Just a head's up, lots of images incoming as I finally finished my 20 space marines for my display. All fully based and varnished with the alternative magnetised heads except one that I did first that has a glued on helm. A bit of a rough and ready style, but I had to try to get something finished instead of a perpetual ongoing project, the alternative heads and helms meant painting 39 heads overall which took a long time. I did six heads in a batch last week and was able to finally call the last ones finished, though as mentioned in a quite basic style that I'm still happy with overall.
It looks like it took about a year in total based on my posts here and I'd almost forgotten my initial intent was to learn on the small models so I could better paint the three giant McFarlane Space Marine models that I bought last year. I do think I'll now be able to do those with more confidence. I'll take photos of the final 20 display all together over the next couple of days, but for now here's some of the final five that are now finally completed in order I painted them over the last few months, but all the helmetless heads were painted in a batch last week. I do think it was worth painting alternative heads and magnetising them as even just being able to change the head rotation can totally change the effect of a model, it's already been a lot of fun sorting them by colour on the display plinth.
Atlantian Spears:
I love this colour and the head came out great overall for the theme I wanted to achieve, the images oversaturate the colour somewhat, but this might be my favourite of the 20 marines overall.
Exorcists:
This is closer to a terracotta orange in person as I wanted to do an orange one, but this was the closest to orange faction I had a shoulder piece for. It looks mostly red but still distinct from the other red one I did. I liked how the face came out as it reminds me of a manga/anime style expression. I had to desaturate these images a bit as they look much more red than in person. This is a minor kit-bash as the arm holding a chainsword is a grenade throwing hand that I glued the sword blade onto.
Executioners:
Quite similar to others I've done but still different enough in the display, I found the 3D printed shoulder crest to be a bit disappointing to see what it is and I find eyes really hard to paint on these types of head but I still like it overall.
Dark Krakens:
This is likely my least favourite as I couldn't paint black very well and it looks more unfinished than the others, but I didn't want to dwell on it and just get the 20 finished as I'd started this one many weeks back. I might well come back to this one and try edge highlighting, I did test some out but it didn't look good at all at my current skill level. I do like the 3D printed side crest but it was tough to paint and I bodged it a bit.
Dragonspears:
Finally the last one, again I really like the colour and the shoulder crest was at least simple to do this time, it was great to finish this one to cap off the 20 and to finally call it done.
Clearly, all can be improved a lot more and I might well come back to them one day, but for now I'm calling them done and the project finished. Will take photos over the next few days of the display of all 20 with and without helms.
It looks like it took about a year in total based on my posts here and I'd almost forgotten my initial intent was to learn on the small models so I could better paint the three giant McFarlane Space Marine models that I bought last year. I do think I'll now be able to do those with more confidence. I'll take photos of the final 20 display all together over the next couple of days, but for now here's some of the final five that are now finally completed in order I painted them over the last few months, but all the helmetless heads were painted in a batch last week. I do think it was worth painting alternative heads and magnetising them as even just being able to change the head rotation can totally change the effect of a model, it's already been a lot of fun sorting them by colour on the display plinth.
Atlantian Spears:
I love this colour and the head came out great overall for the theme I wanted to achieve, the images oversaturate the colour somewhat, but this might be my favourite of the 20 marines overall.
Exorcists:
This is closer to a terracotta orange in person as I wanted to do an orange one, but this was the closest to orange faction I had a shoulder piece for. It looks mostly red but still distinct from the other red one I did. I liked how the face came out as it reminds me of a manga/anime style expression. I had to desaturate these images a bit as they look much more red than in person. This is a minor kit-bash as the arm holding a chainsword is a grenade throwing hand that I glued the sword blade onto.
Executioners:
Quite similar to others I've done but still different enough in the display, I found the 3D printed shoulder crest to be a bit disappointing to see what it is and I find eyes really hard to paint on these types of head but I still like it overall.
Dark Krakens:
This is likely my least favourite as I couldn't paint black very well and it looks more unfinished than the others, but I didn't want to dwell on it and just get the 20 finished as I'd started this one many weeks back. I might well come back to this one and try edge highlighting, I did test some out but it didn't look good at all at my current skill level. I do like the 3D printed side crest but it was tough to paint and I bodged it a bit.
Dragonspears:
Finally the last one, again I really like the colour and the shoulder crest was at least simple to do this time, it was great to finish this one to cap off the 20 and to finally call it done.
Clearly, all can be improved a lot more and I might well come back to them one day, but for now I'm calling them done and the project finished. Will take photos over the next few days of the display of all 20 with and without helms.
, but have managed to get 30 boyz done in a week using mainly contrast and keeping things simple. Obviously characters will be given a bit more attention, but I just want to field a fully painted army once in my life!
) for more plastic, it seems pointless having it sat in boxes under my desk where it's not going to get played with while i'm saving for a house deposit 