Dum's IR squad

Well here it is, no base or anything yet, gonna think what to do about that soon, and I'm going to varnish it this evening I think.

It actually turned out better than I thought it would, but still alot to be desired.

Interesting model, let's start with that. Reminds me of all those teenagers that choose to wear their crotch at knee-height.

That said... it looks very good! The skin looks realistic, the highlighting is subtle... very cool.

That's a really good paint job - very effective and interesting colour scheme. Only criticism is the gun need a shade as does the holster (but then I like dark model so you can put that down to personal preference. The model is cool too - though the back looks a little hunched - probably realistic though. Looking forward to seeing more - so no more downing your ability - what's next?

Laney

Well I gave the holster and gun an extra wash f devlan mud and am now waiting for the varnish to dry, so my first model is complete. I probably won't do another model for another couple of weeks due to time and money constraints, but my plan is to order a couple of things from heresy miniatures in the next 2 weeks, then do an order from hasslefree miniatures, so I'll be most of the way to finishing my death squad in about a months time and I'll have the pics to prove it hopefully. Don't expect similar colour schemes because of the civilian theme I'm going for.

Thanks for the compliments too, tis a nice confidence boost

dumdeedum... I thought you said you sucked! From now on we should call you the Lying Painter! You are really good! I can't imagine what you will do once the rust falls off!

I don't have any HARD critiques... only few minor stuff. Nothing to be ashamed off... far the contrary. Be PROUD of your model!

First... nice photo-manipulation. Yes... I noticed. Sneaky! Hehehehe... The blur effects can hide minor imperfections, but it makes the miniature 'glow'. Makes the picture looks like high-school pictures. See? Nothing 'bad'.

I like your highlights. Looks very well blend (specially on the back)... In order to make a the contrast 'harder' (more noticeable) you should be also working on the darker spots. For example, the arm-torso area. She could had used a tiny bit more contrast on the left arm (far-right picture). Kindda like black lining. Better definition. Do NOT get me wrong... it is really good. This is a point that you could keep in mind for your next model (because you WILL paint another! You better... or I hunt you down!)

I do agree that the holster and the gun seem somewhat ... flat? A quick fix would be a black wash and once it dries, drybrush metal. It will give lots of depth, and since it is so small, it won't mess with the model as a whole.

The last critique is Source Lighting. I know... it seems like I'm throwing you to the deep end of the pool. Maybe you have not realized it... you are already there! If you look at the lens (goggles), you have placed clear directions to the observer on when the light is coming from. Basically, the light comes from ABOVE-FRONT (halfway from where the gun and the reflection are on the middle pic). It looks good and it is perfectly reasonable. From the front, the shadows (highlights) are perfect... then you turn the model and all is backwards. It is like you have another source of light... but if it were true, then the front is messed up. The conclusion; the illusion of reality is broken. How to fix? Hmmm... I would say a little more shadows UNDER the model and the back not so 'bright' (darker tone than the illuminated front).


It is really hard to critique such a wonderful model. BRAVO! You should be VERY proud!

I didn't think of source lighting at all tbh, I just did that stuff on the goggles because I had a cool image of it in my head and didn't think to apply it to anything else :s I might try adding it to my next models though, I'll see how confident I am.

I also found that when I tried to dry brush it didn't work very well, either it didnt seem to have any effect or way too much, I think thats just an experience thing I have to work on though.

Thanks for the advice and nice compliments too, I just compare my painting to some I see online and can't help but feel rubbish in comparison, ah well

Maelstrom games has some 16% off rrp thing going on at the moment (which unfortunatly doesn't apply to one of the models I want) so I think I might get some infinity models before I get some of the hasslefree miniatures, but that still won't be for a while, so expect my next model in 2 weeks at the earliest I reckon.

I also plan on buying some paper terrain, namely a worldworks one so if that goes well I could post up what that looks like a while after, should lead to some cool games eventually if I find someone to play with

Drybrush is harder than it looks. LESS IS MORE! Take some paint on the brush and paint a piece of paper towel. Once you barely see anything, drybrush your fingertip; if you can BARELY see your fingerprint, you are in the zone! Easier to do this exercise with black (if you use flesh tone you go insane!!!!) After that, try some fur...

You are painting SUPER!

Hopefully I will improve too and learn to base one day.

For now I'm just waiting for a certain couple of embssed styrene sheets to come in stock and just use them as bases, should be quick, easy and good looking I hope.

And if not I'm sure I can find some other use for it, maybe some non-paper scenery.

Thanks for the dry brushing advice

Dum

I've just recieved 4 models in the post, so I've glued them all together and base coated them, so expect pictures of them soon, maybe even a painted one in the next 24 hours, if I'm happy with my painting anyway.

YEAY!!!! PICTURES!!!!

I really screwed up the painting of one of my models, so I need to strip it. Hows best to strip a metal model? I hope its fixable, put way to much paint on and unevenly too :s

Check this Tutorial... sort of... http://www.deathsquadsgame.com/t471-removing-paint-from-models

TAKE PICS OF THE MODEL!!!

Why? Because then you can see how well your 2nd try is! Do your best!

Simple green is cool (but not so easy to source), you might find it quicker to go to homebase and pick up De-solv-it paint stripper - it's a blue gel in a pot, down the paint aisle - takes about twenty minutes and then use a tooth brush to clean it off. You can even re-use most of the gel if you let it drip back into the pot (1 400ml pot has lasted me three years so far). On plastics, it does begin to soften them if you leave it too long, but I've never lost any detail.

Cheers Laney

Here is a picture...



Remember, less is more! I would put the timer for 15 mins, then work on the model. Once you are done with the majority of stripping, repeat the process for 10 mins and get the rest. I suggest this because of Laney's observation of softening plastic.

Good luck!

Well I've been absent for a little while, been on holiday which is why I havn't posted in a while, but I did get a model done before I went away so I'll have a pic of it up on wednesday hopefully, and the others soon afterwards.

For the one I have done, I'm not very happy with it, the skin colour is almost exactly the same as that on his leather stuff :s

Post the pic... we may give you a few pointers!

I will as soon as I get a camera, but that will be on wednesday.

I think my problem was just throwing way too much ink at the model.

Hopefully you guys'll like him and the other guy that I've got in the works.

Well here is the 2nd model, pretty shoddy pictures but I didn't have long with the camera.









Sorry for the massive pictures, I've just got a new pc and I'm not sure how to go about making them smaller and lower quality.

No basing yet, but it'll get done at some point.

Advice, criticism, and general chat all welcome

Pictures are great! The Forum will resize them.... so its all good!

The model looks good! Composition and color scheme/palette is GREAT! On the model itself, if you can... I know its hard... paint eyes. It will bring the model into focus. It is a minor detail, but makes a HUGE difference. I notice that your models seem a little "shiny". This is a side effect of the ink/wash that you are using (which looks GREAT!) I think you need to apply some MATT VARNISH (a.k.a. flat finish). It will remove the 'gloss' giving you a more natural look. I recommend that you use the brush-on kind (rather than spray) because you get better control... you could NOT apply it on certain places you want a gloss/reflective area, such as goggles! I like VALLEJO paints and varnishes



Good luck!

I think some of the shine is because I applied vallejo satin varnish all over. And the first model has the eyes painted, but no matter how many times i tried i could paint eyes on the 2nd one. Maybe its time to try and paint them on again.

I think I'm going to stick with having different colour schemes for each member of the squad, though I might stick to giving them all red tops, just to give them some kind of unifying feature. How does that sound?

And thanks for the compliments and advice

Good points by Mord. I'd also try some more highlights on the more raised areas of the model. The shading's good, just need to bring out the features a little more.

Otherwise, well done.

The SATIN Finish does NOT give any shine. As a matter of fact, it keeps whatever shine (gloss or flat) that the model has. You can paint the Mate over it. Try it... I like to paint with washes/inks and I had the same problem!