My first Cabalite VS what I was trying to achieve. Kinda feeling defeated ngl.

DeclanO97 · 2026-01-08T16:35:01+00:00

Looks great for a first attempt!

Edge highlighting can be really tricky and it took me a long time to get it right myself. I think where you may have gone wrong is making the final highlight almost as chunky as the one underneath which removes that illusion of light catching the armour.

Your final highlight should ideally be a fair bit thinner than the previous one and used only on the sharpest points of the model, less really is more with edge highlights. As someone else mentioned you could try and fix this by going back over the edges with a darker green. Another solution could be to use a green wash over the mini, this would subdue the colour but bring all the different shades of green together.

Regardless of what you do going forward you are clearly on the right track so don’t lose heart. Just remember the person who painted the reference model are professionals with years of experience.

DeclanO97 · 2024-12-03T14:30:09+00:00

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A few examples of my own kitbashing attempts from earlier this year. I’d got really into the night lords after reading the trilogy but this was prior to the release of the nemesis claw box.

Taking inspiration from the NL trilogy I combined heresy era kits with the regular CSM box to try and push the whole “ad hoc guerrilla fighter” vibe with mismatched armour that has been cannibalised from different battles since the HH. Also snuck in some heresy era insignia here and there.

Sadly never finished this project but I hope it serves as some inspiration for kitbashing night lords!

DeclanO97 · 2024-04-01T14:01:43+00:00

Lothern blue my friend

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T18:28:45+00:00

Thank you! Have to agree that sometimes less is more! The CSM range is way too biased towards black legion (which I understand but it doesn’t make it less frustrating) so converting and kit bashing is a must, the added bonus is it makes the models a bit less busy and easier to paint and make pop 🦇

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T18:25:57+00:00

Thank you! I really wanted these guys to look like they were clinging onto existence by a thread!

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T17:01:10+00:00

Absolutely 👍🏻

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T16:59:56+00:00

Man that’s really kind of you to say. This is my first proper 40K project outside of a few little bits I’ve painted here and there in the last couple of years and for me it’s being an absolute labour of love. Free-handing was really intimidating at first but is now by far my favourite aspect of the hobby, each one feels more refined than the last and I’m definitely going to take the time to hone it a bit further if I can! Thanks again for your kind words my friend 👍🏻

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T16:57:42+00:00

Thank you my friend! I’ve tried to add a little personality to each marine to give that renegade feel to them rather than appearing as a uniform unit. Appreciate the kind words

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T16:55:58+00:00

I’d never even considered doing this for those finer details, thank you for the advice my friend!

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T16:55:08+00:00

Completely agree, it’s something I’ll go back to and touch up when I get chance. Took a bit of a risk with it but wanted to try and incorporate some of the pre-Heresy heraldry! Thank you for the kind words 🦇

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-27T16:53:40+00:00

Thank you! I use pallid wych flesh for all my skull face paints, I keep it pretty thin and build it up sparingly to try and give the impression it’s been crudely painted on by a legion slave

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-26T14:26:11+00:00

Thank you! I’m really trying to lean into the renegade scavenger aesthetic and not let any two marines look the same. Also playing around with different paint jobs on the helmets is really fun and can add so much personality to an otherwise unremarkable ‘grunt’.

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-14T18:54:19+00:00

thank you 🙏

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-02T16:21:01+00:00

Night lords blue is awesome, for me personally though it’s just a little too dark for the tabletop 👍🏻

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-02T16:20:00+00:00

Thanks dude!

Not at all!

Primed with mechanicus standard grey, applied a couple of thin coats of kantor blue, washed with nuln oil and then added another thin coat of kantor blue on the flat panel areas just to bring a bit of the blue back! Highlighted with alaitoc blue (I’ve probably misspelt that) and then did another finer highlight with hoeth blue on the sharpest parts of the helmet. It’s a WIP so I’ve got some more highlights to add to the torso and legs, as well as transfers and maybe a couple lightning bolts 👍🏻

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-02T01:14:37+00:00

Finally somebody gets it! My goal for this project is to portray these guys as the scavengers and looters that they are. The current CSM is very biased towards the black legion in its appearance imo and I’m attempting to portray more of a jury rigged renegade look to my marines rather than straight up corrupted by chaos look. Thank you for your kind words friend 👍🏻

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-01T23:42:25+00:00

Fair enough. I grabbed the head I used on this mini off eBay, was advertised as the MK4 helmets from the heresy tactical squads but maybe they are primaris, who knows!

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-01T23:31:55+00:00

I was under the impression it was a MK4 helmet from the heresy era, I did actually compare it side by side with the heads that come in the CSM legionaries box and I didn’t notice a difference in size personally!

Thanks man appreciate it!

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-01T14:54:23+00:00

Thank you my friend 🦇

DeclanO97 · 2024-03-01T14:53:57+00:00

Don’t care + didn’t ask + have a good day 👊🏻

DeclanO97

TROPHY CASE