The Reaper's Hammer Crusade: Upholding the First Born Vow

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Should be wrapping up the Reivers sometime today. Man, that's a LOT of leather to get through!

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

So, Reivers are taking a little longer than I thought. Kinda still a little in and out with the rot, but fighting through. All of the base colors are done, shades applied, the eyes are finished, touching up some facial details now before I finish the skull masks, and purity seals are done. I just need to highlight golds and steels, leather, touch up the shoulder pads, and clean up armor where random paint dots got where they shouldn't be. Almost done with them. Then on to the Infiltrators...

 

I have an idea of kind of giving them a sort of urban cammo look using a sort of sponge technique. It'll be interesting to see if it works.

[Brother Christopher]

That seems like some major progress! I'm looking forward to your next photo update.

 

Good luck with your camo pattern. Personally, I wouldn't go with camo for Templars, but I'm sure it'll look cool.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Okay, so update:

 

The Reivers have obviously taken longer than I anticipated, but all of the painting is done, and I'm applying the last to the shoulder transfers now! After they dry and get dull coated, I'll post pics.

 

I never want to paint these guys again. That's a LOT of leather to highlight!

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

 

Finally done! I kept one shoulder pad (the one that doesn't have one actually) black and added a white cross to those ones. I think it turned out pretty well. The leather work kicked my , but it finally turned out.

 

Now on to 10 Infiltrators...

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

So, progress report from yesterday:

 

I decided against doing the camo pattern on the Infiltrators. I think Brother Christopher was right that it would look out of place in a BT army. I am going to grey them out a bit more than usual to differentiate them as forward operators, but still overall black.

[Brother Christopher]

Looking good! Nice pace, too (at least by my standards ;)!

 

 

I decided against doing the camo pattern on the Infiltrators. I think Brother Christopher was right that it would look out of place in a BT army. I am going to grey them out a bit more than usual to differentiate them as forward operators, but still overall black.

Did you perhaps take a photo of the pattern? I'm quite curious how it turned out.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Looking good! Nice pace, too (at least by my standards !

 

 

I decided against doing the camo pattern on the Infiltrators. I think Brother Christopher was right that it would look out of place in a BT army. I am going to grey them out a bit more than usual to differentiate them as forward operators, but still overall black.

Did you perhaps take a photo of the pattern? I'm quite curious how it turned out.

 

I discarded the idea due to the time it would take to test and possibly repaint the test model if it didn't work out. I'm kind of on a timetable here.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Progress! I have the Infiltrators mostly done! I'm waiting for the gloss coat to dry right now to begin applying decals on the shoulders, and then only have to do rifle lenses and gloss eyes and other lenses, and another ten will be done. Should be finished either tonight or tomorrow morning.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Infiltrators done!

 

 

On to the Primarus Crusader Squad!

[Brother Christopher]

The squad's looking great! Would you mind posting a close-up of a model? I'd like to take a closer look at the tint of the armour - I think I really like it ;) Would you also mind sharing your method/recipe for painting black?

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

I'll edit in a pic later, but the paint was a Vallejo surface primer, then VGC Black, then Mechanicus Standard Grey and Dawnstone zenithal through an airbrush. Back at the painting table, it's an Administratum Grey drybrush with a make-up brush, then all over heavy coat of Nuln Oil. Gently reapply the drybrush of Admin Grey, and the black is more or less done. 

[Brother Christopher]

I thought I saw the workings of an airbrush, drybrush and extensive use of washes. The method produces a nice 'modern' look and - I imagine - to be very pleasant to quickly get great results, without much hassle.

 

On a personal note, this is something I'd go for if I hadn't started in 5th edition and if I hadn't had so many models painted the old school way. I really like the weathered look and the subtle grey hue.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

I thought I saw the workings of an airbrush, drybrush and extensive use of washes. The method produces a nice 'modern' look and - I imagine - to be very pleasant to quickly get great results, without much hassle.

 

On a personal note, this is something I'd go for if I hadn't started in 5th edition and if I hadn't had so many models painted the old school way. I really like the weathered look and the subtle grey hue.

 

On these guys, it works. I'm using a lot of styles to get what I'm after.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Progress Report:

 

The base colors on the Primarus Crusader squad are done, and laying down shades. Going back to work has hampered progress (and getting back into shape from 2.5 weeks down), but it's happening. Also, this is the last 10-man squad I have to paint for the vow.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Progress Report:

 

Okay, after a long time of IRL setbacks, I give you Primarus Crusaders!

 

 

Now, on to 5 Assault Terminators!

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Okay, so I tried a different approach to painting the Termi's by painting in the highlights rather than dry brushing, and let's just say I don't have the time to do it right. It keeps coming out chunky and just overall lack-luster. So, after base coating again (luckily, I'm using very thin paints!), I'm just going to stick with the dry brush method. It looks good on the table, and is much easier to pull off quickly. I won't be winning any painting awards with them, but I just want to see them done!

[Brother Kraskor]

Okay, so I tried a different approach to painting the Termi's by painting in the highlights rather than dry brushing, and let's just say I don't have the time to do it right. It keeps coming out chunky and just overall lack-luster. So, after base coating again (luckily, I'm using very thin paints!), I'm just going to stick with the dry brush method. It looks good on the table, and is much easier to pull off quickly. I won't be winning any painting awards with them, but I just want to see them done!

 

I totally agree with this approach! Highlights take forever, drybrushers are the true elite. 

 

The Crusader squad looks great! 

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Okay, progress has been slow due to the holidays, but the Terminators will be done tonight. I have to get moving! got a LOT to do and 29 days left!

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

Well, it's starting to look like I'm going to fail this challenge. The Termi's are done, but I'm way behind and only falling further. I'm still painting, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to have the "oathbreaker" tab.

[Urkh]

Just over a week left. How are things coming along? I could never imagine myself painting at the speed you do. Since November, I've barely managed 10 minis!

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

2 days left... let's see how much I can get finished...

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

I painted my  off, but came up short. As penance for my failure, I vow to complete the models I promised, as well as build the 2nd Redemptor Dread, as well as finish the FW Warlord Titan that I have now put on the back burner for months.

 

I'll post a pic of all the work I did accomplish soon. Thanks to all those that supported my attempt.

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

I know, I still need to upload pics, but making progress anyway.

 

After looking at the Terminators again, I've decided that I cannot in good faith call them done. Now that I don't have to rush through painting, I'm seeing some things that can be done a bit better, like shining up the golds a little more and making sure I like the whites of their helmets. I also have the Bladeguard, Suppressors, Eliminators, and Eradicators almost finished (work started and near complete during Knightfall).

 

Also on the painting table are the Primaris Marshal (Captian w/shield), Marshal in Phobos, Primaris Castellan (Lieutenant w/shield), Castellan in Phobos, Primarus Chaplain, Bladeguard Ancient, Judicar, Primaris Emperor's Champion, and BT Marshal in various stages of progress.

 

On another note, I got the Shapeways Redemptor Dreadnaught upgrade for Christmas, so I'm looking forward to actually building this next one. I just have to figure out what to do with this one's posing, as I did a unique one for the last one I built, but that's for AFTER I finish the vow.

 

I'm working a little slower now, and I took a long break from painting after my failure so I could catch my breath. I'm looking forward now to finishing what's left of my massive vow and getting back to working on the FW Warlord Titan.

 

Hopefully, the next post will have the pics of all the models I did manage to complete and the progress made on the one's I'm working on now. Thanks to everybody that has offered support!

[SWORD BROTHER RYAN]

After a bit of a hiatus, it's time to get back to work.

 

So, here is a reminder of where I got to before I hit major snags:

 

 

That was a lot of work, even with the "Quaran-Painting" I was able to get done.

 

As I've said, I have more to show, but that will be in the next post.