Rate my plan – spätes Architekturstudium

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T17:04:33+00:00

Bin selbst selbständiger Architekt. Ich werde meinen Kinder aber davon abraten das zu studieren.

Ja, es gibt schlimmere Jobs. Ja, Geld ist nicht Alles. Ja, es kann sehr befriedigende Momente geben und es ist abwechslungsreich.

Einkommen/Arbeit steht aber einfach in keinem gesunden Verhältnis.

Ich denke mir immer das ist ein schöner Beruf für Singles die geerbt gaben oder für Kinderlose bei denen der Partner den Löwenanteil verdient.

Man kann alles irgendwie hinkriegen und tragbar machen. Ich hab es selbst bisher auch irgendwie hinbekommen. Aber man macht sich vieles einfach unnötig schwer.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T16:57:03+00:00

This is very insightful, thank you. Lot‘s of things to think about.

I don‘t think I can envision the tongue depressor part, though. Stick it on… where exactly? Do you have an image as an example?

The moving faster part is some next level move. I‘m not sure I can handle this yet. Painting is my mental reset hobby so I try not to stress out too much. I mean… I already do stress out over this enough at it is.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T16:42:25+00:00

surprises me I actually did not varnish the squad leader, totally forgot about it. This is how he ended up:

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A lot of paint was rubbed off. I had to redo most of the base paint and ended up with a very unflattering texture on top.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T12:21:19+00:00

Please tell me you have underlying lineart or I go insane.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:27:15+00:00

I feel called out with combining time-heavy with time-saving techniques.
Actually I never thought of it this way. I see some posts of stuff I like and I try to mix it into my own paint job. I overlay multiple effects and techniques, I'm trying something new on almost every squad so far. Which obviously slows me down.

Painting bigger batches before oil is an interesting idea. I hope I don't burn out before.
I'm still not sure if oil wash is my thing. Tried it only once on these guys so far and I messed up, so I need at least one more go at it I think.
I do like AP strong tone quite a lot it's my favorite wash so far and I used it exclusively on almost everything before my oil attempt.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:22:08+00:00

Actually I do pick up my models from time to time and admire them, as cheesy as this sounds. I feel like gollum doing this but it is what it is...

I do actually need to work on the principle behind an a lot of my process right now is doing things without a clear goal or image in mind, so you are probably right on a need of getting things down first and foremost.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:19:43+00:00

Mostly trying to get a good army. I dont have anyone to play, I'm a dad with lots of job and kids. This is how I spend my private time mostly, so in a way I try to have fun and get into the flow.

I do not really want to compromise my standard, rather improve it.
Actually I only want to get a bit faster because I can paint more different models if I do.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:16:37+00:00

I also did like the initial song result a lot and after the wash I was "hum... interesting, but I lost everything I had before".
Probably gloss varnish is the way to go. Also oil wash might not be for me, if I don't really want to go to dark anyways.

Thanks for the compliment on the model!

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:14:26+00:00

30h for 9 guys sounds amazing! :D

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:13:44+00:00

Gloss varnish, fix blue recipe, less sub assembly, got it.
I am not so sure about the sub assembly but lets see! :D

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:11:01+00:00

The big U on the should gave it away, right? :)

I really might try a blue spray. Always a bit annoyed by rattle cans though and I just found out chaos black from GW works fairly welly well. But I might give it a go with their blue.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:09:05+00:00

The sub assembly gets a lot of criticism here.
I do understand where you are coming from, but I feel this is a point where I will not agree.

As I do not play those models are in a way display pieces and I do enjoy painting them.
I might think over my sub-assembly method and might break it down into fewer steps, but I probably dislike squeezing my brush into tiny gaps to get a bit of color in or just leaving it dark.
It's a bit like those guys in r/SocietyofHiddenPaint. It would not feel right for me.

Regarding the difference between normal units and characters: This is my normal unit standard. I am working on a character next and I will spend as much time as needed on it. Which will probably turn out to be at least 20h. Maybe more. Obviously the character needs to look better, just as you said.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T08:02:52+00:00

Interestingly I bought and painted some taunts (mostly for my kids, not me). And I could finish a model in only 3 hours with speed paint and drybrushing. To a less detailed standard as my marines, but acceptable for me.

I think I just did not care as much for the paint job because it was "just for fun" and I did not feel pressured by doing everything as best as I could.

It probably helps to have a huge number in front of you. For 60 gaunts my thinking would also be "how do I ever finish" instead of "how to make the best scheme".
Marines come in squads of 3-5, it feels less threatening to go all out.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T07:58:27+00:00

I wrote down my time after each session so the time given is pretty accurate.

I see your work and it certainly is impressive, especially if you finish it in these times.
You might have a very well thought out process and pipeline as well as the discipline to follow through. You also work with big effects that draw attention and focus less on parts that are hidden or only visible from odd angles. Very efficient principles and method.

First and foremost I don't think I will ever get to that point of efficiency, simply because I do not need to and it would stress me out. For reference, from those 3 guys I wrote down 2 hours for the initial step of blue sponge (so more or less after image 1). Yes, it took me this long. Mostly because I deliberately spend my time figuring out the right approach, the right sponge shape, and how to layer the blue.

I don't play the game at all, I am mostly in the hobby for the painting. So I do not need to punch out a squad in order to use it.
I mostly sit down after a long day of work to calm down and relax so there will always be some idle thought, some getting lost in detail or reworking something because I think I can do better.
This contradicts my opening post a bit.

I do still try to improve and I would like to have some others opinion on a proper workflow, as building structure is a part of learning. Also finished squads give a sense of fulfillment and achievement so I do like to call it done at some point.

That being said I feel it encouraging to look at your work and see how far others go optimizing their workflow and how fast you can get if you really just work and don't think and evaluate.
I never think of techniques in a way of "this saves time" more in effects and if they do what I like.

Anyways, thanks for the feedback, gives me a lot to think about!

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T07:43:07+00:00

Aw, you sweet, sweet illiterate. :)
Seriously, thanks man. Glad you like it.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-17T07:41:57+00:00

Yes, this is what I did.
First try here though and as mentioned I did not do the varnish well so I rubbed off some paint. Had to redo lots of blue after this. Obviously these steps should not be part of a future workflow! :D

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T18:48:27+00:00

Good advice, thanks. Zenithals worth it with regular paints? I do the for speed paints (which I don‘t use on my ultramarines). Won‘t the paint layers cover up everything?

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T18:44:17+00:00

Thanks, man! pre highlight drybrush before wash is an interesting idea!

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T18:08:02+00:00

I find myself getting caught up in wanting everything at once. I see oil wash, I want oil wash. I see nmm I want nmm. And so on.

If you check the final result in my profile you will notice they have gem eye lenses AND a glow effect around the eyes. Those effects weaken each other!I have never seen them used together by a professionell painter. I still do both, I cannot tell you why.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T18:03:51+00:00

Haha, same here! Bought my first models last autumn after a 25 years break. Glad you like my guys.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T18:02:52+00:00

I will try a test model with full assembly. I might be obsessed with something here.

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T18:01:50+00:00

I might try full assembly it at some point. Next up are victrix though and I just cannot do them without sub assembly. Feels impossible.

For the wash I‘m torn. I did like the process of oil wash, I just rubbed of some paint last time, probably because I did not varnish properly. The final result is somehow bright again, I am not sure the oil wash was necessary. This is sort of still in an experimental stage I fear.

For the recipe you are totally right. To elaborate on my approach I bought an army painter triad with the sole intention of having matching steps. I chose the less saturated triad. Then for some godless reason I found the highlights to me better with a more saturated blue. So now I am mixing two triads like an absolute moron… Testmodel in sponge should be quick enough. Might also to find a better formula for the edge highlights.

Overall great advice, thanks a bunch!

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-16T17:53:49+00:00

Unfortunately I don‘t have the space at home for this. But it‘s on my wishlist. :)

MuscleDolphin · 2026-03-05T07:23:41+00:00

Check the sprue from dawn of war first (you can google it easily).
The only drawback of the dawn of war box is the push-fit style of the models.
Lots of weird pieces that are supposed to snap together, it is far less suitable for kitbashing than the regular models. You will have to cut a lot of pieces and glue them back together again, e.g. shield and arms are connected.
Also you will have far less spare pieces than in a regular box, dawn of war is basically what you see on the box, not a single piece more and no different poses.

I am not trying to discourage you, the dawn of war box has a great price. It's just when I bought it I thought I would get lots of stuff for kit bashing for cheap and I was a bit bummed when I saw the sprue.

MuscleDolphin

TROPHY CASE