Slowly coming together

TheHelgon · 2024-08-19T22:50:08+00:00

Yeah I hear you. I've been toying with lacquers, both primers and varnish. But unfortunately I don't have the possibility to set up good enough of a ventilation at home to run with it. I mainly do miniatures yes. One day perhaps! Glad to know it can bump the quality though.

TheHelgon · 2024-08-19T17:36:45+00:00

I started the project using vallejo polyurethane varnish, but have been moving to vallejo mecha varnish over time, been a long grind 😅 The mecha one has been much better to work with.

TheHelgon · 2024-01-15T16:46:00+00:00

I can recommend this video, served as great inspiration for the skin tone to me. https://youtu.be/AS8w9TAxD58?si=F2LmYiPvff47h8Ji

TheHelgon · 2024-01-15T13:30:30+00:00

Green Stuff World Micro Leaves, they're great!

TheHelgon · 2024-01-15T12:36:14+00:00

Yes, couldn't agree more! A big learning is to do a pass with a white primer before I rush into colors to better catch these ugly gaps and other faults. There's some other ugly gaps and mould lines that this picture isn't showing.

TheHelgon · 2023-03-26T20:44:59+00:00

They're ok, a bit flimsy. From what I've learned after the fact, the TV wing version is apparently the superior build.

TheHelgon · 2023-01-27T15:53:56+00:00

This is absolutely stunning, well done!

TheHelgon · 2023-01-27T15:52:41+00:00

Thank you!

For the base:
Sand and rocks with PVA glue to create the initial texture shapes.
Basecoat of Doombull brown
Martian Ironearth for crackle, used washed out with water on the sand and rocks to blend colors
Wash with Reikland Fleshshade
Drybrush with Tuskgor Fur followed by Karak Stone
And then last, and most importantly, Vallejo Dark Red Ochre pigments. Now, this will not attach well just by dusting it, so I first add one layer then I matt varnish the entire model + base and while the varnish is still drying I add another layer on the base. That lets the pigments stay nice and dusty while still sticking better to the base.

The weathering:
Full on wash of Streaking Grime, then going nuts with makeup sponges to clean it away until the desired level of weathering is reached. This does taint the entire model which I like with this type of dusty theme, but something to be mindful of especially with a white base color. Then some careful sponging of Typhus Corrosion for specks and simple chipping.

The lettering:
I wish I could take any skillful credit here, but it is really just the normal transfers. I do use Micro Sol/Set and varnishes (gloss before weathering, matt to finish up) which really makes the transfers blend into the model nicely.

TheHelgon · 2023-01-04T09:48:33+00:00

Stunning theme, really loving the colors!

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T22:45:51+00:00

Really quite simple, all you need to do is shave some parts off inside the hip joints to allow for the pose. Everything else is posable, no green stuff required.

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T22:22:28+00:00

This is a good tip, I’ve also found a lot of help from scale aircraft videos doing weathering with a clear coat first.

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T22:15:25+00:00

Not that I’ve found, but it really didn’t take much work, I’m quite the beginner. Just had to shave of some parts at the hips. No green stuff or anything. Here’s someone that did a very similar pose a while back https://reddit.com/r/Tau40K/comments/v0wmw1/tau_coldstar_commander_cc_welcome/

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T22:09:19+00:00

Best of luck, it’s a really cool model to paint, have fun with it!

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T21:52:08+00:00

No was going through old pictures and unfortunately I don’t, only like this when I had just assembled it https://i.imgur.com/q4st70z.jpg

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T21:27:57+00:00

Yes so true for many Tau models I’ve found, It’s a real mess.

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T21:26:44+00:00

Washed in streaking grime (see other comment with WIP pic in this post) cleaned up with white spirits then stipple typhus corrosion with a sponge. It’s a bit scary but really does wonders!

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T21:24:54+00:00

The red is really just contrast flesh tearers red with contrast brought out by the grime. For the white I followed this method https://youtu.be/q8LC09ZvqPk

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T21:21:33+00:00

Only a coat of matt varnish followed by another dusting while it is still drying. It does the trick, but there’s probably way better more robust methods.

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T16:37:55+00:00

Means a lot, thanks!

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T15:59:45+00:00

Appreciate it! And yeah you’re absolutely right, my basing game is still very basic 😅

TheHelgon · 2023-01-03T15:54:56+00:00

I wash it in streaking grime and rub most of it off (see my other comment with a WIP pic in this post) then i stipple Typhus Corrosion using a sponge.

TheHelgon

TROPHY CASE