Veteran paint scheme: - (First Attempt with Pic)

[DBeans]

So I am painting my 122nd Cadia.
See here... commissar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=picpost&action=display&thread=16867

So far this has been going well. have nearly 2 full platoons finished, but my problem now is my veteran squads. I have two in my army and want the to be instantly recognisable as different to my IS.

So far I have given the backpacks, some don't have helmet on and those that do I have left helmets black instead of camo.

The main question on my mind is should I camo the cloth like I have with the IS.
Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
Beans

[teku18]

I you want them to be different I would say no to the camo. Not that it means much but for my army the main blobs are going to be painted in a tan base with blue armor accents. While my vets are going to be painted black base with dark blue armor like they would be set up for night operations. This could be something to look into. Take just two of the colors you use and make a scheme from them.

[DBeans]

I was thinking no to the camo too. being as they are in transports, camo would not, in millitary service, be all that necessary.
My Kaskin strom troops I have reversed the colour scheme so the armour is camo and the cloth is black, which has worked well in my opinion. But just wasn't sure, the other disadvantage is my conscripts don't have camo, so apart from the helmets the veterans will look very similar. :/

[teku18]

Well it really comes down to how much work and money you want to put into them. I ordered separate bodies and legs from Maxmini, and am currently working on making different heads for them. It really all depends on how in depth you want to get. I would show you what I am working with but I don't want to clog your thread.

[zeke]

I'd say different bits. I have 4 Veteran squads, 2 are Cadanian themed, and 2 are other ranges (Steel Legion and Tanith Ghosts). Anyways, to differentiate them, all of the aquillas are gold instead of silver. One squad has the gasmasks from the command sprue, and the other has close combat weapons on their backs.

Linky, bottom of page 3... commissar.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=picpost&action=display&thread=14596&page=3

[Paradill]

I painted mine in special ops colours (to reflect their role) so Black armour with dark urban camo fatigues. My sergeants also have the N7 colour stripe from mass effect down their left shoulder pad because it looks cool.

[DBeans]

My problem is, my whole army is black armour with dark urban camo.
Due to a lack of finance, I am needing to it on a lowish buget. But am happy to do as much work as needed to produce good results.
I would very much like to move into Tanith models for my veterans, but sadly they are no longer avaliable.
I am considering sculpting a sight into the lasguns just to make them seem a bit more well equipped than ordinary guardsmen.

[zeke]

Yea the Tanith models were hard to come by, but occasionally something will pop up on ebay. Maybe get some Catachans and GS some cloaks onto them?

[Paradill]

SHOTGUNS!!!

[Trooper One-Nine-Seven-Four]

I'm not sure about leaving the helmets black, as your regular troopers' helmets look great the way you've painted them, and the camo scheme on the fatigues looks great too...

Shotguns are always good, and there are several ways to carry off the conversion. Maybe you also give them extra grenades and pouches in addition to backpacks to represent them getting the pick of the regimental arsenal? Also, you could do little subtle touches like perhaps giving them cigars (easy to do with a length a paperclip or thin plastic tube and a bit of patience with a pin vice drill), scars, and such to make them look more hard-bitten?

[StillANoob]

On the topic of sights on lasguns, one I have tried to great success is cutting the barrel off a lasgun and gluing it to the top of another las. Simple and effective conversion. Also in terms of making your Vets stand out I gave all my Veterans Vox helmets, and backpacks. Anyone that didnt have a Vox head had a head from the Scout Marine sprue or Space Wolves Scouts. Those heads give you some good Vets.

Also I second much of what Trooper said.

SaN

[DBeans]

Ok. I have been working on my veterans, giving backpack modifying the lasguns, but here is my first attempt at the modified paint scheme. (The Veteran is on the left, guardsman on the right).



I am really unsure on whether I like it or not so want you opinions and advice.
Cheers
DB

[DBeans]

OK. me not understand how polls worked on android, I only managed to add 2 options so please ignore it. Unless anyone knows how to add further options or delete it all together.

[egon]

I prefer the uniform of the normal guardsman. What I do to mark veterans as different from the rest is to give them different equipment rather than different uniforms.

That's because my veterans are allowed a bit more slack when it comes to dress and gear regulations. My standard guardsmen all have to make due with what they are given, many of my veterans have "found" stuff along the way. So extra bits and pieces, rolled up sleeves, non-regulation headgear etc.

What I think would look really good for your veterans is to keep the standard uniform (which looks really good) but give them the all-black body armour. That way they are still kind of similar but you can still easily spot the difference between the different types of units.

[DBeans]

Ok, thanks for input, but just to clarify. My veterans have backpacks, different guns, more gear and some even have bandannas instead of helmets. I was still having trouble identifying the quickly, So decided they needed a slightly different paint job.

I do agree though, the more I look at the alternative camo, the less I like it.
The normal guardsmen already haveblack armour,although I have given my veterans black helmets to contrast.

[egon]

All black armour (including their helmets) and a bunch of stuff. Sounds pretty veteran-y to me.

[christopher300]

I like the camo you have done on the veterans but \i dont think it suits veterans if you know what I mean.

My take on it is very dependent on their role. I have a veteran unit with shotguns and meltas. So instamtly hotguns gives a different feel, I have also made the, all hemletness. They have urban camo (where guardsman have plain fatigues). I have made them a it gritty I guess.

For mys econd veteran unit who will sit back and have plasmas I will make abit more dressy so a bit neater, brighter colours. Maybe give camo cloaks, but I will be giving them new lasguns like the link below.

ajsgamingworld.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/lasgun-conversions-part-1.html

I think these lasguns look really smart and maybe an idea for your veterans?

[hendrik]

how about a simple addition,such as a red strip acros their helmet/shoulderpad?

[DBeans]

OK. I have been looking at pictures online, and have tried out using the same camo but with the addition of a red shoulder pad like the old cadians had in cityfight and eye of terror.


So what do people think. It makes them instantly recognisable, but a bright red patch kind of defeats the point of urabn camo. :/
Opinions?

[hendrik]

don't worry about the red patch, if it really is downright dirty ruble fighting they'll find themselves in the red will be covered in dust and dirt fast enough.
besides, you wanted a way to make the veterans easier to spot. camo is ment to to exactly the opposite!

[egon]

Personally I would stay away from the red shoulder pads. They look good but as you say they look out of place in a city fight.

That said, as Hendrik mentions, they wouldn't be red for long (or you could try another shade of red). It's all a matter of taste. If you like it, go for it.

[BG. Foster]

What about doing them with bare arms? You can add the shoulder pads from the tank sprues too if you like.

[DBeans]

I did try using catachan arms, but they looked rather out of place.
I will try making a lot darker shade. In a way I do quite like the red shoulderpad, just a bit to bright I think.

[christopher300]

What technique do you use for your camo, the normal infantry one? When i ever try to draw it on it just looks silly but yours looks really good.

[DBeans]

Well I can give you a brief of my method. Maybe I should do a video guide as a few people have asked me about it now.

I have a GW fine detail brush, put a small ammount of paint on the end of the brush and stroke it accross the model. The key is to plan where you are going to put some camo, and be careful not to overcrowd your basic colour. With 3 colour camo, you want about 50% of the area in the base colour with 25% of each of the two camo colours.
But I think using a paintbrush gives a lot better definition and edge to the camo than using a fine marker pen.

Hope this helps.
DB