Author Topic: MiniJunkie's Averland PLOG - Comments Welcome [Steam Tank added April 22] (Read 16624 times)

MiniJunkie · « **on:** April 10, 2012, 04:22:29 AM »

Hi everyone, I'm new around here

Seems I've got the Empire bug thanks to the new releases, and have started painting some up. I think I've been painting over 20 years, and yet have NEVER painted an Empire unit or really any of the models (I believe one exception was Marius when he was first released - gorgeous model). We'll see how far I get - I have a relatively hectic life between work and 3 very young children, but I paint as often as possible. I also suffer from "New Shiny" syndrome, and am easily distracted. With any luck I'll get at least a few Empire units/characters done!

(so based on that, forgive me if this PLOG doesn't get updated as often as I'd like...)

In any case, after contemplating it for a couple of days I picked Averland and have started to work. Before I go to far, I was hoping to get some feedback on my work in progress first unit:

My camera setup is driving me nuts lately - not sure what is "off" with it, but for example the glare on the guys on the left of side of this photo makes it hard to get a proper impression!

Having said that..based on this photo, I'm wondering a few things:

- What's your overall impression so far (given that they are WIP and there are obvious rough spots, bases aren't done and the banner is blank

?
- I feel like they need a "spot color" like on some of the small ribbons. You can see I used a light blue on the banner bearer, and a red on the champ. Neither feels quite right...thoughts?
- do you think the yellow needs another (whiter) highlite?
- if you happen to be an Empire painter/player - how do you deal with all the little bits and bobs on these guys? (usually around their belts and waist) i.e. do you paint up all of them for all ranks? Im tempted to half-ass it beyond rank 2 !
- how's the black look?
- Boots....change the color? It's black-brown right now but blends into the base I guess.

I'm interested in any feedback at all! These guys went pretty quickly - I assembled and primed them yesterday, all of the rest of the work was done this afternoon/evening with breaks. (airbrush speeds things up).

StealthKnightSteg · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2012, 07:31:40 PM »

They already look awesome and can't wait to see them finished!
As for the Spot colours, actually anything work as long as it stands out, make it a bright colour though!
I'm a nit picker so I paint every bit and bob no matter where the model goes

Black looks great!
And the boots / shoes are supposed to be blending in a bit (they get dirty as the first thing from walking) Besides if you add some greenish grass the blending won't be as big as it is now.

Oxycutor · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2012, 07:48:38 PM »

Welcome,

I do like it when the lurkers take the step of showing off their stuff.

Overall, looking damn good already.
Spot colour, often see green used as a trim colour for Averland. Try different colours, and then decide which you like. Maybe carry it on to the feathers on some.
Yellow looks fine as it is
I always paint the bits and bobs, but you might save some work by just doing base colour and wash in back ranks
Black is good as it is as well
And as SKSteg said, boots do tend to blend in to the base if they're painted a normal shoe colour, maybe try black or tan on the odd soldier, and some will be barefoot.

MiniJunkie · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2012, 09:07:32 PM »

Thanks for the replies guys! (I was starting to think nobody would speak up). So far with this group (I kept on painting) I have tweaked the shoes a bit and gone with a purple spot color and green scabbards - I'll try to finish them up for a photo asap.

[EDIT TO UPDATE]

Ok here's the first 10 guys mostly done - the banner I will complete later (I'll mask the guy off, should be easy enough) when I figure out how to tackle it. Freehand is a weakness for me, and I want to do them justice. Curse the lack of decal/transfers!

Pretty happy with how these look so far! (I realize this isn't a proper rank/file shot - this is just to show them better).

- Jarrett

StealthKnightSteg · « **Reply #4 on:** April 11, 2012, 06:46:13 AM »

People not replying might be because there is A LOT of posting going on due to the new book and you just can't follow and react to all threads popping up.. (I have a hard time as well to keep up...)

Again good work, and the purple works for the regimental colors!

mr chumley warner · « **Reply #5 on:** April 11, 2012, 06:53:42 AM »

very nice keep going!

DariusZero · « **Reply #6 on:** April 11, 2012, 07:03:29 AM »

For state troops this is the max, nicely painted! I would paint some more the banner/parchment, hanging from the drum, and a practical tip: first paint the banner and then stick it to the mini.

Spjuth · « **Reply #7 on:** April 11, 2012, 07:40:04 PM »

Beautiful!

nuttunen · « **Reply #8 on:** April 11, 2012, 11:06:30 PM »

Averland über allens!

Looking good I have nothing to say xcept well done sirrah well done

MiniJunkie · « **Reply #9 on:** April 12, 2012, 12:44:02 AM »

Thanks for the comments so far! I actually have a unit of 3 demigryphs that should be done late tonight (I hope). I'm eager to post those

Dosiere · « **Reply #10 on:** April 12, 2012, 04:08:00 AM »

Nice! I also think the purple looks good. It's just enough to catch your eye, but not to overpower your primary colors.

theforgefather · « **Reply #11 on:** April 12, 2012, 09:28:39 AM »

yes! the purple looks amazing for a spot colour!

MiniJunkie · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2012, 12:11:51 AM »

Finally got the Demigryphs done!

I spent a fair bit of time on these and hopefully it shows

This is a really nice kit, the models look awesome and are easy to put together. I found the sculpts so nice I kept going back to do a tweak here or a fix there, which is rare for me these days (usually I'm all about getting the model done quickly and "good enough"!).

The colors are probably not quite right per the Empire's fluff, but I wanted them to match the rest of my Averland force.

Dosiere · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2012, 12:56:15 AM »

Those look superb! I think the colors used make the models look better than the GW ones. I can't quite put my finger on it but the GW ones make them look like chickens...

Azyr · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2012, 01:55:33 AM »

Very nice and crispy, Averland colours work nicely

arselus · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2012, 02:27:00 AM »

Sharp! Looks great

theforgefather · « **Reply #16 on:** April 13, 2012, 08:28:33 AM »

*dribbles* demigryphs.........

StealthKnightSteg · « **Reply #17 on:** April 13, 2012, 09:10:59 AM »

Those are beautiful!! Nice work on them!

TheElectorCount43 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:21:39 AM »

Nice army

Ivimotorola · « **Reply #19 on:** April 13, 2012, 10:45:15 AM »

I love Demigryphs with the scheme of Averland. Looks great!!!

Well job!

mr chumley warner · « **Reply #20 on:** April 13, 2012, 11:29:15 AM »

very nice!

Zak · « **Reply #21 on:** April 13, 2012, 12:07:18 PM »

so pretty

rufus sparkfire · « **Reply #22 on:** April 13, 2012, 12:37:50 PM »

The owlbears look fantastic! Lovely colour scheme.

anvalous · « **Reply #23 on:** April 13, 2012, 02:50:01 PM »

Fantastic paint on those demigryphs! Some of my favorite paint on them that I've seen yet. VERY well done!

MiniJunkie · « **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2012, 07:22:38 PM »

Adding a few more shots:

News:

Author Topic: MiniJunkie's Averland PLOG - Comments Welcome [Steam Tank added April 22] (Read 16624 times)