Night Lord threads out here, without which I doubt I'd have took the plunge. I have really enjoyed reading your fluff and seeing how you've built your marines.

 

I would say I've literally not painted anything for well over a decade - but I ended up painting (and converting) a Dark Elf Blood Bowl team, which meant I had a lot of dark blue, so Night Lords seemed a natural use for all the paint..... I really need to finish them off... so many things to paint, so little time!

 

 

 

Thanks for the compliments brother! There truly are a load of nice Night Lord threads here, even though a few of the people behind them are occupied with other things right now. I've always had Brother Heinrich, Flint13 and Augustus b'Rass as major inspirations myself. There's also a social thread for all Night Lords fans in the Chaos forum, a bit inactive aswell at the moment but worth checking out.

 

I did go through something similar to you, there were 6 or 7 years where I barely touched a brush after my years at university. And I agree with you, finding time to paint everything you want to paint... that's impossible! 

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Here is 'before' pics I mentioned earlier - i took them a few days ago, before I finished off the flesh; so don't think the oil magically does the flesh tone for you!! I knew if I didn't take the pictures when I was thinking about it I'd forget, and I did.....http://i61.tinypic.com/30d9s81.jpg

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/333vm0k.jpg

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Here are the post wash after i've used the very slightly damp cotton bud with turpentine to take off the excess black. The gloss varnish is still showing, but this will go when I put a coat of matt over it.

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2w40c9z.jpg

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/110dp3a.jpg

 

I find this brings the blue right back down to a very dark blue and helps define the joints and recesses, It is a drawn out process, but I like the results. I got looked at strangely when I was chatting to a guy at GW about how I was doing it - but hey, I like it!! The pics aren't the best, but hopefully you will get the idea!!

 

These two guys should be finished by tomorrow, so hopefully i'll post some better pics soon!

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Just a couple of pics using the iPad and my new magnifying lamp - still need to work on getting good photo's but you get the idea.

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/e36tl.jpg

 

These are the most recent -- sadly I managed to lose a shoulder pad when I was doing my batch painting, so I am doing that at the moment. A little more work on the bolt gun and I will probably add grenades/pad/knife. I am trying to kit these bad boys up as what we would term 'war dogs' or a bit alley!! Still a little too scared to do the skull/terror markings on the non skull plate masks, but once I've done these i'll give it a go on a spare helmet.

 

Just the champion to go -- he is going to be a little special.....

 

The first two....

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/157nrip.jpg

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Well after a bit of effort --- and being a little side tracked I've managed to get a 5 man squad done..... I have also just started reading up the Night Lords Omnibus so I might delve a little into the fluff of these guys!  Overall I'm pretty pleased with them - but please comment and critique, as all the feedback thus far has helped a lot.... still not brave enough to paint the terror markings or OSL eyes yet.....

 

A 'boy band' pose shot.....

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2db6zpu.jpg

 

A look at the trophies.....

 

http://i62.tinypic.com/d4mc0.jpg

 

(didn't turn out as clear as I'd like -- used a few heads I'd lying around the rapidly expanded bits box) -- any tips on doing the blood would be appreciated...

 

Hopefully better shots of the guys featured previously....

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/169n4lx.jpg

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/25676tt.jpg

 

Very much inspired by some of Dan the Deamons squads....

 

Now for my favourite one -- took a bit of time and some bits ordering of the old Ebay... but I think it is well worth it!!

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/iz86yw.jpg

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/9iz4v5.jpg

 

I'll name him Sergeant Marlen Kiegawl..... Nostraman born... I have magnetised all the heads, and the bolter is not stuck to him as yet, hence the slight movement from shot to shot.

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/2vi5x0w.jpg

 

[deathspectersgt7]

Great looking Squad.

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Right, here is something I've been working on - one of the main reasons I got back into painting! Tanks!!

 

I've gone for a heavily rusted look, which will be masked off with mascol so the blue colour will be 'chipped' off. As I layered up the blue I don't think a chipping medium would be that effective.

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/2h3yibn.jpg

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/scrlv9.jpg

 

Base coated -- gone for some colour modulation; a bit difficult to see here, but the bottom of the tank is a lot darker, honest....

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/15x2yrm.jpg

 

 

http://i61.tinypic.com/2eyzzgo.jpg

I'll start to look a little better after the pin wash..... honest!!

 

(Anyone know how to change the title of a post?? so I can put in Predator instead of Terror Squad?)

[stinkenheim]

On the first post there'll be an option to edit or full edit. Click full edit and it brings up the title box and everything including tags and such like.

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Well, I've finally got round to doing something I'd been wanting to do for a long time - only took moving to the other side of the world! I've always had a soft spot for the Emperor's Children since their Index Astartes article. 

 

I've taken a lot of inspiration from people like Kizzdougs and Laborious's ECs on here, so a big thanks for sharing their posts. I've gone for the more 'pinky' Warlock purple they were in the 'old days' as opposed to the more purple purple they are in  the Forgeworld books  Ironically, I actually prefer the darker purple colour as a colour.

 

Anyway, this is my test model that is pretty much complete, just a little tinkering here and there -he is a Sergeant or Decurion. I've got the rest of the 5 man squad base coated and ready to go, so hopefully there will be a few more pics soon. 

 

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/t5m101.jpg

 

http://i58.tinypic.com/2dsq0xf.jpg

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/34rhz0h.jpg

 

comments and criticism welcome!

[Kizzdougs]

That's one good looking astartes! Looking forward to seeing some more Emperor's Children :tu:

[Nocturn's Stalker]

Nice works! I love your Night Lords

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

Thought I'd better get cracking on some of the Call of Chaos stuff I got myself into, that and I got a little bored of painting purple.....

 

 

There is some progress on my Emperor's Children - I'll try and sort a few pics out in due course.

 

Anyway - here are some more Night Lords - I've used an interesting chipping technique of dabbing on rust pigments to some matt cote varnish - then stippled on some maskol before applying the base coat. I've tried out some colour modulation up from the base coat -although the pics don't really show it up too well. Once these coats are done I remove the maskol by rolling blue tac over it. I quite like the effect!!

 

I've toned down the colour modulation with a filter and then a few washes. I'll add a few lighter chips and tone down some of the rust, after all it is meant to be a serviceable vehicle...

 

http://i57.tinypic.com/2ivmkox.jpg

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/2iln0ww.jpg

 

http://i59.tinypic.com/2ptxe35.jpg

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

A quick update on my Emperor's Children - the photo's aren't great as I resorted to the iPhone, this was just to keep the 30k challenge ticking over. Bases are done, just a few pouches and stuff to add.

 

http://i60.tinypic.com/oihnvc.jpg

 

I am pondering tactical markings on the shoulder pads; instead of the III. Has anyone any ideas if there is any official markings for the EC. Not seen anything in my Forgeworld books or on uncle google.... I think I might go with something similar to the Iron Warrior markings.