Lord-Solar, the secret artist behind Bell of Lost Souls

Being in a community like those connected by wargaming can sometimes be a very personal experience.  You find yourself in contact with an occasionally wide variety of people with their own story.  Today I heard about one chap called Kurt, an Illustrator in the States, who for the first time spoke out about his troubles with finding work despite being a talented and fully trained Illustrator.

You can find his Warhammer/40k related work on his Deviant Art account here.

Gonna need a bigger base now, am I right!? :D

Kurt Metz, also known by his Deviant Art alias Lord-Solar, is the artist behind such works as the miniature avatars on Bell of Lost Souls, a contribution piece.  He is also recently behind the Primarch range.

Daddy!! Why Daddy!!!

You may notice that credit isn't often found next to his work, and upon talking with the man, it becomes clear he is not only talented but very humble.  Thankfully, circumstance has forced him to talk more about his work online, the most recent shared on the Facebook group: Imperial Guard are these FB cover photoes.

All images used with direct permission from the artist.

I'm sure you all agree, his work is top notch, he also does custom work with surprisingly good prices.

So if you want a Facebook Cover pic or something else drawing with your own converted Imperial Guard or Necron Dynasty, whatever, drawing up, it doesn't cost anything to send him a message on kurtmetzillustration@gmail.com!

Feed the community!

Thanks for reading,
Rick

Painting Technique Spotlight: Hairspray White Wash

I'm luck to be part of a fantastic Facebook group called simply The Imperial Guard.  Now there are lots of guys and gals there with some amazing talent, but no Blog or Site to show them off.  After being allowed to display Paul Bullocks deadly looking paint scheme for his huge Necron army, I decided I would make a thing of it.

Richard H, another group member has a knack for white washing his tanks.  The technique is simple and really makes you think about the tank as a real thing.  You will see what I mean as he takes over for a minute.

In other news, I've received some inspiring feedback about this Blog and how I treat it, so expect some more and better posts.  (Also a review of some of Victoria Miniatures newest stuff - :D).

Pictures are used with permission.

Hairspray White Wash Guide - Richard H.

Step 1.  I painted the model the basic colours with company markings and transfers. Then sealed/varnished it. Then sprayed the whole model with hairspray and left to dry for 10minutes.

Step 2.  Next a dusting of white spray, I use Wilkos own but GW or army painter are ok. Let that touch dry.

Step 3.  Then with a stiff brush and hot water rub off the paint where it would naturally flake. Edges moving parts and wherever you want until you're happy with it. Let it dry completely over night then varnish again. This seals the hairspray and paint you've left and eradicates any whitening the hairspray may give you.

Other finished examples.

 

Big thanks to Richard for letting me post up this damn useful and concise guide.


Do you guys have any experience with Hairspray based techniques?  How did they go?

As usual,
Thanks for reading.

R

Stage by Stage Chimera Paint Job.

One more vehicle down.  The first Chimera of hopefully many.  Having practiced and secured a really good painting system to get them off quick, I should be able to knock out all the other stripped and repurposed vehicles in short order.

The first stage was simply undercoating the model in a layer of Army Painter - Army Green.  Now as I may have stated previously, its a bit minty (thanks for that discription Rory >_<).  So after the coat has been made, add any black on the tracks followed by a liberal (and I mean liberal) layer of Army Painter Strong Tone. 
At this point its all to taste.  I ended up using AP-Strong tone, AP-Soft tone and Aggrax Brown, all to wash down the colour and create a dirtied up affect.

Next up was to edge the well, edges with the paint tone of AP - Army Green, followed by GW Abaddon Black and GW White Scar.  This simulates the inevitable wearing down of the paint down to the priming layer.

Then some Ryza Rust was added in here and there followed by detail on the baggage.

Lens and windows were painted with dull tones like GW Mordian Blue and high lighted before a light Badab wash to add definition.

The tracks were layed over with GW Stirland Mud, applied as mud, splashed up over the rear side and sitting as mud would.  This was then washed in AP: Dark Tone, before being drybrushed with Mechanicus Grey and finally lightly with Bleached Bone.

I've just varnished it with AP: Anti Shine varnish and packed it away.

Now the plan, like my other vehicles, is to add decals and then when I've finally gotten hold of some Pigment Fixer, add some Pigment Powders.

However, next up, I'm returning to the Warzone Ressurection Bahous, to get them ready for some Demo gaming!

Thanks for reading!
R

Tank Traps! The forgotten obstacles of Stronghold Assualt.

A rather unseen part of lastest edition Stronghold Assault, is the one line affair of obstacles that you can add to lie around or in front of fortifications.  This includes Tank Traps, Razor Wire and more Obstacles.  These provide useful little areas in front of the Fortification that can either cause Dangerous Terrain tests, provide cover or even act as Impassible Terrain for land vehicles!

Whats more is that not only does this count for the ubiquitous Aegis Line, it is also 7th edition official. :)

Now they cost only a humble 15 points each and are vaguely described as being 6" in length (No depth is noted, so abuse is possible, but not by me, I'm nice).

However suddenly you can get a picture of where I'm going from here.  While many players can go for Meq armies or drop pod hordes, I present: The Trenchers!  A storng focus on the armies fortification (be it an Aegis Line or a full on Martyrs Line), fronted with lines tank traps and razor wire.  It's the ultimate camping strategy but if used right it really hinders assaulting armies or deep striking trollers.  Remember, Tank Traps count as Impassable Terrain.  Even for deep striking vehicles. :D

So below we have two bags worth of Secret Weapon Miniatures Tank Traps, which I have based upon extended Warhammer Fantasy Regiment bases.

Car repair paste.  Melts plastic if used in high quantities.

So now I have 6 x 6" worth of linking Tank Traps that prevent the movement of things like Rhino's Land Raiders and more.  Yes, Eldar, Yes Tau, whatever.  They also provide cover saves and can be placed anywhere so long as they are linked within range of the Fortification.

Its a new angle, and with my Imperial Guard angling towards a very early ww2/ww1 feel, I think its the way forward.  Especially since I'm sick of Drop Pods and Rhinos...

Now I'm looking at doing some razor wire to slow down incoming assaults and slow down troop movement.  Maybe some Necron versions to combine with Ctan Writhing Landscape and Razor Wire for ultimate troll?  Nah, I'm nice me. 

Anyway, look into Stronghold!  Get the most out of your Aegis Line!

Now, in other news!

3 Chimera and 3 Demolishers.  The muster continues!

Imperial Guard Mega Update (Pic Heavy)

As part of the mega recap, next up is the Imperial Guard of the Warick Rifles.

As you know, there was a little.... erm.... clean up operation that saw the mass paint stripping of my older Imperial Guard elements. Namely, all the old metals and such that was painted very badly in winter camos.  Not wanting to let all that war material go to waste, I grabbed some Blue Spirit (living in Norway means the brand name is most likely irrelevant to you folkes, sorry!), which is an Isopropynol cleaner they use in washing car windscreens.

Plonk everything you want to strip into an Acid Proof bucket and then pour the stuff in. Wait 10-15 minutes, take out one and scrub.

 This stuff works beautifully on both metal, resin and plastic, as it soaks into the pain and under the layers, seperating them and making it easier to scrub off the bulk.  As you can see, the plastic tank hulls had some staining, but for all intents and purposes, they were stripped good and proper.

Just don't leave them in too long...

So began the reconstruction work.  Firstly, bringing in some components from Victoria Miniatures.  Stoked about being able to field demolition veterens with carapace, I decided to make some "Regal Engineers" that would rush forward and kill a tank or three.  Later I'm hoping to get a Hades Drill for them.  Then the real fun will begin.

Anyone know where I can get some Tartan Paint?  Sorry... that was bad.

Plot twist:  I'm not sorry.

I decided to play with some polyfiller for the bases, couldn't resist throwing random bits of debris and shell casings in there.  The metal arms were a bit of a bitch to file down to reduce the unfortunate bend in them.  Looking forward to the resin versions!

Note the torsos and arms are from Victoria Miniatures, but the heads I believe are from Max Mini, resin made.  Got that same Tommy feel the army has and those skulls denomenate rank.

As an aside, I also attempted to nail together some Rough Riders.  Using the horses and bulk elements from the Fantasy Empire Outriders boxed set, I added in standard IG cadian torsos. 

The aim was to throw on some of those Victoria Miniatures rough rider arms.  Sadly my experience with resin poles at that point was not so much. So dismayed, the project was shelved while I worked on things I knew I could finish.

As a tester for the new vehicle paint scheme, I decided to repaint the 4 Armoured Sentinels I have, rebasing were needed.

I also decided that it was time to put together the Taurox kit I'd got with the new codex weeks earlier.  It's an odd but adorable kit, with tons of options and detail.  It still reminds me of a toy, rather than a kit, but maybe I'm just getting old. O_O

Unsatisfied with the turret arrangement, I converted it so that the twin linked autocanon was inside the housing, as opposed to flanking the turret.  I hope you agree, it looks more Twin Linked. :)

For my test subjects I began by using Army Painted: Army Green, or as Rory called it "Mint Green."  I wasn't too happy with the result, the tone was too light, more "heroic" and less realistic, which is what I was hoping for.

 After some experimentation with inks, I decided upon a mix of Army Painter Soft and AP: Hard inks to bring the tone down.  Aggrax Brown is just as effective, maybe more so, but I needed tons of the stuff.  

AP: Soft Coat applied

 

AP: Hard coat applied.

The Sentinel squadron after the painting was finished.

The washes in my opinion was a step forward, and allowed me to proceed in territory I was more familiar with.  After the washes dried, I edged them with the paint version of the spray, moving into wear and tear with metal colours and rust. 
Finishing off with details like vision slits and pneumatic metals, I varnished with AP: No Shine (Watch this one, can speckle white).

Using the opportunity, I tried the shading and redoing of the green on my Leman Russ squadron. It had a mixed effect which required multiple go overs.

Eventually I was satified and varnised them too.  I recently got my hands on Decal Base and Decal Fix by Valeyo, as I've always had an issue puting on transfers and decals.  Always.  I have nightmares about it.  But these liquids not only make it easy, like really easy, they also set them on hard.

The final plan is, that once I have sourced some Pigment Fixer, I can dash Pigments over them as a final effect layer.


Anyway!  Random Knight!  Yay! Another side project!  Armour is still loose, though there is nothing stopping me from painting this as is and using it.  The Armour plates I'm considering toying with some press GS moulding.  It's been a while, but I have the Green Stuff.

Meanwhile: New Infantry Platoon!

As you probably know, I made a Platoon of 4 Infantry Sections and a Heavy Support unit, all with the following uniform.  Helmets from Weird War 2.

 

Standard Uniform of the Faircroft Theatre

For a while now, the Warrick Rifles have been needing more infantry to replace those older figures.  Something to allow 2 infantry platoons, 3 sections in each just like the WW2 British Army I loosely base it off.  (A recent trip to Bovington Tank Museum got me the right books for the job!).

So what I needed to kit bash together was a new 5 man command section for the new platoon, yes that is three Flamers and a Melta Gun.  I already had 1 squad ready, time to buy two more. 

The new platoon, as opposed to the old, was originally planned (and assembled) to be a more mobile and advancing force, being armed with solely Melta Guns.  It would be covered by the 1st Platoon and its own special Anti Tank Section, which I had painted a week ago.

Platoon 1.

So, then we have the Old Guard.  Really old figures from when Warhammer Fantasy had High Elf archers with lower parts that were perfect for robed legs!  Sadly now OOP.

As they were replaced by the new Tommy Platoon seen above, I have a big choice to mate:  Conscription or Promotion?

The thinking is, should I reduce the range in the pics above to simply being a Conscript squad?  Conscripts are cheap, useful and can deal out some amazing combos with Primaris Psykers, Priests and Commisars. 

Or, do I want to add an Allied Detachment from the Death Korps of Krieg?  Promote them to the stabby, fearless humans of Krieg (Count As)?  In this instance I can remodell those huge count as missile lanchers to be Rapier Laser Destroyers! And it would allow for some amazing combos and new units (Fliers!)

Either way, a fresh lick of paint is in order...

Again, thanks for reading!
R