Commission: Blood Ravens Terminators - revisited

After sending out my original "finished" photo I got a request to break up the red on the shields. Although I'd already exceeded my original time allotment I wasn't happy with those shields either so I went ahead and added some "stone" to them. I'm reasonably pleased with the final effect and think it goes a long way to help break up the uniformity of the red.

I added the Chaplain into a couple of the shots to contrast the quality of the paint jobs and to show the squad as a whole.

All-in-all I'm still pleased with how adding the red highlights with the airbrush worked out and how the squad came together. If I had some additional time I probably would have gone in and added some extreme edge highlights to really add some contrast -- but I can't complain with how things turned out.

This one is packed and on its way

Commission: Blood Raven Assault Terminators

These guys are the match for the Terminator Chaplain that I finished recently.

Since I've given up painting squads at a lower standard this commission was a bit tricky for me. I had a time limit of two hours per model - not counting clean-up and construction - which isn't a lot of time even for batch painting. I saved some time by using the airbrush for the red with the following recipe:

Base Coat: 2:1 VGC "Scar Red" and VMC "Red Black"
Pre-Shade: VMC "Red Black"
First Highlight: 1:1 "Scar Red" and "Red Black"
Second Highlight: "Scar Red"
Third Highlight: 1:1 VGC "Bloody Red" and "Scar Red"

The second and third highlight were applied in one direction from the same angle. This creates a quick zenith highlight.

The rest was detailing and quick freehand. I managed a bit of a lens effect on the eyes with GW "Dark Angles Green," "Scorpion Green" and a dot of white.

The bases are Secret Weapon: Urban Streets bases. These were simply drybrushed in two shades of grey over the Foundation granite colour.

I managed to get to this stage just at the ten hour mark. I still have some clean-up to do but I am reasonably pleased with how they turned out given the time constraint. Unless I hear otherwise from the client I'll set these aside and get back to my Steam Tank...

Commission: Blood Ravens Terminator Chaplain - FINISHED

With the exception of the chunky sculpt on the ammo - which may have more to do with the mold than the sculpt - I really can't say enough good things about this model. I love it. It says "Bad Ass Chaplain" in every way.

The display base was cobbled together from a failed cast and liberal application of the belt sander. I just felt this guy needed a little something to make him stand out on the shelf when not in play. It was a surprise for the commission and I didn't charge for it.

Feedback is, as always, very welcome. The Assault Terminators are next in the queue....

Commission: Blood Ravens Terminator Chaplain

A bit of an update on the Blood Ravens Terminator Chaplain today. There's still quite a bit to do before this one is finished but I'm much happier with this set of photos. You can almost see the layering and blending on the black - not bad for my crappy little camera!

I'm not happy with the detailing on the stormbolter shells so I'll redo that. The right pauldron is finished, except for the gold, and I'm happy with how the icon and red detailing turned out. I'm also very happy with the skull helmet at this point but need to touch up the bone on his chest.

This guy is almost ready to mount to a base and I hope to have him finished this week. At this point I'm waiting for some feedback from the client before I move on.

Commision: Blood Ravens Terminator Chaplain

I'm already in love with this model. I've wanted to paint one for a long time and jumped at the opportunity to take this commission. Of course the photo isn't what I'd like it to be but it's a fair representation on how this is coming together.

The black armor on the body is finished and actually has a VGC "Terracotta" glaze over it to add a red tint. It was highlighted in four layers - only the most extreme of which seems to have made the photo.

The bone was actually built up from "Desert Yellow" and washed with the GW "Devlan Mud" wash. I added some of the wash to a 2:1 "Desert Yellow" and "Bleached Bone" mix and then added more "Bleached Bone" before adding a touch of white for the final highlight.

The gold and red have been base coated but not otherwise started yet. The eyes... well, I'm going to redo the eyes. Although it didn't show up in the photo I'm not happy with the lens effect.

I'll work on getting a better photo this weekend after I've made a bit more progress. In the interim - enjoy!

Commissioned Forge World Vulture - FINISHED!

Barring any changes, corrections or additional weathering requests from the client this bad boy is finally finished.

I'm very pleased with the overall result and will be re-using this yellow recipe on future projects. The shading really pops and allows for some decent weathering effects.

The cockpit is fully detailed although painted to a lower standard than the rest since it won't be visible through the black frosted glazing.

There are a couple of little things I might have done differently if this were my model. Namely more decoration on the wings - stripes or aquila wings most likely - and perhaps some checkers somewhere. I don't know why but this thing really screams out for some black/white checkers to me. Red/white checkers might work too.

Maybe I'll use this as inspiration for an Imperial Fist vehicle or a Bad Moons stompa...

Commissioned Forge World Vulture 01

I got back from a two week holiday on Monday and started work on a new commission.

The yellow recipe was painted with an airbrush using:

GW "Golden Yellow" (GY)
GY + VMC "Light Yellow" (LY) 2:1
GY + LY 1:1
LY

This was shaded with a glaze of GW "Dark Flesh" generously thinned and likewise applied with the airbrush. Preshading was done with a mix of black and GW "Dark Green" with just a tiny touch of the latter.

Photos were taken in natural, diffused light. Lack of shadows in the backgrounds gives an idea of how the shading/highlighting actually turned out. The last two images do a good job of showing the more subtle transitions.

Decals and the engine are next - weathering will come later.

Commissioned Krieg Command Vanquisher

I've been very busy with super secret projects - but wanted to get an update on the Krieg Command Vanquisher before I head out on a two week holiday.

I've picked out some of the detailing, applied an oil filter to the camo, some pencil weathering and otherwise gotten it ready to tackle the last touches. I probably have another two hours to go before I'll be happy to set this one aside. Vehicles like this are quick and fun and it only take a bit of weathering to make them stand out.

More to come....

Commissioned Krieg Army - Command Vanquisher

I haven't posted a lot of photos of the Krieg army - at least not WIP shots - so I decided to post the start of this Command Vanquisher.

The model was put together by the client - Niroe if you're on Boot Camp or WIP - and the conversion work is his. I did a little bit of quick work on the seams for the double track guards but it's still a bit visible.

All three colors on the tank came out of Krylon spray cans - the camo colours tan, green and brown. From here I'll add a filter wash to blend things a bit and then drybrush. The work on this one should be reasonably quick.



More Krieg under the label...

Finished Arvus Lighter Commission

I painted this model for Niroe - usually found on the Boot Camp and WIP forums - using the oil methods over a Krylon grey primer base. I used a bit of Tamiya XF-62 "Olive Drab" on the cockpit and one panel on each wing.

The engines got a bit of powder weathering to get the blue heat effect. I drybrushed the exhaust Boltgun and then Bronze before adding another blue wash.

The decals were weathered with sandpaper -- remember, before you use sandpaper on a decal it's gloss, decal, gloss and then sandpaper. If you're going to do additional weathering, like the dot oil method I used, an additional matte coat is applied first.

And unless Niroe wants to see something changed this one is finished and it's time to move on. Next up... probably another tank.

About my commission work....

I am currently accepting commission work. I quote a firm MAXIMUM cost prior to starting work. If I go over there is no charge for the extra time - if I'm under my estimate you keep the difference.

All of the models I paint are individually painted and detailed - I will never "dip" or mass drybrush your models. My goal is to give you something I'd be happy to have on my own table every time. Even "lower tier" models get layered highlights and detailing.

Check out the "Testemonials" label to see what folks have said about working with me -- and the pieces below are fair representations of what I do on commission these days.

If you have a project you'd like to discuss please email misterjustin at gmail with the information. I'll get back to you as quickly as I can and, if you like, get a current or former client in touch with you so you can talk to them about their experience.

Commissar 01

Commissar 01
Originally uploaded by misterjustin

This is a Forge World "Death Korps of Krieg Commissar" I'm doing on commission. He is mounted on one of my resin display bases.

The colours were client specific but I asked to practice my NMM on this one. Except for the basket on his sword I'm pleased with the results. At this stage he's roughly 50% completed.

The model itself has been a pleasure to paint. I'm likely to get one of these for myself.

Bill-Macharius02

Bill-Macharius02
Originally uploaded by misterjustin

Niroe (aka Bill N.) has commissioned an almost all Forge World Krieg army. This behemoth, a Macharius Super Heavy Tank, is getting the full treatment. Well, nearly.

I didn't break out the airbrush on this one but I did do some salt chipping and a three colour camo using masking putty. It's off to a good start at 2:07 into the project.

More to come....

Centaur A04

Centaur A04
Originally uploaded by misterjustin

For those that might recognize him from Boot Camp and related forums, I do a lot of painting for Niroe. He has the enviable ability to afford really silly quantities of Forge World models. I've painted a Thunderbolt, Marauder... well, a lot of models all told.

Now he's sent me the start of his all Krieg army. They're being painted to a lower standard than I usually do on commission these days -- but I couldn't say no to him or the project.

Without further ado I present the work in progress on the first batch - a Centaur and crew in flecktarn camo:

Bad Moons Nob

Bad Moons Nob
Originally uploaded by misterjustin

I get together most Monday nights and paint with a group of folks at our local nerd store. One Monday I showed up and didn't really have anything to paint. My buddy Dave jokingly pulled out this Nob, mentioned he was going to paint it Bad Moons colours, and said I could paint it for him.

He was very much kidding. Of course he didn't say "no" when I jumped up and said "yes." I've wanted to paint this model, in Bad Moons colours, for a long time.

Dave was quite pleased and I got a limited edition Space Marine model out of the deal. Good times.

Commission Shadowsword

Shadowsword
Originally uploaded by misterjustin

Another Baneblade commission - this time a sweet conversion by Psypath.

Capasus Commission - Finished

This is probably my most elaborate commission to date. While I have done larger models, with more detail, this was the first full conversion and paint job on commission.

I know that I've detailed the model in other posts - but I'll recap here: The wings and all of the weapon arms magnetically attach. You can lift the model by the wings or the lance - although it should, of course, be moved by the base. He has STRIPY PANTS, with which I am very happy. There is freehand on his legs and checks on much of the cloth.

This one shipped out this week and, much like my original magnetic general, I'm sad to see it go. The fella I painted this for went to great lengths to find me in order to get this model though and I'm glad I could meet his expectations.

Commission Thunderbolt Finished

This long time project is finally finished, packed and out in the mail to Niroe. Although I started his Valkyrie first I still have that one on the table - it should also be finished this week.

Although the snow wound up a bit thicker than I had intended I'm still pleased with the base on this one. The model uses more rare earth magnets to attach to the base.

This was also the first time I'd put my trust in to decals and tried the gloss coat/decal/gloss coat/paint method that I have recommended to so many others. Turns out it works just fine... which I suppose I knew. I simply hate applying decals.

There are a lot of detail shots for this guy floating around and I'll see what I can do about putting together some better composite images.

Commission Tech Marine

Commissioned Black Templar Tech Marine that I'm pretty darn happy with. I'm going to go in and clean up the BT icons on his shoulder and knee but otherwise think that he turned out quite well.

I am especially pleased with the armour chipping and the limited rust on the exposed metal of the servo backpack. The rust was accomplished using the "Rust All" product which I'm becoming happier with the more I use it.

I'll get some better photos online the next time I break out the light box. The blending and highlighting on the red don't come through particularly well in these shots - although you can see some of it in the third photo down.

Green and blue were chosen as the split contrast colours for the red on this one. I did not, however, make any specific attempts to apply them as spot colours.

An early update on the Thunderbolt project.

I am quite pleased with how the split urban camo scheme worked out - although I think that the snow on the base is a bit thick.

There is still a lot of work to be done, of course. I'll add all of the detailing, weathering, chipping, wind streaking along the wings... some techniques that I've never applied before. This project has been a real pleasure and I intend to re-use the base idea for every future flyer.