WIP: Blood Angels Veterans

[IronKobra]

I got some of the new Space marine Sternguards and Veteran models and I am going to paint them up as of course Blood Angels! I have always been a Blood Angels fan, being a veteran of 2nd ed.

Anyway, to the models. After painting a Vanguard squad (which is still not finished) I have found a good red recipe that I am happy with. So with these I have made more progress quicker. Still trying some new things.

What I have done on these so far, Prime Black, Mechrite red on all the armour plates (of course watered down for smooth coats).

I washed this with a mix of Baal red and devlan mud about 50/50. Focussing mainly on the recesses.

Now to brighten up the red. On my Vanguards, I really struggled to get blood red to go over mechrite red in a smooth colour. I must have applied 6/7 coats and it still looks streaky to me. So to get around this problem this time, I simply mixed blood red and mechrite in a spare paint pot in a 50/50 mix with a little water. I then watered this down again on a palette and applied to the armour, leaving some of the previously shaded recesses.

You can see the 3 guys on the left have the blood/mechrite mix applied and the difference in the colour comes across quite well.

 

[cassar]

they are coming along nicely the light lets your photos down though try some single mini shots rather than the whole squad at once

 

[IronKobra]

they are coming along nicely the light lets your photos down though try some single mini shots rather than the whole squad at once

I am just using a phone cam so its all manner of things ruining the pics rather than the light haha. But Its just the WIP for now so no need to get an expensive camera just yet.

One I got this layer of red over everything I will hit all the black soft armour joints with shadow grey highlighs and hit the silver parts.

 

[cheelfy]

Nice guys so far, I like the red.

 

[IronKobra]

Did a little more this weekend on these. Just finished this layer of red. This Mechrite/Blood mix is really ticking all the boxes for me! It seems to be going on quite smooth and looking even to me right now without a great deal of effort. These are going much better than my Vanguard squad...Annoyingly, since I prefer the Vanguard models...But I think I will eventually get into doing a 10 man plastic squad kitbashed from the new plasic box sets and veteran models.

Next stage will be hitting the metal work around the model and and deciding on what colours to go for on the robes.

Then ill get into finishing the red plates once I know I wont ruin the layers I have layed down already with darker colours.

 

[IronKobra]

Started on the gold today. For some reason the light today was pretty poor and at the same time is washing my pictures out a little. Thats what I get for just using my phone I guess But anyway, you'll get the idea:

 

[Meph]

Nice shade of red you've got there. Looking forward to the rest.

 

[cheelfy]

Nice gold, just highlight it more.

 

[IronKobra]

Thanks Meph, I think I am gonna stick with this method from now on with my BA's. I really like the shade myself and after several half started squads with unsatisfying results I feel happy enough to run with this color mix. Looks very similar to GW Space hulk masterclass without so many different mixes running.

 

[IronKobra]

Yup yup gold will get more highlights. This is just the bascoat stage, 50/50 scorched brown and shining gold.

I am gonna follow this stage next with pure shining gold & wash sepia, highlight 50/50 shining gold and mythril & another sepia wash.

 

[IronKobra]

Between work and Moriar and other such things I haven't made as much progress on these as I would like but I have made some foward steps.

Mainly still getting base coats down. I have done the eye lenses. Got into doing the parchments and purity seals too. using the LOTD masterclass on them to see how they look at the end. At the moment I'm not totally convinced.

Here's the pics:

 

[cassar]

much progress ,going really well, might be time to invest in a camera lol (p.s. i use a samsung tocca ultra, but dont tell anyone).

 

[cheelfy]

Nice but maybe shade a little the armour and then highlight it once more.

 

[IronKobra]

Still lots to go...the armour isnt as bright and orange in real life so I don't think it will need additional shading. Earlier pics give a better indication of the armour colour as it appears in real life...The flash on my phone cam tends to bleach colours a little, so maybe it is camera time...Shame I really can;t afford one on minimum wage

 

[IronKobra]

Another small update...

Please excuse the photo quailty. Took them at like 2am this morning and cam was quite dark at first een with the flash, so altered on my phone cam...as you will see they aren't ideal pics.

Gotten into the wings with Fenris grey, and will work these up to a blue/white, got the shining gold layers around the models done and washed with sepia and started the robes:

 

[IronKobra]

A little update on this blog. I haven't had chance to do much painting as of late but I got a small window on sunday so I thought I would focus on this bareheaded marine, since I have started all the helmets on the rest of the squad but not this guy. This was the first time I have painted flesh in well over 10 years (i opted for helms because I hated painting skin and eyes). And I gave the stubble effect a go too. I am really very happy how it looks after never doing it before

 

[delta 408]

They are coming along really well. My favorites are the models with tabards.

Cheers!

 

[IronKobra]

Little more done. I have really not been as diciplined as I would like on my paining as of late. But my girlfriend told me today to go and do some while the sun was out...Who am I to argue huh?

So I have done the white wings that appear all over these models and touched up some other little areas.

Enjoy!

 

[ragados]

Coming along brilliantly! Have to love the "This looks like a generic mess before the real work begins" stage, but they scrubbed up nicely indeed! Better pics would really do these guys justice I reckon.
I had a facepalm moment though, i've just finished a BA vet and forgot they had gold helmets...D'OH!

 

[IronKobra]

A little more work, a little improvement and some new pics for you all to see and give me some insight on.

So what more have I done? Not much admittedly. Some minor base details and some touch ups on the highlights of the purity seals wax and parchment parts. The final skull white highlight on the wings and the skulls which has given them a little extra 'Pop' which they needed and I have highlighted the 2 powerfists up to codex grey (will go up to fortress grey I think it is as the final) and done the barrel pieces of the plasma pistols with the first steps of the blue blue I like so much.

Anyhoo, here be the pics, please comment as you see fit:

Group shots first:

Power fist highlighted dudes:

White wings & skulls:

Glowing plasma barrel:

'Hey, look at that guy' dude: