Nearly a month to finish painting this but I think it's a great piece. Being a model that soars (stands) above the rest of the army on the table, and is also pretty huge, it's important for it to stand out. Mid way through painting the green trim is when I decided to add the little strips on the fins. Without it the model look white washed but I think this works as an example of less is more. Maybe I'm just patting my own back. Oh well!I've gone a little overboard on this one with photos but at least I have every angle covered; sometimes twice. No more planes for me for a while. I have a fire raptor in a box for the future... maybe. 
I didn't go overboard on the cockpit detail since I can't recall ever looking in one of my other planes but added just enough to not let the detail go to waste.
This is one of the first times I've really seen the subtle highlighting you give the green sections. Really nice! Did not notice that in some of your other pieces (going to guess yee old photographs). Mini looks great, and will be so striking on the table!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments; and all the comments! You're such an active blogger!
DeleteI don't have a photobox (wouldn't have a place for it). I just have a piece of gradient paper and a 'natural light' desk lamp. So this is the best I can do sadly. The green is just a couple layers of watered down orkhide green (it pools and forms dark and light tones that way) followed by a drybrush/stipple of a light green then two washes of green to blend it. It's nothing fancy at all and I wouldn't call it 'cool' but it does make it look less bland. I paint everything based on a personal balance between minimal effort and effect haha.
No problem man! I love your work and style. It looks great, and if it doesn't take a lot of effort, that is even better. I'm currently reading the imperial armor painting books, and they basically utilize your entire sponging technique as their main weathering...so you are in good company!
DeleteIt's really really really hard to take photos of mini's. THEY ALWAYS look better in person. I always imagine if I think something looks good in a photo, its gotta knock my socks off in person!
Double washes of green eh? I gotta give that a shot! That's a great way of helping blend things quickly! Do you seal the model before the washes?
I only seal things after I'm all done. I *have* done sealing in between on very select projects but it has a habit of making washes bead on the surface (think water on a windshield). I'm sure that's because of the hydrophobicity of whatever evil chemical is in the sealant.
DeleteI borrowed a lot of the techniques I use (I use like 2 haha) from Imperial Armour. It's a great resource (both masterclass books). A lot of what they do requires some special tools or product though (like the weathering powders) and I just never got into buying them in many colours so haven't done a lot of it. I use the black weathering powder sometimes but in many instances I've found drybrushing black paint to do sufficient (and makes less of a mess on my light coloured carpet).
Sponging takes so little time (I used to paint the damage on) but it looked far less random, and took longer. So why not!
The second wash I usually only do with the green. I find 1 coat of it doesn't do enough blending for what I want (when applied over the shades I use). Your mileage may vary.
Glad you like the style. I definitely like FW style painting over the GW cartoon colours. You're obviously in the same camp :)
what is happening in the cockpit ... is the pilot pulling his hand near his head? ... drinking a beer?
ReplyDeleteSadly it's just the joystick. But that does give me an idea for a Fireraptor someday :)
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