StokerD's Work in Progress

[stokerd]

NMM Tutorials

Oh, and just so I can find them easier in the future, here's the NMM tutorials I'm going to try and follow:

NMM Gold
NMM steel

Basically, I can understand him as he works. For whatever reason, the way he does it and talks helps me understand this better. We'll see if I can translate it to a miniature, though

 

[stokerd]

Angel of Shadow finished

Ok, I did a really bad job of updating over the last couple days. I got busy painting (and repainting) trying to get her right, and did not get any pics of in between.

She was actually finished Sunday, but I've been feeling crappy the last couple of days, so hadn't gotten any pics of her. She's also got two coats of matte varnish, so I'm unsure why there is a little bit of a glare. Oh, well....

I gotta admit, I really like her. It's the first time EVER doing NMM, and I think the sword handle came out great. The blade, not so much ... really need improvement in that area. Also, I tried to focus on getting her face right, and while I did OK, there's room to improve there as well. And the boots, I will admit, were quickly and haphazardly done - I was ready to be finished with the mini by then, and they were the last thing to do. I even had the base done before them.

Voting thread is here, I would appreciate any feedback.

Anyways, comments/critiques/advice always welcome!

 

[ten ball]

turn out nice, well done.
On the base its advisable to mask/hide the seperation between the cork to make a more realistic rock effect.

voted

 

[stokerd]

OK, I'm kinda burned out on the highly detailed single miniature right now, and I've got to get some mojo back in time for the painting contest starting at the end of the month (my warrior priest came last week, he's going to get a simple green bath sometime soon).

To that end, I've decided I'm going to use this week to paint a platoon of Tallarn Desert Raiders. These are the old metal minis GW put out several years ago. I recently got my hands on some 60 infantry guys, almost all still bare metal. However, only two sergeants were included, so I'm going to rustle through my bitz box and see if I can't find bits and pieces to make two sergeants. All told, the goal this week is to paint:
1 lieutenant (and convert him to having power sword and plasma pistol)
4 meltagun Tallarn troopers
2 sergeants (converted to having power sword and plasma pistol)
2 plasma gun Tallarn troopers
16 lasgun Tallarn troopers
3 autocannon Tallarn heavy weapons teams.

The goal is to paint them quickly and efficiently, but still pay attention to the little details that will make the army stand out when it is played. As to the color scheme, I am thinking something similar to Sandwyrm on the Back 40K - but swapping out the camo green for a bleached bone. Then will need to find a way to add some color, probably in the headpieces. Anyway, that's the goal. Time for bed now.

 

[stokerd]

Lady Gabrielle on Stormwind WIP

OK, so much for the concept of taking it easy. The bits I thought I had to do the conversions for the Tallarn I do not have, so they are being pushed to the back of the table. The other four Terminators are ready (finished prepping them last night), but I think I want to get back into the fantasy vein. So... I'm going to paint an awesome model for an old friend as the first D&D character we ever played with - Lady Gabrielle.

I'm going to use the Reaper Barros model with the female rider:

My questions is (and I will ask this elsewhere as well, to hopefully have more people see it and answer) - how do I paint this guy off his base? I don't have a pin or setup strong enough to hold him, but I don't want to glue him onto his base yet (I've done one previously, and it broke off all the time). Any ideas or help would be appreciated. Also, ideas on how to hold his wings while I paint them (they aren't going to be fastened) would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

 

[Zab]

Pinning and a jewelers vise.
View attachment 29644

 

[stokerd]

Hey - that's a cool devise! I will look around here for one, would they be at a hobby store? Or go to a jewelry store?

 

[Zab]

I got mine fro a store that sells jewelers equipment here in Toronto. I got two actually cause they were just $20 a pop, and I ended up giving one to another mini painter in need. The handle can be removed too. I bet a quick Google search would reveal some online deals like amazon or the Bay of EEEEEEE! if you don;t have any stores near you locally. Best to walk into a jewelery shop then and ask them where they get their tools

 

[stokerd]

*SIGH* One of these days, I will make up my mind So my wife says I exceeded the hobby budget this month, so have to wait until next month to get anything to help hold onto the mini. So, I went back to the terminators. Have all four basecoated, and first wash done. One of them has the first layer of yellow done (needs at least two more for good coverage). I think these guys will be very satisfying to have finished. They've looked kinda funny with four grey ones and one (I think really cool) painted one.

Then, I have to get started on the Warrior Priest I am entering into the competition. No, I don't expect to win, there's some good painters already in it. But I like entering them, and it gives me a goal to strive for (not to embaress myself with my entry ) Pics of the terminators will go up later, after I take some.

 

[Zab]

Empty paint pots (or poly plugs from the plumbing department of lowes) and blu tac work well too, especially for whole squads. No need for fancy do-dads at all

 

[stokerd]

Well, painting kinda stopped the last couple weeks, what with a family reunion and moving my daughter off to college. I did get a little bit done on the terminators (will get a couple pics up tomorrow), but they are going to be put on hold. I got the Warrior Priest I'm going to do for the competition, so have to prep him and get him going. Can't remember when it's supposed to be done, but I want to be sure to give it my best, so it'll have priority.

Actually going to enjoy this, I have a pretty good idea of how I want to do him. We'll see if I can pull it off.

 

[SkelettetS]

So my wife says I exceeded the hobby budget this month, so have to wait until next month to get anything to help hold onto the mini.

youre starting to sound like Andy mate, you have to step up and show who's the boss!

*feeling pretty cool when the mrs not around*

 

[Dragonsreach]

So my wife says I exceeded the hobby budget this month, so have to wait until next month to get anything to help hold onto the mini.

youre starting to sound like Andy mate, you have to step up and show who's the boss!

*feeling pretty cool when the mrs not around*

"Stay on Target!"

Become a politician you don't have to worry about exceeding budgets then.

 

[stokerd]

OK, couple of quick pictures, mainly for my reference. I want to make sure I keep the same light angles on the miniature as I paint it.

From the front:

From the back:

 

[Zab]

That's going to be very dramatic. I like it.

 

[stokerd]

OK, here's my second attempt at NMM. Please be gentle, but definitely tell me where to improve.

My biggest problem now may be I am thinning the paint too much. Either that, or it's jumping onto the brush a lot more than I thought. It's really hard to control the glaze from running down into the recesses, which is where I don't want it :-( I know I'm making it hard than it's supposed to be. Four hours spent on him, and his armor is finished (pending any actions I can take to rememdy and glaring mistakes).

Thoughts and critiques would be greatly appreciated!

 

[stokerd]

All right, forget the picture. My iPad camera is obviously not good enough, and my wife has the other on her backpacking trip. I'll try my phone camera tomorrow, after it charges.

 

[Zab]

My biggest problem now may be I am thinning the paint too much. Either that, or it's jumping onto the brush a lot more than I thought. It's really hard to control the glaze from running down into the recesses, which is where I don't want it

Try unloading the brush on your finger or paper towel before putting it to the model so most of the moisture is pulled out and the pigment stays. That is the hardest part to get right. Light placement looks good just need some more transitions from dark to light.

 

[SkelettetS]

yeah, you are not thinning too much, you simply have too much paint loaded in the brush, turning it into a wash. for glazing, you can say you drybrush with very diluted paint. paper towel, as Zab said!

 

[stokerd]

ok, more updates. Armor is (mostly) finished, though I think I need some darker transitions. Have started on the steel parts of the mini (not many if you don't do the armor ) Going for a slightly grungier look than mirror polished shield, we'll see. Also, have his cloak about half done - the purple shading is finished (maybe one more highlight), then it's on to the freehand. The fur needs a couple layers of highlights, thought, it's just been started. And I realized I'd forgotten the feet, so they have to get caught up.

Then, I'll do his face followed by his weapon. And then his base. I'm thinking something like a battle scene in a cemetary in front of a Sigmar shrine, defending it from skeletons. We'll see if my skills match my vision.