Terminators Sneak Peak:

I'm working on the Termies at the moment, more AoBR models. Will eventually get some heavy weapon models to use with the squad, but for now just the Serg and 4 SB models. Here's a sneak peak of the Serg, he's pretty much done.

The gold on my Dreads looked funny so i spent some time playing with the gold here and I got it looking the way I want more or less. Based with Shining Gold, wash with Badab Black, 1st highlight 1:1 Mithril Silver : Shining Gold, 2nd highlight 3:1 Mithril Silver : Shining Gold

The Crux Terminatus isn't perfect, but with the limited paints i have i think it's the best i can do for now. Based with Bubonic Brown, washed with Devlan Mud, highlight with Bleached Bone. It could probably stand another highlight with a Skull White / Bleached Bone mix, but i'll leave it as is for now and come back to it some other time - things are taking long enough to get painted as is.

I keep looking at my highlights up close and thinking they are too strong - it's not until i hold the model away from me that it looks so dull... will do a 2nd highlight on all my models with Fortress Grey once everything is painted.

I varnished the white shoulder with paint on varnish (Jo Sonja's Matte Varnish) to keep it clean while i worked on the rest of the model. I'm surprised how well that worked, it brushed on effortlessly, washed off the brush with water, and dried hard and smooth in about half an hour. This way, if i accidently touched the brush to it i could just wipe it off without it staining the white.

The Sergeant had to have very Pale skin as he is a very old Veteran, having risen to this rank after centuries of service. Raven Guard have a few problems with their gene-seed, one of which affects their skin and hair color. A quote from Lexicanum (a confirmed one, i know Lex isn't that reliable). 

"The Melanchromic Organ has a unique mutation that causes the skin of the Space Marine to grow paler. Eventually each Marine's skin becomes pure white while their hair and eyes darken, becoming black as coal."

So i base coated with Astronomicon Grey, washed Devlan Mud, highlighted with Skull White, washed Devlan Mud, highlighted with 1:1 Bleached Bone : Skull White. A little backwards but i was playing around to find a result that i liked. In the end i think it worked well, he's definitely a lot whiter than the Tactical Sergeant.

Thats it for now, will post again when the squad is complete.

First Squad + Onyx and Icarus

I finally got around to finishing my first Tactical squad. They are the AoBR mini's and i have left them as is, apart from the Sergeant who had his Chainsword swapped for a Power Sword. The conversion is super rough, but it's the first one I have done in over 10 years so I was just keeping it simple. Eventually when I have the time i will cut the hilt out completely and model something better in its place with some greenstuff (or a suitable part).

I also finished off Icarus, the second Dreadnaught. I managed to get the white reasonably solid after a while, but it is thick as hell. Not sure if another brand of paint would be better, will have to try and see I guess.

These guys will get a coat of Matt varnish tomorrow (I have to go pick some up) and then when i get my transfers in I will add those and then another varnish coat on top to seal them in.

Up next:
5 Terminators
Another 10 man Tactical AoBR squad (this time with a Power Fist)
A Land Speeder Tornado with Multi-Melta and Heavy Flamer

I haven't worked out how I will do it yet but the MM and HF on the LST will be removable, so i can swap in the Heavy Bolter and when I get some more MM's I will do a twin MM setup. I intend to have two of these in the army, the idea being I can swap their Loadout to suit my opponent.

Feel free to comment on the paint work, compliments are nice but criticism is preferable, would like to improve and feedback is always helpful. :)

Updates!

Updates! Been a long time since i was able to get anything done, but i managed to finish the dread, almost finished the second one (just working on the arms), built most of the models - including my captain and sergeant conversions, basecoated the tac marines, painted some test models for the Tac marines and started building the landspeeder (needs some gaps filled and i will paint the crew separate so i can get the details done). Haven't ordered my decals yet, they will go on later.

Comments are always welcome, especially advice!



The finished Dread:

Tactical Squad:

Captain with Relic Blade, Sergeant with Power Sword and Sergeant with Power Fist:

The collection so far:

Can't wait to get these guys finished so i can start gaming! I've been doing a lot of theory-crafting (or theory-hammer as i hear the 40k fans call it) over at the Raven Guard forums (see signature for link), so i should hit the table with at least a moderate amount of skill.

Next purchase (other than the decals) will be 3 Drop Pods from CNC Workshop - http://www.miniaturescenery.com - and a Rhino. At that point i should have a decent gaming force, and i can add scouts, assault marines and other cool stuff as time and money permits.

Well, that's all for now, thanks for viewing!

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Onyx Icarus
http://sonsofcorax.freeforums.org