Cockroach Coloured Tyranids, a Blackadder Work in Progress

[Blackadder]

Thanks,

Harridan Wings and Chitin:

After quite a bit of thought I decided to just do the wings in hand rubbed P3 'Umbral Umber.' First applying a base coat of Cardboard Carton paint and letting dry over night



which is a flat beige similar to the AV 'Khaki' but a lot cheaper for large coverage.

I then airbrushed on a light coat of 'Umbral Umber' and rubbed it into the base coat while still wet working the paint into the base coat with wetted thumb and palm of hand until excess came off in fine rolls. This gave a glossy parchment texture to the large wing surfaces.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/TP8rEWz.jpg[/url]


The large flat surfaces of the wings came out a bit blotchy but that should be rectified by the next coat of AV 'Light Brown':

[url]http://i.imgur.com/KbQOvIR.jpg[/url]



The fringe of 'Light Brown on the chitin segments look too perfect to my taste but we'll see when the washes are applied...........

[url]http://i.imgur.com/YHaEoPp.jpg[/url]

[scottshoemaker]

I'm diggin on your natural color scheme

[Blackadder]

Thanks, I actually had some concerns whether the 'Browns' would work on the Harridan but it seems to suit it as well................

The Gargoyle Brood:

Well the Gargoyles have finally caught up to the rest of the army; interesting how I found them the most trying to do of all the denizens.

I would be interesting to see these flying in formation with the Harridan on a gameboard.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/a56c9OZ.jpg[/url]


Figure included for scale...........

[url]http://i.imgur.com/OC9OhJl.jpg[/url]


So the next step I guess is to finish up the orange wash on all the pieces.........mebbe tomorrow.

A couple of off white balance images to round off the evening:

[url]http://i.imgur.com/yKzQ2mW.jpg[/url]


[url]http://i.imgur.com/kfFsmHD.jpg[/url]

[Blackadder]

Hodgepodge:

I needed to see where I stood regarding going to the next step in the sequence of steps to a completed Tyranid army.

okay so the box at the right are the components that still need to have the chitin skutes edged with 'Light Brown' and the box on the left are ready for the 'Orange' highlight. I managed to do about a third today so what is in the box to the right are what remain to be done..........

[url]http://i.imgur.com/Q8xpQkm.jpg[/url]


On an aside the Bio-titans are ready for the 'Orange' highlights and don't figure in to this and are not in either box.

What are in the box are the:

Trygon 50% ready

Carnifax 50% ready

Tyranfax 50% ready

Hive Tyrant 100% ready

and the Termagant Brood 100% ready.

and it just dawned on me I have to figure out what parts go to what beastie?

Ha!

[interrogator_chaplain]

DAMN! That Harridan looks the business!

[Blackadder]

A Question of Acrylic Paint Thinners:

I'm running out of Airbrush thinner and was about to order some on Amazon but the shipping costs are prohibitive.

Then I read a critique on the AV Vallejo paint thinner and the Tamiya Thinner and was apprised that Vodka was an excellent replacement for the much more expensive commercial thinners

So I am going to try using Vodka to thin my paint........ with

Perhaps a drop or two of dry Vermouth

What next Blackadder; an olive perhaps?

[Blackadder]

Hive Tyrant:

The Hive Tyrant was my first Tyranid unfortunately a metal construct (Metal is good thought I) so it will be the first to receive full treatment starting with the 'orange' highlights.

Spraying on an Orange 50/50 dilute AV Model Air at the lightest spray my 0,5 orifice Point Zero PZ360XS airbrush can achieve deposited just a hint of highlight, my first attempt earlier this year made everything too orange.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/XqcT0Wh.jpg[/url]


I assembled the basic 'Tyrant legs, head, and tail fortunately the weapons clip on so but sets temporarily attached:

[url]http://i.imgur.com/ngFwgHW.jpg[/url]


This beastie will have wings (purchased separately ebay) so the redundant weaponry is just for show the other CC armoury will be magnetically attached........

[url]http://i.imgur.com/BnVPrRU.jpg[/url]


Next will come the satin varnish which I'll apply tomorrow after the acrylics have completely dried.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/x4Cd6fR.jpg[/url]


Then the fine detail colours; teeth, veins, black talons, pink and purple poison sack etc will be applied. perhaps the points and edges will stop shedding paint every time the model is touched.

Now for a well deserved tumbler of my special blend paint thinner....Cheers!

[Blackadder]

Rhymes With Orange Again:

Was this over the top, I can't tell.

I'm hoping I didn't go too far with the orange highlight and the oil wash will tone it down a tad. I certainly need to blend the tail into the body and the black spurs I hope are not a mistake.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/FlHSjMJ.jpg[/url]


[url]http://i.imgur.com/J5XLKfU.jpg[/url]


The red mouth and tongue are only base coated and will be subdued with purples and blues and black oil wash

[url]http://i.imgur.com/Von3NTm.jpg[/url]


[url]http://i.imgur.com/QW74VuP.jpg[/url]


Perhaps I should have primed the d-mned thing grey and let it go at that.........

[Azhrarnx]

A very light brown wash should help mute the orange to where you need it. I wouldn't worry too much about it seeming too orange. Most roaches have a strong brown-orange component to them. This whole project is fascinating and shows off your skill. Amazing work and I am looking forward to the day I see the completed army of figures.

[Blackadder]

Hmmm, missed your reply as well Azhrarnx sorry for the delayed reply.....

What Big Teef You Have:

I wanted to show the teeth on the Hive Tyrant before I oil washed it. The teeth on the Gargoyle is done with just AVMC White 70951 but the Tyrant has three paints applied in order; AVMA Light Brown 71027, AVGC Bone White 72034 and AVMC White 70951

I really can't see much difference:

[url]http://i.imgur.com/KJqPHhx.jpg[/url]


What is showing up to a distressing degree is the yellow fluorescing of the Orange highlight which I hope is being caused by the combination of Curly Fry lighting and digital flash.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/Kc8umZ4.jpg[/url]


In this third image I turned off the flash and the proper colour is somewhat restored but still looks much more orange than it does in natural lighting.

[url]http://i.imgur.com/XEhaeLo.jpg[/url]


The Hive Tyrant also has a coat of AV Acrylic Clear Satin Varnish with which I am experimenting. It seems a bit expensive to force water based Varnish through an airbrush when a perfectly adequate Acrylic Satin Varnish is available in aerosol spray cans. Anyone have experience using either?, and the pluses and minus' of each?