Rick's Deathwing 2K WIP

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Hi folks,

Well i have been asked to come on a tournament in April down south, so i decided to take deathwing as i have been wanting to get this force sorted out for a while and needed the impetus, so this was it.

Its a pretty standard force, 2K, belial, DW command squad, Deathwing knights, 4 * DW squads and 2 dreadnaughts. so 32 models to paint.

The army is predominantly made up of stuff i have been sourcing to use in either an interesting way, or have bought specifically.

Belial is a conversion of lufgt Huron from FW after i got 2 arms in the bag

I came across a spare set of Space Hulk terminators which suit the look very well after some conversions and smoothing etc.

There is also an old metal Terminator captain model which i had in a box so he is becoming a sgt.

There is also a chunk of stuff made from bits n bobs using the new DA termi box to make the deathwing knights, so i have goodies to DW up other terminators

the dark vengance guys are in there too. so its very much an army of refugees from my loft that are finally getting to see the light of day and be used properly.

The dreadnaughts are a contemptor from FW and a Venerable from GW.

Most of the work has been getting the models sorted into squads after i wrote a basic list to work out what options i needed, mostly a special weapon, then add LC\TH or chainfist here and there etc.

So after a few hours this evening i have sorted them out into squads, but some arm conversion and saw use will be needed tomorrow to get it ready for sorting and basecoating.

The bases will be fitted later with cork bits and such.

First progress:

Belial:

Knights:

Close CW squad and plasma:

The main squads being sorted:

Lots to do but excited to be getting it ready, especially after being ill for a few months.

Will build the dreadnaughts tomorrow

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

This evenings update:

Well not a massive change tonight, more finalising the wargear options, final conversion work prep and finalising the bits i need.

I have sorted the squads out into the main groups, its a cornocopia or plastic colours hehe.

Main things still outstanding are mold line removal, i keep finsing more, but it will be worth it. Also made some green stuff casts for icons etc to make the SH termies more DA themed, the blue press on mold making stuff is an excellent tool as it dries almost solid in about 2 mins! This means i can sort out extra little details quicker and looks a lot better.

So the squads that will make up the troops and command squad:

Command Squad:

Assault Cannon Squads:

Missile Launcher and Claw squad:

I also made up a basic banner for the old Termie captain, who is a sgt in this army. Its just GS flat and basically shaped, i will add ridges and details to it once cured.

The Green stuff icons curing for trimming and fitting, using the FW icon pack it is great to get curved surfaces etc icon'd up, and untill FW do shaped icons, and i can sculpt better i will press cast bits n bobs, lord knows i spend enough at GW for them to care!

Tomorrow nights work is Contemptor and Venerable dreads, these will get the actual resin icons fitted to them, and some GS scripture etc i may make up.

As i have a hospital visit on thursday i will be off work on wednesday for prep (not best fun but necessary), so will be hopefully be productive when i can, but i also got some new reading material to sink my teeth into, it feels good to be getting into fantasy again, i never really got into it before like i wanted to:

That's all for now, but good to be making progress.

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Usual 1am update, joys of steroid insomnia hehe.

Anyway tonight was putting the DW stuff onto the shoulders and banners etc.

\the pics are blurry just taken on phone, will use proper camera tomorrow.

The pics make the icons look really just slapped on but they look fine painted will help, the red n green does clash.

Then was a brief snack before dreadnought work, cant beat a pancake:

Venerable dread made up:

Then i binned the banner i had done of the sgt and made up a mold from card and stock plasticard, its slightly thicker than i would like but not done this much, but will look fine painted and i need to get more refined at GS use:

That is me so far, just the contemptor to build tomorrow.

Then the force will be ready to start painting undercoat then base brown.

 

[Snapshot_Superhero]

I'm really liking your approach to the banners. I've never thought about using a press mold to get it all set up. Brilliant!

Looks great, can't wait to see more.

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Update:

Got a lot done today, been housebound for a hospital visit so cracked on.

Started the day building the contemptor dreadnaught, Added some FW DA symbols and extra purity seals etc. I then wanted to magnetise the auto-cannon's for ease of painting and for travelling etc, it worked well as last time i used magnets that were a bit small, these are much better.

I then got out my new toy from Hobbycraft:

I then got out the cork board squares to tear up and start to make the base designs i want for the army, plan is to make it a sort of stone\slab finish:

Then it was onto painting the first squad up, i chose the command squad. I primed the models with Vallejo Grey Primer, an excellent paint that has little odour, water soluble, quick drying i highly recommend it, i have the black too and is a very good sub for Chaos Black if you have an airbrush, but it can be brushed on too i believe.

I followed this with 4 colours, a base sprayed aiming towards the soles of the feet to create shadow (VGC Earth), then the main colour base (VGC Cobra leather), first highlight (VGC Khaki) and final highlight sprayed more from straight down from the top of the head (VGC Bonewhite). I use VGC for spraying as the droppers are easier to control in the brush with the thinner, however GW paints work just as well just a bit more fiddly to set up in brush cup

I then sprayed the models with Klear floor polish so i could do the Oil pin wash, i used W&N burnt umber and a little lamp black, thinned with white spirit.

I then removed the excess wash with cotton buds (Q-Tips) with a little clean white spirit still on them. I wanted a more realistic finish on these rather than the eavy metal as i think the DW suit this a bit more, however the greens and reds of the cloaks and guns will return it to a more GW standard theme.

The result:

Hospital visit tomorrow, but once home i will look at doing the details on the command squads.

Really enjoying this project

 

[KruleBear]

Looks like a nice start!

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Tonight's update:

Further work on the command squad, detail colouring, basically just block colours for the main parts of the models:

Amazing how quickly the squad looks cohesive and the colours really make them break up the bone.

Hopefully get more done on sunday. Really want to get the army to the table for playtesting.

 

[RayzrYR]

Wow. Really coming together nicely

 

[lono]

Some very cool ideas here and I particularly like the Belial conversion and your approach to making custom banners. Having painted a lot of Deathwing recently I've got a few recommendations. I realise that for the sake of consistency it may be a bit late to work on this now, but I figured I'd throw it out there in case. It's stuff I finally got to grips with working on my Deathwing and hopefully it will be useful with future Marines if not these ones.

When using any sort of wash technique to add the shading to your models you'll benefit from working much more contrast into your initial airbrush work. From your description it sounds like you are totally on the right track, but perhaps you aren't being quite bold enough - you kinda want to take it to a point it looks wrong! Ideally it wants to go from pretty dark to something very pale and make those contrasts overly obvious, because the wash is going to neutralise a lot of subtlety. I tend to start with Mournfang Brown and work up all the way to pure white for the spot highlights. It looks severe but a wash will tone it back.

I don't know what sort of airbrush setup you use, but as I get to the final highlights I really turn the compressor pressure down to just above the point where the spray comes out powdery and diffused. It means that I can add very placed, controlled spot highlights in areas like the tops of shoulder pads, the tips of toes, the front of helmets, etc. Once the wash goes over it and then, should you feel so inclined, a thin warm brown glaze to add some richness, it will really cut back on the starkness and leave a fairly nuanced look.

These guys were basically up to white highlights before I knocked them back down again with washes and glazes - http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hhh3CMRXHZw/UQPr1vZmFjI/AAAAAAAAAoc/VhCQnhRtQ2o/s1600/dark-vengeance.jpg

I just find it's way easier to work things back than it is to go the other way. It's totally a matter of preference of course, just thought I'd throw my approach your way in case you find it useful.

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Thanks Iono, as this was first squad it was a technical prototype for the colours I was going to use, I found that the colour I used for the highlight was too light, so will use a darker brown I think next time, and the airbrush allows a lot of adjustment, so I will take the final highlight to the finest line and spray at about 18psi to get more control, so hopefully the next squads will be that bit sharper etc.

It's always a learning curve .

Lots to do this weekend with them .

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Weekends update.

Spent most of this weekend sorting out the final prep for the rest of the force, i couldnt get corks locally so i bought some polystyrene rings from hobbycraft to cut up for pinning mounts, seem to work quite well, for about £4.

Got the whole force mounted on wire and plinth to hold:

I then dug out the airbrush, though found it needed a better clean, must have not got a bit in the middle, so completely stripped and ultrasonic cleaned, all was well.

I got the whole force undercoated with primer:

Then it was brush work on the command squad, basically the purity seals\papers, other bits n bobs like eye undercoat and i had fun doing the banner, though still not finished.

That's me up to date, hopefully finish the command squad tomorrow night.

 

[moetle]

I really like this. Your banner idea was great and your army is really coming along.

Moe

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Thanks

The only thing keeping me up nights is the edge highlighting that will need doing hehe.

The timescale of having army playable by end of march and full painted are coming together quick! will be a busy week.

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Quick update, working on the command squad, almost finished just the gold highlights to do, parchment scroll work, power swords and edge highlighting.

Then i will do their bases and 1 squad is done. only 5 more to go

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Quick update, working on the command squad, almost finished just the gold highlights to do, parchment scroll work, power swords and edge highlighting.

Then i will do their bases and 1 squad is done. only 5 more to go

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Tonight's progress consisted mainly of basecoating the bases with dark grey, then drybrushing with longbeard dry pigment, and finally adding a brown pigment mixed with water.

The first attempt was slightly too brown for my liking, so may tone it down for the other bases.

I then finished 2 of the command squad so mounted them on the bases. I may add some tufts to the bases for a bit of variety.

 

[KruleBear]

These continue to get better and better.

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Command squad is finished, i re-did the bases that were too brown to make them more natural:

I finished all the bases bar edging them, the much lighter brown powder wash is a lot more subtle.

I got the entire army painted with the shade layer, and i got belial, contemptor dread and the knights painted up to bone, the camera has washed out the shading but its more effective than the original comm squad as i used a darker brown.

Varnish to go on on sunday and an oil wash.

 

[secretpaintgeek]

This project is really coming along. Looks great so far. Eager to see the dreads get some treatment

 

[Pictish Mini Painting]

Hi folks,

Been a busy week, but got some painting time in today.

I am still working on the deathwing knights and Belial.

Got most of the main colours on now, just a few more bits to do till they are done, then onto next squad.

Should get the squad done tomorrow and the rest of the army up to bone.