Stoic Raptor

I prefer to use the 3D printed shoulder icons from Pop Goes The Monkey, but I got my Raptors decals from Chapter Customizer/Fallout Hobbies.

I might have to pick up a jar of that - I like the new metallic options so far.

Eleysium, your Crimson Fists look great, but I especially like the face plates on the Reivers. Great way to tie in with the Chapter's paint scheme and they still look fearsome.

Today in the hobby, I got my hands on an Imperial Fists Supremacy Force set. I'd only managed to acquire one of the upgrade sprues before, but now when I get around to doing my Crimson Fists army, I'll be able to personalize them a bit more. And the more I can move away from monopose Dark Imperium models, the better.

It's like remodeling - in the middle of the project it will look messy, if you push on through and tidy up it looks great. This weekend in the hobby, like many others, I tried Contrast paints. I'm going to need to work with them more in order to find the best methods - the "one thick coat" thing is a lie unless you want bad results. Also, this weekend, my girlfriend painted her second miniature ever - mostly using Contrast. she's very excited with the result and I'm glad because it's motivating her to want to paint her Sylvaneth and Nighthaunt armies (she is not a gamer).

Having used Contrast paints for the first time yesterday, I'm inclined to agree - two thin coats still seems to be the best way. Maybe not as thin as regular layer paints, but especially with the more heavily pigmented colors it would help for a smoother application to avoid tide marks and splotchiness.

Or if you want a slightly more Imperial theme: https://www.shapeways.com/product/BA5VVVXSJ/imperial-judge-helmet-10x?optionId=90354194&li=marketplace

This weekend in the hobby: 1) I got the PuppetsWar helmets I needed and finished my Deathwatch Street Judges - these were the standard Marine type but soon I'm going to do a squad of Deathwatch Reiver Judges as I think they'll look more proper (and the Heavy Bolt Pistol with special ammo is probably most like a Lawgiver anyhow). 2) I finished painting three Custodian Guards with sentinel Blades and Storm Shields for Kill Team - I've got two with Guardian Spears in progress. Next I plan to assemble a third with a Spear and an Allarus Terminator to have all my options open. 3) I'm nearly finished with my last four Blockers for my Dwarf Blood Bowl Team, the Fort Tyr Miners. Soon they will be able to grace the field at the TundraDome in full regalia. I'm pleased that since the beginning of last month, I've completed nearly 20 models - usually takes me a lot longer. I'd get even more done if my eyes didn't tire so quickly.

Today in the hobby, I picked up Kill Team: Elites, the Fractal Blades box and a box of Rubric Marines. I don't generally play Chaos in anything, but I like the Ancient Egyptian influences and Tzeentch is pretty cool. Now I need to see where I can find a single Tzaangor with an autopistol and chainsword, ideally in the States. A five-man Rubric team winds up with 9 points to spare, so it would be pointless not to squeeze one in.

TITH I continue to paint my Street Judges Kill Team. Hoping that Deathwatch gets Phobos units eventually, because they have more suitable bodies than regular power armor.

I can tell you that Mk VI beakie helmets fit nicely on Infiltrators.

Today in the hobby: I've assembled my Deathwatch squad for Kill Team. They will be painted as Street Judges from the 2000 AD comic. It will be a couple weeks before the helmets arrive from PuppetsWar. I don't know if the Executioners heads or the Chevaliers heads will look better so I ordered both. I wanted to use the tilting plates on the others, but the position of the arms made i unfeasible. Pictured below: Reinhold (Zealot), Giant (grenadier), Nelson (Leader), Hirsch (Demo), and Burns (Heavy).

Today in the hobby, I got 4 new brushes from Blick Art Supply. I got a pair of W&N Series 7 Miniature (sizes 1 and 2) and a pair of Rahael 8408's - basically the counterpart to the W&N's - in sizes 0 and 2 (size 1 was out of stock). I was using 8404's before and they are good, but the 8408's have a sharper point and still a big belly for keeping paint moist. I wasn't pleased with my previous S7 Minis, but that's because they were too small for the intended purpose. Thankfully someone advised me that I just needed bigger ones. I have a feeling that the Size 2 8408 is going to be my new favorite brush.