[Nordicus]

Any ideas to help me take the standard further?

From looking at the models, which I agree are a very good tabletop standard, I would say highlights in general.

You've got the base and the wash down. Now you need to tone it up with lighter colors and make it stand out and more vibrant. The highlight process nearly always start after the wash has dried where you use the shadows as a guideline as to where to paint your highlights.

If you need a example of highlights and the process, I invite you to take a look at the painting guide in my signature as that explains the process of how to do it in a 3-step method: Base, highlight and light highlight.

I hope it helps!

 

[Nordicus]

I just worry that things will start to look pastel or cartoonish

As long as you thin down your paints with either water or Medium, you shouldn't be afraid to experiment. Do multiple thin layers so the transitions are more subtle instead of a hard line of paint. When you see something that looks cartoonish, it's usually because you can see some hard lines from paint to paint - Avoid that, and you got a good step in the right direction

 

[Nordicus]

Anytime man - If you need any tips, just let me know and I'll be happy to help!