[Varakir]

Hi all,

I have recently returned to the hobby at full steam after a very long on and off hiatus. My first foray into painting (about 12 years ago) was utterly terrible, but since returning a few years back it's started to improve, and i want to keep improving. The more i read online, the more techniques i'm eager to test, so hopefully the quality will continue to develop. I've got a lot of good tips and ideas from the forums, and now some c&c would be appreciated.

I don't have a particular aim for the log, just to keep painting, try a bit of converting and hopefully churn out some half decent models.

Here's what i have completed so far. I've also got a command squad that just needs basing, so they will be up soon.

1st combat squad I painted

Scouts - i tried to sculpt a cape for the seargent but it didn't quite go to plan :/

Razorback

Bike squad with minor conversion

Attack bike

All comments welcome, cheers!

Notes on my Army:

I started them before 5th edition, and i hate the coal black skin & red eyes rubbish - they are staying dark skinned.

I very rarely play, and never against anyone who minds, so I model whatever wargear I want to. Generally I want to stay fluffy going forward with Flamers/meltas, hammers and converted cc(mastercrafted) weps, and techy stuff.

My swords are massive, because that's how we roll.

 

[ArmoredGhost]

Lookin' sweet, and the flames on the bikes are a nice touch. Any way you could give us a tutorial? I was thinking of something like that for my chaos.

 

[Salio]

Lookin' great man! Highlighting is crisp, and the weathering looks great on the tanks. Keep it up! +rep

 

[Cleitus_the_Black]

Woot black marines! Beauty.

 

[Varakir]

Thanks for the comments guys

The flames were done with some milliput I had lying about.

Basically i just stuck a blob on the front of the bike and then eased it out into the general shape with a butter knife. Then using a wet scalpel blade i carved some peaks and troughs, easing the clay up around the edges.

I'm quite happy with the effect but i think green stuff would be easier. Anyone who has tried green stuff vs milliput care to comment?

 

[jams]

good to see more sons of vulkan. keep at it man +Rep

 

[hugor1]

hey, nice Flames, look crisp on the paintwork =]

Milliput is a lot better for the initial... sculpt personally, for example it can't be in too much water for smoothing it because it sorta slowly crumbles, for details its GS hands down, so much more finer and durable to work with

well thats personally, Yet again, loving the flames, nice original idea

 

[Valanehtar]

Great work, keep it up +rep

 

[CMDR_VELIK]

they are coming along nicely. I like the flames on the bike idea thats cool. when life lets me paint again.

 

[Varakir]

Finishing touches are all done on the Command squad and Captain N'keln. I'm planning to fill out my small army as 3rd company, though i will probably get some veterans and termies at some point in the future as well.

I thought it was a but unfair that only the 1st company get to have a cool name (Fire drakes), so i decided to dub the 3rd company 'The Ashbringers'

"the fires of the salamanders burned purposefully into the night, spreading quickly between enemy ranks. Engulfed by the flame, the xenos fell by the hundred against the relentless son's of Vulkan.

As daylight broke the horizon over the battlefiled, the salamanders had long departed, and only ash remained."

Anyway, i digress....here's the pics:

N'keln - combi melta and power sword

N'keln - salamander cloak

Company Champion and Apothecary

Ashbringer Command Squad

next up is finishing touches on Chaplain Xavier and starting assault squad.

 

[Orochi]

Lol, some ultra swords going on there mate

Not sure if i like it, but tis different.

 

[Varakir]

heh, too big?

I made these quite a while back and have considered replacing them with hammers several times, though at the same time i am rather partial to massive swords.....

 

[dark angel]

Great work on N'keln cant wait to see more:victory:

 

[Varakir]

Green has gone onto my assault squad now, Xavier will have to wait.

I've tried to do some blending with the green, but i think it could look better. I might try putting a wash over it and then highlight again.

Comments welcome.

also close up of my home made Thunder hammer (sorry it's rather blurry), converted from a power axe and bits left over on the razorback sprue.

 

[Winterous]

O_.
Those swords are huge, all of them.

Get the feeling they're compensating for something?

 

[trog]

yay someone else who apretiates the salamander apothecarys colours :grin:. though its meant to be Right arm red /left arm white , grumble, then they made the plastic ones and put the reductor on he left arm then changing the colour sceam, grumble. like what i see of the home made TH. i also noticed the nice old school skin colour i could never get it right so i have MASSIVE respect for those who can. May the ashes of your enemy's fall like snow.

 

[Varakir]

Thanks for all the great comments so far

O_.
Those swords are huge, all of them.

Get the feeling they're compensating for something?

whatever do you mean

I should probably explain my swords a little....basically i read the fluff about the salamanders blacksmith background, and thought it'd be fun to have some 'master-crafted' 2 handed swords in my army. I regularly change my mind about whether it looks silly or TOTALLY AWESOME.

It makes my army a bit more individual, so i'll probably keep them for now.

yay someone else who apretiates the salamander apothecarys colours .

I actually painted him up in standard green originally. One night when i was perusing the interweb i saw that scheme and had to do it immediately

 

[CMDR_VELIK]

A nicely done command squad. cant wait to see more.

 

[Pirate Metal Troy]

I can't help but notice how much longer their swords are, any particular reason for this? :laugh:

 

[Varakir]

I can't help but notice how much longer their swords are, any particular reason for this? :laugh:

I am going to have to answer for my bloody swords for the whole WIP thread aren't i :grin:

I should probably explain my swords a little....basically i read the fluff about the salamanders blacksmith background, and thought it'd be fun to have some 'master-crafted' 2 handed swords in my army. I regularly change my mind about whether it looks silly or TOTALLY AWESOME.