Well, this is my first topic as a 'saal so I'm trying my best to remember all of the rules and stick to them, though I do apologise if I forget any.

Though I'd start off my showing off - I say showing off, I'm not that good - my ksi'm'yen colour scheme.

I've attached some photos, though the full photobucket album contain more, with different lighting etc as I wasn't sure what lighting to use when taking photos so I just took some with different types Also i apologise if the images are a tad big!

Below is my Shas'vre with TL:FB and MP



Two shas'la





A shas'ui



And two stealth suits, painted to look as if they're during the transition to camo



I'm aware of the dustiness of the models as they're been in storage for a long time so I do apologise for that and I have cleaned them up since the photos. Also I have sorted out the gluey mess on the SMs shoulder!

Anyways, I'm done apologising now so all I have left to say is: comments and critism is of course welcome, i'm a bit of a beginner so i'm always open to suggestions and admit my painting techniques are pretty basic, and also I could use some suggestions concerning highlighting the black as I've tried white highlights on all of the edges on the shas'vre, but it's left it looking rather 'cartoony' and I'm really aiming for a more realisic look, also i don't think it would work on other troops so well

I'll stop talking now

ST

petty good stuff there, the idea of the stealth suits is my favourite, but perhaps i could recommend a bit more blending where the gray and red/black area meet? so it looks less solid hmm struggling to describe it. I just have images from the predator films of the nasty pred going back into stealth

keep up the good work for the greater good

Cheers

Yeh, I did try that at first, but my blending skills have a lot to be desired 'reckon I'll pick up a copy of 'how to paint citadel miniatures' some time So in the end I went for like a line of electricity running round the transition in red to compliment the red energy theme I have on my shas, perhaps though, when I've developed my skills a tad more I'll go back and blend them, as I do agree, that would look great.

Just finished my devilfish, so hopefully I'll get that posted later

ST

I also really like the stealth suits, I want to paint on the transition aswell. My blending skills also leave something to be desired, so I understand the pain. I have heard that another way to do it, if you want to take the extra time, is to use stippling. I havn't tried it yet so I don't know how it will work.

~JR

Sounds good, any technique must be easier than blending

As promised, here's my completed devilfish. The bottom is a bit messed up so I haven't show it...apparently leaving a model sat in green-stuff doesn't do it a lot of good!





Again, more images are available in the photobucket account, but due to me still not figuring out how to resize images (I'm working on it, I promise ) I have only included two here.

Coming next is my re-highlighted Crisis'vre and fluff to match, perhaps some kroot too if I get time!

What do you reckon guys?

ST

Was thinking about doing the same thing as you on my stealthsuits... it looks very good. By far my favorite of your force!

From what I can see, you can paint pretty clean. This means that you could do highlights if you bother with it. I think some highlights would really benefit you! A way to avoid the cartonish look would be to make the highlight very thin. The easiest way to do this, is with a VERY used brush, which only have a few hairs back on.

Washes, have you tried those yet?.. They work wonders on cloth. For the grey cloth, I would apply fortress grey, and then a coat of black wash. This is very fast and effecient way of good looking cloth.

I myself love cartonish looks... they work better on a playing board aswell, as you can still see some details, which is very hard if the model is realistic.

Anyway, I think you are off to a very good start. And I really like the dark colour scheme!

-Pino

Cheers I am rather proud of them

I've just highlighted my crisis'vre with a 50:50 mix of chaos black and codex grey and I'm going to give this some further directional highlights with fortress grey. However, my codex grey has become thick and clay like, so I'm thinking of replacing it with Charadon granite soon and using this, oddly enough, to do the highlights as it is a similar colour to that produced with the mix. I'm not sure whether I'll highlight ordinary troops at present though as it'll take far too long and I have other miniatures to get painted first!

I've tried washes before yes, but they've never really gone well, the FB on my crisis is a blue ink wash, all that happens though when I try is it collects in random 'blobs' all over the area any tips?

Yeh, you'll see where it comes in when I get the fluff posted

ST

Awesome contrast with the red linework!

When I'm using washes (and inks from the older megapaint set) to line panels and pick out details, I keep a balled up papertowel in the hand that isn't manipulating the brush, and I'm constantly sweeping up the paint that falls outside of the detail lines. It takes patience and line discipline and several coats, but it pays out in the end.

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15455

The other thing I do with washes, especially on engine bitz and details like that, is I drybrush the original color over the wash (after it is bone dry) with a slightly heavier brushing than I use when highlighting, then highlight/detail over it.

I like your new 'fish, the colour scheme looks like it was transferred over from Eldar maybe? Marines? or did you just decide to paint night ops? I like knowing what made people choose their colour scheme, and how it developed to be what it is now.

- T'Owel

Cheers kiyet tried some highlighting on my 'vre, what do you reckon? looking at the photos has pointed out a few errors too me, but in general what do you think?





Well T'Owel...it's a long story, I always liked the block colours of the Eldar, especially on the wraithlords, but preferred Tau in general. so I chose Ksi'm'yen as my sept world due to it being mainly dominated by stealth and created a colour scheme to match. The fluff is that as the cadre dominated the world by stealth, they are now accustomed to nightfighting and the like and so their dress code matches. The bleached bone is to add some colour and I thought it contrasted well. More intricate fluff is coming soon, including how the cadre's commander came to be a kroot! So keep your eyes peeled

ST

I think you need a new picture What happens a lot of times, is that you take the photo up too close. Thiswill make all the painting blunders a lot easier to spot. So first, take a new photo, from afar. You can always edit it, so its closer. Do it, so the model isnt much bigger than he is in the flesh.

Anyway... I think, that it isnt bad at all. Once you are through an army, you will be pretty good. On the point of black... I've found, that painting black a dark, dark, dark grey, will make you able to leave some shades on it. Which you cant on black. However, I wouldnt bother with that if I were you. What you are doing will work out well!

Looking forward to some more.

-Pino

Just while on the subject of pictures: could you please resize them? We are having to scroll laterally to see the whole picture, which is rather annoying.

I note that you're using Photobucket. There is a facility on their site to curtail the size of the picture so that it fits into specific parameters. A 15" screen setting should iron out these huge pictures quite easily for you.

If you are unused to using Photobucket, ATT has a short "How to..." which can be found here.

Thanks.

E.

eiglepulper, I think that's just you to be honest. I have 1024x768 resolution and I can get the whole pic on my screen at once. Must just be you.

- T'Owel

_T'Owel_: Actually no, it isn't . This is why we request that folks use a certain size setting when posting pictures . Please see my previous post for the link.

ATT: Let's get back to the subject of the thread now.

E.

Yeh, sorry about the pictures, I've got one of those wide-screen thingies so I didn't really notice it myself, I forgot that others might not have the same...erm...screen wideness, so i apologise for over-looking that I'm working on it now.

That's great. Thank you. ~ Eigle

Anyway...cheers about the photo help, I really can't be bothered to re-take all the pictures, but I'll definitely keep it in mind for future shots. Also, thanks for the advice on the black, I did try a dark dark grey, but it didn't work as well with the bleached bone, so I'm glad the black is working somewhat

Just finished my first Kroot so once I've got it based I'll post it, due to it not being black I've had a real chance to shine with it and I'm very pleased with the results, good thing I'm aiming for a Kroot and stealth heavy army, seeing as people seem to have warmed to the stealth suits nicely

ST

It's been a while, but I've finally gotten my kroot painted and finished my commander - O'Ka'Cova. I've also changed my colour scheme slightly, replacing bleached bone with dheneb stone on all of my miniatures. Enjoy...







The full project log for O'Ka'Cova can be found here: viewtopic.php?p=193774#p193774

Comments and Critasism please?

ST

That is one awsome devil
fish

The kroot in the first picture looks a bit like a zombie not to be mean

Cheers Yeh, it appears I forgot to check up on all of them, making sure to dot the Is and cross the Ts...quite literally! no offence taken

ST

Either way I like the scheme colors, very fun indeed