Alpha Legion (pt.7 Alpharius)

Tried a few different variations with mixing the washes here. So units will be easier to distinguish from each other, while retaining the overall blue-green color scheme of the army. Concentrated more on the Chaos Lord character model this time around. Added in a few drops of the Pearl Green metallic paint on armor highlights. Much subtle blending and glazing. Transfers. Nice to concentrate on just one model for a change. I think it's very good to alternate between painting single models and big batches or even large terrain pieces. Helps keep the enthusiasm up. Also provides some perspective and enables wider learning opportunities with different techniques and working methods. 

I... am Alpharius.

Alpha Legion (pt.6 - Chaos Space Marine Squad done & work on many others)

Been doing some serious batch painting lately, working on three squads and three characters at a time. Decided to put finishing touches on to a squad of 5 close assault oriented Chaos Space Marines first. Tried some decals, and experimented a little on the order of paints and layers used. For example, the metallics (Pearl Green & Blue) were painted on at different stages for every squad and character. Small things like that, to maybe provide minor variation to the army's integral colour scheme and keep it more interesting to paint. 

I decided that the flamer weapons in this army will be glowing fiery red and yellow. For the plasma weapons I will try more luminous red to pure white later on. Meltagun barrels might get that classic burnt iron look. Or could they be purple? And oh - I should probably paint those technical/texture paints (Agrellan Earth & Astrogranite Debris) on BEFORE priming and basecoating the models. For now it's tediously slow to paint them on the bases, because of having to watch out and not paint any on the models feet. 

Alpha Legion (pt.5 - the first unit of Cultists done)

Came out like so. Looks nice and poppy enough on the tabletop. Still have to consider the painting process a bit, as there are maybe a few steps that could be cut. After the initial spray primer and basecoats, there were now 18 different phases. That's quite a lot less than I usually do, but I'd really like to cut it down even more, to be able to paint an army up really quick.

Alpha Legion (pt.4)

Yet more trial steps with the Legion colour scheme. So after the initial Matt Black spray primer and basecoats (of Greenskin, Wolf Grey and a tiny bit of zenithal Matt White) the green sides were drybrushed with Moot Green & Kraken Skin. Blue sides got Voidshield Blue & Toxic mist. These were followed by washes of Hexwraith Flame & Aethermatic Blue (both diluted about 50/50 with Contrast Medium. Gotta say I might prefer water for this though).

Then just to experiment a bit with the technical paints properties, I coated 4 bases with PVA glue, 3 with Gloss Varnish and the last 3 were left untouched, before applying the Agrellan Earth and Astrogranite Debris paints for texture. I read from somewhere the PVA base helps Agrellan Earth crackle a bit better, and those bases definitely came out best I think. The Gloss Varnished ones might have been the worst.

Then final highlights with diluted Kraken Skin & Toxic Mist. A little wet blending on the shoulder pads. Nuln Oil wash, Ash Grey drybrush and Matt Black rim on the base. Spiritstone Red photo visor. Green Tone & Pearl Green on the rivets & little skulls on the green side. Blue Tone & Pearl Blue on blue side. One guy done, and the rest will get similar treatment soon.

My aim was to come up with a relatively fast paint scheme, that would pop out nice on the gaming table a few feet away.