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BlueRonin
02-11-2011, 05:48 AM
Well, after several long delays I've finally undertaken my first Warhammer Fantasy Battle commission and the army requested is Skaven.

I've been trying to get my head around how to approach this project for quite some time, especially since it includes more than 200 models and the owner is known for his attention to detail and appreciation for a clean style. Wanting to accommodate that, I've been researching painting techniques until I came across Thomas David (http://www.miniaturementor.com/painting_tutorials.html, scroll down to The Art of Thomas David: Speed Painting). This guys is, without a doubt; my new hero! ;)

In any case I began by dividing up some of the many Skaven I was given and picked out units from the owner's wishlist that correlated with the Island of Blood (IoB) set. Construction was pretty straight forward apart from an annoying habit of the IoB Skaven to push their arms out of their sockets while the glue was drying. All the Skaven were clipped off their base and pinned to bases supplied from the owner, the Cobblestone Ruins from Dragonforge (http://www.dragonforge.com/Painting%20service/for%20sale/base_sets/fantasy/square_cobblestone%20_rubble.htm).

The Skaven were then undercoated Chaos Black and I broke out my airbrush to start working on the new style of technique - zenithal highlighting with airbrush covered with brush-painted washes and glazes.

I decided to work with Scorched Brown, Bestial Brown and Bleached Bone. To begin with I used 4-5 layers, mixing as I went along; but I worked out that I could start straight with Bestial Brown and Bleached Bone and stick to 3 layers.

The idea is to let the airbrush build up the gradient on the model, creating an overall monotonous shade/highlight effect. I've only used my airbrush on vehicles until this, so it was a learning experience getting the pressure and viscosity of the paint right. I don't feel I'm anywhere near mastering that yet.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0529.jpg

This shot shows the shades, but if you flip a model over to view it from the zenith the color will look more even:

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0528.jpg

Once the models were airbrushed, I started glazing them up. First off was Boltgun Metal on all armor, weapons, and other metal.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0533.jpg

After that I continued with glazes of Scab Red for robes, Graveyard Earth for wood, Tin Bitz for brass works, and Calthay Brown for leather. Once all that was dry I washed the glazed areas with Devlan Mud to accentuate the shade. I also washed the fur with Devlan Mud while I was at it.

BlueRonin
02-11-2011, 05:50 AM
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0534.jpg

The pictures are crap, but should give you a rough idea. If you want to learn about the technique, buy and download Thomas's video from Miniature Mentor - it is awesome!

Once I got this stage I separated out the units (for my own sanity) and started working on their finish. Highlights of the robes were given selective glazes of Blood Red, and prominent leather features Snakebite Leather.

The skin had become too pale (next batch I'll airbrush Elf Flesh instead of Bleached Bone in order to add some more pink to the mix, heating up the temperature), which I solved on the fly with a quick but careful drybrush of Vermin Brown - then I glazed the skin areas Ogryn Flesh. The mouth was glazed with Baal Red before painting the teeth Skull White - and eyes were painted Blood Red with a dot of Blazing Orange.

Other details were finally covered, then I moved to the bases. They got a heavy glaze of Mechrite Red, the airbrushing creating texture and gradient there as well. Then I washed it Badab Black, drybrushed brick with Blood Red and some Blazing Orange. Finally I washed rubble area with Devlan Mud and drybrushed the same area a bit with Codex Grey for a dusty effect.

For every unit I finish I learn and refine colors and technique, and once this batch is done I'll re-watch Thomas's video before going on with the next batch to freshen up my ideas.

I'm happy with the way they are turning out, but I wanted to share this particular project as an example of how certain sources and references can totally change how you paint - or at least give you a lot of new input.

Once I get comfortable with this, I'll finally be doing the Eldar army I've been dreaming of for years. My vision wouldn't allow me to paint it because it didn't suit the style I used for army painted (where speed and consistency is the essence), but this will open new doors!!

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0557.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0556.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0555.jpg

BlueRonin
02-11-2011, 05:53 AM
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0554.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0553.jpg

BlueRonin
02-21-2011, 04:21 AM
The second unit of Clanrats of Mor:

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0582.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0581.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0580.jpg

BlueRonin
02-25-2011, 07:16 AM
The Skaven Army expands with some giant rats from Clan Moulder.

The first unit...

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0589.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0590.jpg

And the second...

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0591.jpg

BlueRonin
02-25-2011, 07:17 AM
http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0592.jpg

These were painted with a bit of a mixed technique. Although the rats got the zenithal highlighting done with airbrush as well, most of the end results are due to my usual drybrushing and washing as opposed to glazing.

And while I'm at it, here are some 'family shots' of of the Packmasters done so far. These are painted just like the Clanrats.

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0594.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0593.jpg

BlueRonin
03-03-2011, 03:59 AM
Some more reinforcements from Clan Moulder...

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0597.jpg

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0598.jpg

...and a bit of fire support:

http://i817.photobucket.com/albums/zz94/kagsawyer/IMAG0599.jpg

Xenith
04-02-2011, 10:56 AM
Awesome looking work!

How did you find pinning the thin skaven feet to the resin bases? Im looking at doing something similar, but the tiny feet worry me!

Xen

BlueRonin
05-31-2011, 11:26 AM
In a word... "carefully" :)

Pinning a single foot to the stand has been enough, actually. A couple of the models are trickier to drill than others - if you were really aiming for perfection I would work with a 0.5mm brass rod - but on these I've stuck to the regular 0.9mm paper clips and tbh it really hasn't been much of a problem.

wittdooley
05-31-2011, 12:09 PM
Damn you blocked images at work! I can't wait to get home to see these.

rustbucket
11-17-2011, 01:41 PM
Those mini's are absolutely outstanding! I REALLY like that broken brickwork basing that you've done. Makes me wish I hadn't glued my Skaven down already.

zero187
12-05-2011, 11:53 PM
Love the bases!

nreynolds
12-12-2011, 07:04 PM
nice job, very clean and i love the bases.

Bionicknees
02-03-2012, 08:26 AM
Yeah the bases look great, great looking painting! keep it up

Tenbears
03-08-2012, 02:32 PM
I'm starting on a similar project for myself and have a few questions.

1: What do you thin GW paints with to use in your airbrush? I've had trouble using them in my airbrush in the past( I like how P3 paints airbrush, but still like some GW colors)

2:How did you do the extra rounds on the Poison wind mortar?

bigheaddan
03-21-2012, 08:05 PM
Looks sharp. I like the bases, are they resin?

speed
03-21-2012, 09:15 PM
The poison globes on the weapon teams looks fantastic!

Dr. Cheesesteak
03-22-2012, 12:26 PM
well-done! I love me some well-painted Skaven swarming on the board...

NightseeR
03-26-2012, 03:30 PM
Really cool army :) Is it freehand on the banners?

Sinsinatus
03-26-2012, 05:16 PM
Longtime Skaven freak here. It's harder to paint so fast when you like-like the models so much. Very nice work here though. More pics please...

Sinsinatus

dmshadowz
03-26-2012, 07:36 PM
really like the red on the bricks makes the figures really pop

1crazygamer
03-29-2012, 06:35 AM
I really like the bases! Your paint jobs are great! Keep up the good work.