Desert Dogs -> OptiMAT's Guard Army (13/10)

Thank you very much 1974! There's another on the way so hopefully I can dream up something to set this one apart from the other two. Especially work on the Tank Commander. I quite how the two at the moment could be arguing about which way to go (one has a map, the other is pointing) so maybe this third one will have binoculars perhaps.

Long time no update. Here's how the Valk is getting along. It's taking a long time.



I have also built my Tank Commander Leman Russ variant, with Extra Armour, and Forgeworld conversion kit.



And started a SM Scout / Cadian super tactical squad, to match the shotgun veterans from the previous few posts. They've had the under plates on their stomach filed out and then smoother off with GS to give them a more mobile look, and the Sarge (shown) uses a tank commander arm I extended and attached to give him a hand signal pose. There will be a CCS in the same vein to be my new Warlord. He looks a little messy in this picture but in real life it's not so bad.

Thanks. There are definitely a few mistakes made but I've learnt them for the next two that are planned. Will be doing those differently for sure.

Just getting this out of the way that I havent had the internet for a while for just moving out. Have really missed this forum actually as I have been getting into the hobby more. Still not amazing but the Captain at the end is my latest paint job and I think I've improved a lot. The Valk is the biggest model I've painted and have found it difficult, there's a whole new set of challenges when the model size changes. It still needs touching up here and there but it's table worthy now and that's good enough for me to leave it on the back-burner.

So I have a few new photos to share. The Valk is 99% complete (these pictures have the canopy off but now it's on... waiting for magnets before attaching the under-wing weapons.





Also, took a few new photos of my current fave miniatures. Including the ones I entered in GG, with terrible photos. I swear they looked fine at the size I'm used to seeing them but blown up they were pretty shocking. Hopefully these are a bit clearer.





And yes on the left there is the new Captain for my Crimson Fists detachment. He is designed to be a suitable stand in for Pedro Kantor, so has the same loadout, including wrist mounted storm bolter. Being a captain for the 10th Company, I wanted to make quite a bit out the captain sprue's Eagle backpack but painted it up like a Hawk. His moniker will be 'The Hawk Lord'.

Valk is amazing. End.

Yes, now that I've gotten those out of the way I do intend on slowly chipping away at the infantry. Having moved the hard part part is now finding somewhere safe to spray!

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I intend to use Purity Seal on the Valk to keep it fresh as it is a large model and don't want it chipping. Has anyone got any experience with using varnish on the glass-plastic? Should I mask them off first or are they safe?

I would come out and say that is a mixture of a heavy wash (which unfortunately does tend to have a bit of a shiny finish) and flash. Under natural light they're only shiny where I gloss them which is on glass.

Thanks though.

Cant wait to show the pictures with the magnets and the canopy...

But thanks. There's been a fair amount of cock-ups with it, including a right mess up with the canopy glass on one side, but it's all liveable on the knowledge that it's my own work, and unless you go looking for mistakes you shouldn't find them.

The shine comes from the Earthshade wash, which I use heavily to stain the yellow and get shading (as you do). when it dries it can leave quite a shine. This is why it's prominent on the faces. You can lessen the effect when you re-cover the flat surface areas, but it's still visible when the flash goes off.

A matte varnish is definitely on the buy list but I have a box full of so much crap right now I've decided to wait until I get a few more models painted.

Now get back to Nightlords.

Looking very nice!

The added green really works well

Danger Rod

Thanks guys really appreciate it

Some more Artillery... sort of, in the form of MoO! Pretty standard stuff I suppose; old man, gold(ish) armour and some Manticore-driver-matching olive drab overalls. A little blemish I forgot to file/cut off until it was too late on the front of his skirt, but I was really pleased with the depth in the face so hopefully that pulls away from it.

Stuffs looking great. Very nice work.