GW Space Marine Captain with Terminator Honours

Aircav

New member
Hi All,

This is my first miniature for a long time, after getting back into painting recently. The figure is one of GW's old SM captains. I kept it fairly simple just to get a feel for blending and shading etc.

View attachment 7445

Grateful for any comments or suggestions. The page is here:

284970

thanks,
-AC-
 

Wyrmypops

New member
At first glance it looks juicy and smooth. Then a few bits stand out as could with a bit more work.

The blending of the lower tones, the shades to midtones, that's smooth and lush. The highlights could be a bit more. Some of it might even be the photo.

That first pic, the (Fiery Orange?) highlights on the red shoulderpad trim. Tis too much of a jump, and also isn't applied enough. A stage between the red and pale orange would be groovy, applied as a highlight to the rest of the edges to start the highlights earlier and also pave the way for the extreme highlights. Could also use that to break up the high contrast jump from the pale orange that exists on that shoulderpad and fist.

Similar with the blue. I do so love a juicy Regal Blue, but the extreme highlighting treatment seems limited to the top of the helmet and makes it stand out as peculiar. A bit more of that on other extremities would make it less so. Perhaps a similar treatment given to the blue as the red, an additional stage of edge highlights applied to other parts of the mini in a tone somewhere between where they are now and where the helmet has finished on, to bring them up towards the contrast as seen on the helmet.

It really could be the photo though. They can fail to pick out highlights of all but the most extreme sometimes. I recall that's why the Eavy Metal team started heading towards using them more and more a couple of decades ago now.

The weapon. The casing look unfinished. And red on one side. I'm guessing you were planning on making it red, then the wax part of the purity seal put you off?

Holster. Under the powerfist arm. Could use an edge highlight or two. Something to suggest the gradient of the lower portion, and to pick out the flap.

That's viewing with a seriously critical eye though. It is juicy and lush. Hard not to be with those colour choices and clean manner of painting you have down. :)
 

Aircav

New member
Hi,

Wyrmypops: Cheers for the in-depth comments, much appreciated.

In general as you say, I think I need to spend a little more time with the layering to get better transitions. Just need to be a bit more patient with things I suppose.

You’re spot on as regards the bolter casing. I didn’t want to go for red against the purity seal, so ducked the whole question by leaving it black. The holster is edge highlighted, but is rather dark in the photo. I’m never sure whether a leathery colour is appropriate on Space Marines!

Thanks again,
-AC-
 

Wyrmypops

New member
Could always use a different colour for the wax to avoid conflicting with a red bolter casing. A purple would be a rich and opulent choice, but may well conflict with both the blue and red - yellow might serve as a decent wax.

I know what you mean about the leather. It's so ordinary isn't it, when the feeling that everything on a marine should be fancy. If it helps, it need not be a regular leather, cow or grox, you could imagine it made from an exotic creature and just happens to be dyed or naturally appear in a familiar brown. Then again, they're pragmatic more than poncey so using what's to hand for leather goods could serve as a reminder of that.
 
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