Ol' Rowdy WIP

[gilmour]

I'm quite new to this, so be gentle Well I say new, I used to collect GW orks about 20 years ago, but they were little more than painted one colour just to get them on the table.

I wanted to post here as I've been lurking in the forums stealing lots of good ideas, and would like to share and get some feedback.

Ol' Rowdy is my 11th mini since (re)starting to paint, I'm very pleased with how he's coming on. (You can see the others here)

Anyway, here's the story so far (part lifted from another forum)

I really like this model, the attitude and the back story that comes with it so I wanted to make the most of it.

I've been keen to keep him linked in with the colour scheme from the rest of my Cygnar, but also to ensure that he looks a little older and a little beefier.

When reading up on different techniques I stumbled on the sponged metal tutorial on Brushthralls. I was convinced this was the right technique to age the armour as well as make it looks nice and meaty. Plus it was a new technique to try!

The more eagle eyed of you will also notice that I have given his exhaust stacks a little hot rodding adding on about 6mm extra. I did this just so he has a little more presence on the table.

I'm pleased with the right arm/buckler, I used the same sponged metal technique as I like the idea that what makes rowdy different is this old gnarled armour that's clamped on to him. This process was a lot tricker than on the shoulder pad and back pack, but got there in the end - slow and steady wins the race.

Whites are done on the left arm, still need to do some work on the blues, the hammer and the knuckles.

QUESTION:
I still need to do the rivet/studs, but haven't really got nice technique to do them on the white. If I'm doing it on the metallics or the blue, I'll paint them a metallic colour and then wash them with black to make them pop out, but this looks really messy on the white ... Any ideas?

Also did the sponged metal on the left (smaller) shoulder pad and studs, this was really really fiddly, and the whites look a little to ... white?!? Just need to tweak this when I have time.

Pretty pleased with how he's looking...

Annoyingly in the pics I've noticed a bit of damage to the top of his collar/cowl, so I'll have to sort that. I think this has happened because I have a horrible habit of handing the minis too much when I'm painting them. Grrr...

I've played around with bases, and have ordered some nice ones from here so he should have that little extra height in the model.

Next is to wait for the base to arrive in the post, work on the legs, then glue it all together and go over the finer details, badges, rivets etc...

Hope to find some time this weekend if the bases arrive.

 

[daGoz]

Please don't take my question wrong, but my eye expects the center of the Cygnar crest and collar/cowl plates to be the brighter colour (white) fading to the darker (tan) on the outer edges, is it just me, or did you pull a daGoz?

 

[devoncodain]

I love the color scheme you have going on there mate and have to say I do not see much wrong when I scanned over them.

 

[gilmour]

Please don't take my question wrong, but my eye expects the center of the Cygnar crest and collar/cowl plates to be the brighter colour (white) fading to the darker (tan) on the outer edges, is it just me, or did you pull a daGoz?

Bugger, now you've said it I know what you mean. I just need to decide if it bothers me enough to go back and change all my hard work

 

[cheelfy]

This is pretty nice looking. You have a good colour choice. I just think you need to blend more the white.

 

[Tagamoga]

I dont have a clue, what this model is... so I cannot judge this correct. So plaese rate my comment with caution.

Like the others, I like your COC. Is is great. But I suggest, to use more Highlight on youe Metal. On the top of the shoulder for example I am missing reflections from the light...

The blendings are well set, but with a little practise perhaps a little bit smoother?

Greetings, Taggi

 

[gilmour]

Thanks for the comments, I'm pretty happy with my blending on the white, as when I've tried to make it smoother it looks too white if that makes sense, but I guess I need to practice more, funnily I felt the blues needed more work, but maybe that means I've been putting in more effort there, and not enough on the whites :shock:

As for highlighting the metals I'm not really sure how to go about that, as I mentioned I've been using the sponged metal technique on Brushthralls, to get a really aged/anodized look which I think looks great, but do agree there is bugger all highlighting, as the highlighting I did was prior to sponging then once sponged it disappears

FWIW the studio mini looks like this...

(too blue for me )

 

[cheelfy]

This pic make your guy look a bit old school.

 

[gilmour]

Sorry I'm not quite sure what you mean, can you explain/expand a little please?

The fluff that goes with the mini is that he's one of the oldest warjacks, having done decades of service - that's why I tried to make him look a little older and used. If that's what you mean by old school then happy days I fell the studio model looks a little too new and clean (although TBH I'm not sure I've the skill to paint it that cleanly anyway!)

 

[cheelfy]

No I mean that you have painted it like with an old school style but I think it's due to the pic.

 

[gilmour]

No I mean that you have painted it like with an old school style but I think it's due to the pic.

Sadly I think it might well be my painting I haven't painted any minis in over 20 years until the last month or so, so I probably am a little old school (literally!) they are just mobile phone pics, I'll try to get some better shots as he progresses.

I've been following a lot of tutorials both here and on Brushthralls, but have been toying worth getting one of the tutorial DVDs, do people find them worthwhile?

FWIW here's pics of a similar mini, on which I didn't use the sponged metal. Interestingly because I put less time into him (and subsequently less paint) he seems to have come out a little cleaner, so maybe less old school?

 

[Tagamoga]

As for highlighting the metals I'm not really sure how to go about that, as I mentioned I've been using the sponged metal technique on Brushthralls, to get a really aged/anodized look which I think looks great, but do agree there is bugger all highlighting, as the highlighting I did was prior to sponging then once sponged it disappears

You have not to paint the model, like others. I like your COC (Coice of Color). And if even the style is "old school", it is not the point about great minis. It is your own style. Save it for you. Every good painter has his style.

But for highlighting the metal. Well perhaps this suggestion might works. Sponge your metal much lighter that intended and the way you have done it before. (I like the old metal look) after you are finished, use washes and inks to darken this metal, but only in the shadows. So you have highlight and shadows and a much more better metal looking.

Greetings, Taggi