Imperial Guard Valkyrie - help needed to improve

[TheMiniatureWorkshop]

Hi,

I am looking for some advice, suggestions & criticism on this model, I painted it but feel that it doesn\'t look good enough but don\'t really know how to improve it.

I think the whole model has come out looking a little plain, I don\'t want to just add loads of stripes and transfers as I think this will look out of place. I also don\'t really like the guy on the base but don\'t have any other Imperial Guard minis and feel the base is bland without him.

I appreciate any advice you have please feel free to be brutally honest, its the only way to really improve.

here\'s the pic\'s:

Cheers

Rich :beer:

 

[Cleezy]

To my eyes it is just a block of colour. There is nothing breaking up the mountain of green. The key thing is there, neatness. It just needs some touching up to make areas stand out. Some deeper shading and further highlights are needed. Even if only simple it will help create definition. Also some damage and/or camouflage would really help to break up the mini.

As for the base i think the guardsmen kinda looks out of place, maybe if he was in a pillbox or emplacement or something similar then it would look like the valkyrie is flying over a fortified position.

I dont think it would take much to make this look really nice, just decide what you want to add, i would definitely deepen the shades though on the metals also.

 

[diddy lemon1]

I think what would really spice it up is weathering and heat damage from the engines. Not 100% sure how you would go about doing it but im sure someone round here would be able to help

 

[winterdyne]

Yeah, heat damage from the engines is a good thing to add - if you have an airbrush this is the way to go - use Tamiya \'smoke\', and it works nicely. Otherwise a mix of future / klear and a black artists\' ink also works pretty well.

I think the basic weathering and highlighting is fine, but I\'d add a couple of recognition stripes to the main wings - first put down a few small blobs of masking fluid roughly where you want the stripes to run, then mask with tape over that. When you spray the lines, after removing the tape, remove the maksing fluid and your stripes are weathered in to the paintwork underneath.

 

[akaranseth]

You can take a look at the tutorial I wrote on my valkyrie: http://akaranseth.over-blog.com/pages/Step_by_Step__Valkyrie_Imperial_Guard-1335315.html

 

[ScottRadom]

Your decals look like decals instead of being painted on. Good decals are easy to do! Get yourself a two part product from Micro Scale industries. There\'s micro-set, and micro sol.

Before you put decals on it\'s important to put some gloss varnish on the area recieving the decal. Then get your decal soaking and ready to apply. Brush on some of the Micro Set and then apply your decal onto the glossed area and the still wet micro set. Once that part is dry you can use the second part, micro sol, to brish onto the decal which will soften up the decal and allow it to sit very snugly!

 

[freakinacage]

Originally posted by akaranseth
You can take a look at the tutorial I wrote on my valkyrie: http://akaranseth.over-blog.com/pages/Step_by_Step__Valkyrie_Imperial_Guard-1335315.html

nice work there. it will help me with mine (if i ever finish assembling it!)

 

[Dragonsreach]

As winterdyne has suggested it\'s too clean, without any damage or dirt.
A few carefully placed scratches and worn areas, some exhaust smoke and you\'d be well on your way

 

[ScottRadom]

The Forge World modelling masterclass is the place for you!

It\'s got all sorts fo easy to follow hints and tips for getting your bird to look beat up and lived in. I got a copy and I love it.

 

[TheMiniatureWorkshop]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys

I have darkened the whole model down a bit to give it a more gritty feel and have added some weathering to the whole model and in particular the wings and engines. I have also removed the guy from the base.

here\'s some new pics:

Let me know if you think I am heading in the right direction with this.

Cheers

Rich

 

[ScottRadom]

That\'s the ticket! Much improved.