ok here is a test fig. Still looks arse but I did as mord said painted by numbers. I inked the Robes with purple ink every thing else got black wash again. I used the base coat to then highlight all of the armour grey, the robes purple, and leather brown. still need to re-ink the face. and pick out the green on the shoulder pads. It looks better here then the photos suggests.






LGW

That I find so much better! The cloak / duster is way better with good shadows

Way to improve !

didn't think the robes came out that well.
The pics make him look worse then he does I like how it has come out when I have him in my hand and looking at him, but looking at the pics makes him look BAD.....

Will do some more dry brushing soon.... got 2 sick kids and a sick wife to deal with and a over excited puppy who wants to run around alot....

Cheers
LGW

Screw you LGW! The robes look AWESOME! Yes... you could improve it... but then you are aiming for Laney or DeafNala level. Don't get greedy! HAHAH!

You think the model look like "arse"... because the illusion is NOT complete. Your brain is not fooled and it resists the change. It is OK! Means you are hard to please (I will ask Lady Grey... HA!) You are ready for the 2nd part. POLISH.

If you look at the model... you have some purple 'out of the lines'... look at the 1st pic. The Holster. You see purple bleeding on it and your brain focus on it. It says "that is not real... this is crap!" Take black and paint the gun and later drybrush LIGHTLY with metal. Then take plain brown leather and paint the WHOLE holster.... careful with the gun! Paint the skull white (or bone white). Retouch the holster as needed. Wash the holster and skull LIGHTLY with brown. Tada!!!

Your brain will NOT give up... it will find other inconsistencies. For example... the chin strap on the helmet. Hell, it will focus on that horrible mold mark on the helmet (can't miss it on pic #2)

The Purity seal in the back... drybrush red on the wax and white on the paper. Too much wash.

Paint the face flesh... straight flesh. Then Wash brown (LIGHTLY). The trick is to keep 'between the lines"... like in the coloring books! HA!

This is a TEST model... it will take time to develop new techniques. SO FAR... you are doing great!

ok give me 20 minutes to have ago at fixing those mistakes then I'll re post the test guy.


LGW

ok round 2






LGW

Hehehe... pic by pic...


MUCH BETTER! It took me a while to pin-point the fixes on the holster. See? My brain skipped it, because it was correct! The belt was a nice addition... it breaks the model.. no more sea-of-purple! My eye diverted to the Shoulder Pad and the 'beard'. I think you need to file that blotch on the Pad. Looks weird. I know (or expect) that the 'beard' is actually the chin-strap of the helmet and my brain is complaining. The 'ghost face' does not help. Once you paint the flesh on the face it will be better. If you want a beard, use some GS. It is easy to make hair and fur. THEN paint the face flesh and LIGHTLY wash brown... then highlight (drybrush) with flesh. There is a BLOTCH of grey near one of the feet... just like the holster, you need to fix it.



The model looks great! Again, I ignored the holster... upon closer examination I noticed you painted the line and the gun looks VERY good! My brain is complaining about the stupid mold line. File it off!!!! Hehheeh



This angle looks great! No mold line and no face to be distracted. The belt REALLY does it for me... breaks the model (it has a waist!) The Shoulder pad has something... if it is a purity seal, go ahead and do the same you did to the ones on the back. They look MUCH better (don't touch 'em... they are BETTER!!!)



AHHH!!! FREAKING MOLD LINE ON THE HELMET!! Is like the whole model is a mold line! Hehehehe... get rid of it. I think you should paint the shoulder pad green and highlight it red... or gold. I think red would make a good contrast. It will break the arms... just like what you did with the belt.


The base is fine... simple is good. If you have static grass, a clump could do it... but is not critical!

The second go is a clear improvement in the areas Mord pointed out - so good job on that! I disagree with him about the face though- think it is one of the better areas of the model - a tallarn flesh highlight (a light stroke on all the obvious high areas, with little paint on the brush) would improve it.

On the face try OVERBRUSHING...
Drybrushing will work but leave the face 'dusty'.

TECHNIQUE:
Instead, load a normal brush (detail if you've got it) with paint (and water - a dip in the pot is enough).
Then gently remove the excess paint back into the pot (not like drybrushing where there is almost no paint left), leaving the brush still just 'wet'.
Lightly run the flat of the brush over the raised edge of the face and it will naturally pick up the highlights.

You may get some overspill onto the grey helmet, because it is 'deeper' in the model - you may need to re-highlight the grey.

The mould line needs sorting - it will take the whole model a step up from toy to model IG.

Good to see the detail being picked out (bullets, purity seals etc) - the helmet eagle would look good in silver with a light black wash. The edge of the base could be finished in a complementary grey (it will help to finish the whole model).

Cheers Laney

so how do I fix up the chin strap?

it starting to bug me now........

the helmet is going to be redone anyway as I have removed the mold lines.

Cheers
LGW

For the chin strap, I would go over it with the light brown you used for the belt, leaving the darker brown in the recesses (this is the key bit) - this will give it depth - a dark brown wash e.g. devlan mud (preferable to black - but that would work too) will then bring it all together.

I would probably do the cheek pads of the helmet in grey - so the chin strap is less 'beardy'.

Hope this helps
Laney

I think I am up to Version 5 now just can't seem to get the face right.

found it was a mold line over the right eyes that was pissing me off so I tried to turn that eye into a bionic eye or he has some kind of targeting matrix.... FAIL!!!!


FACE FAILED!!!!!


tried to do the green shoulder pad with red highlight FAILED!!!!





well its 12:30AM and time for bed might see how I feel in the morning about the shoulder pads. I might add some Space Marine shoulder pads and see how I go....

nite all

LGW

I think you can leave the model as is... it is playable AND lots better. Start with a new model. File the mold lines before you start. You know how to get the robes and armor right. So you can concentrate on the shoulder pads and face.

For the Shoulder Pad, what you have is a thick rust effect. Not bad, but not in accordance with the model... so it bothers you. In this case, simple is best. Paint the thing SOLID green. Goblin green would be good. Then take a little of green and a tiny bit of yellow... make a lighter tone. Paint the top edge (a little, thin line) and a little on the corners (thin lines are key!) Your brain will be tricked into filling the gaps!

On the face... follow Laney's advice. Is sound... like usual! So... let's see the next model!

(By the time we finish with you, the TESTS models will be your whole Squad!)

will fix up the shoulder pads and start the other Sergeant or Captain

LGW