In the evenings, after my daughters are safely tucked away in bed, I've been working towards the completion of the Solar Auxilia vehicles. The first one has finally rolled off the painting table - The Dracosan for the 186th Lasrifle Section. These tanks are deceptively large, that is they are larger and more involved than they first appear. It meant that in order to keep my sanity (and the production line rolling), I had to cut a few corners. Should it really bug me too much later, I can always go back and touch up a few things.
But anyway, here she is!
And here she is with her Lasrifle Section, ready to roll. Now that Ive settled on the weathering powder for the bases, I was good to go applying it to the Dracosan (after sponging on some chipping here and there).
Cheers
Dave
Nice work again as always. Do the tracks really angle in that much on the head-on profile picture? I can't really believe that it is a camera illusion.
ReplyDeleteThey angle a little, but I think most of that is a bit of "fish-eyeing". There's about a 1mm difference between external widths at the top and bottom. The plate with the lascannons is off a little too, it's magnetized and I must have bumped it before I took the shot. I think that might add to the illusion of excessive angling too.
DeleteShe's a beautiful monster!!
ReplyDeleteThanks GG!
DeleteI'm curious, what corners do you feel you've cut? (You always seem to do fabulous work, btw.)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the compliment.
DeleteThe biggest "cut corner" is the depth on the model. I've let the physical model do most of the work because it's heavily textured, but there's a lot more depth I could add with careful placement of additional washes and strategic highlights. The gold trim and side panels need the most additional work.
Very nice looking model. Not a huge fan of the kit, but you've done an excellent job as always.
ReplyDeleteThanks Courtney : )
DeleteI wish my cut corners looked that good. :)
ReplyDeleteCome on, John. You know you're a dab hand at the brush!
DeleteI love the model and you've done a really nice job on it. The contrast between the deep blue grey and dark brown shades on the gold against the bright gold looks excellent. The model is so busy with detailing I don't think it needs more defined shades and highlights. The red and blue squad markings on the tank really work with the colour scheme and the red ties it in well with the Vostroyans and their scheme. Also love the Thudd guns, done gushing, looking forward to seeing more of these guys as you go!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Crosser. I think it could benefit from some extra work, but yeah, it does just fine as it is : )
DeleteStunning painting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for that : )
DeleteAbsolutely gorgeous, man! Love the gold and grey - the warm and cool contrast works really well.
ReplyDeleteThanks, mate!
DeleteWhat are you using on your golds? I used some GW Washes over Vallejo Alcohol Metallics- was trying to get the nice color variance you have on those gold side panels-and it all came out super blotchy.
ReplyDeleteHi Deet. My golds all start from the two colors I've used here: VGC Hammered Copper and VGC Glorious Gold. To add some more depth to my golds I typically use Secret Weapon Miniatures' Amethyst wash in select areas, and if I'm really pushing depth, I'll put on a few thinned layers of a mix of VGC Charred Brown and AP Matt Black, again in select areas. Hope that helps.
DeleteI love the golds on that tank too. Thanks for sharing this and awesome work!
Deletehi dave,
ReplyDeletethe group shot is great. the overall look is awesome.
when all your tanks are finished i would to some more wheatering around the exhausts by adding some black pigments or black drybrushing to resemble smoke.
hrld
Yep, there's another corner I cut. I'd like to go back and do some more damage/weathering on the exhausts for sure!
DeleteLoving the paint work, a brilliant mix of archaic styling and modern tech.
ReplyDeleteNever too sure about the idea that the Heresy period was more modern than the current but that all the models are styled to be less modern but they are nice models (and great paint dave) all the same.
Yeah, I think the idea that tech has regressed is pushed hard sometimes, and they let it slide with others. Mind you, it is a big galaxy.
DeleteBeautiful, mate!
ReplyDeleteI'm so out of the 40K loop these days I didn't even realise the vehicle existed! Looks great though...
Thanks Drax!
DeleteNice work, especially the muddying along the tracks. She looks like she rolled out of the forge and directly into combat!
ReplyDelete