SBW: Painted Retribution By GenCon!? (Progress Thread)

[Spinballwizard]

I decided a couple months ago that I want to take Retribution to GenCon this year. (I took Khador last year, got Speed Demon during Death Race.) I also decided I wanted my army to look good, especially since over the last year I've improved my painting skills a lot, particularly due to the first installment of the Impossible Dream and some subsequent adventures in introductory washing.

I've got a little too much going on in my life right now to participate in May's installment of the Impossible Dream, so instead my goal will be to have every Retribution model I own up to that point fully painted by GenCon. And believe me, it's a lofty goal, considering most of the army is pewter right now.

Without further ado... here's the impressive list of models. If they're linked, they're done and have a date attached to them as to when they're done. (A few models were done when I started.)

WARCASTERS
Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper (4/18/11)
Dawnlord Vyros (2/11/11)
Garryth, Blade of Retribution (6/11/11)
Adeptis Rahn (5/2/11)
Ravyn, Eternal Light (5/5/11)
Lord Arcanist Ossyan

MYRMIDONS
Chimera (Lysalania) (9/20/09, may touch up if time permits)
Chimera (Ezuria) (6/13/11)
Gorgon (Golgaria) (2/11/11)
Gorgon (Argothia)
Griffon (Viridia) (2/8/10, may touch up if time permits)
Griffon (Silhania)
Manticore (Selesnia) (2/8/10, may touch up if time permits)
Hydra (Cylia)
Phoenix (Mayaelia)
Magnetized Myrmidon (Multania)
Discordia (6/18/11)

BATTLE ENGINES
Arcantrik Force Generator

UNITS
Dawnguard Invictors (Need highlights)
Invictor Officer and Standard (Washed)
Dawnguard Sentinels (7/2/11)
Sentinel Officer and Standard (7/2/11)
Mage Hunter Strike Force (7/4/11)
Strike Force Commander (7/4/11)
House Shyeel Battle Mages (Washed)
Houseguard Halberdiers
Halberdier Officer and Standard
Stormfall Archers
Soulless Escort
Dawnguard Destors
Heavy Rifle Team Alpha
Heavy Rifle Team Beta

SOLOS
Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios (3/11/09)
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (2/11/11)
House Shyeel Magister (4/18/11)
Dawnguard Scyir (2/3/11)
Mage Hunter Assassin 1 (7/6/11)
Mage Hunter Assassin 2 (7/6/11)
Narn, Mage Hunter of Ios (4/18/11)
Arcanist 1
Arcanist 2
Ghost Sniper
Nayl (7/18/10)
Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen (mounted) (7/6/11)
Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen (dismounted) (7/6/11)
Dawnguard Destor Thane
House Shyeel Artificer (6/18/11)

MERCENARIES
Dahlia Hallyr (7/6/11)
Skarath (7/6/11)
Lanyssa Ryssyll, Nyss Sorceress

[Spinballwizard]

First actual progress: Adeptis Rahn!



Here's where I can be a little descriptive on my paint scheme. I like the teals and blues used in the Retribution's studio scheme, but I'm not a huge fan of the white armor. So I decided to make the blues my primary color in the scheme. I opted for a light green on the power nodes. They're a little light, but I still like the way they turn out. For contrast, I use grays. These show predominantly in the leathers and will be a lot more apparent once I have more mage hunter models painted. (See eEiryss for an example.) I actually wash them in a dark brown to warm them up a bit (as far as color is concerned). I use greens for the capes (Kaelyssa and eEiryss are examples).

Self-critique: I should thin out his pupils. Maybe the power nodes could be a little more pronounced?

I'm working on Ravyn now, her basecoat's done. I'm a little short on time, so the washes are going to have to wait until Wednesday (as I'm playing tomorrow).

[Spinballwizard]

I wouldn't mind a little C&C every now and then. How else could I get better?



Here's Ravyn. The white tuft of hair came out a little bluer than I wanted it to. I think I just washed it too darkly. This model is hell to drybrush, too.

My next project will start my infantry: Invictors have received the initial blue treatment, but the basecoat's otherwise not done yet.

[Seventhprophet]

I like the color scheme. and the hair highlights on the last one was a nice touch

Maybe a quick black armor wash would bring out some details in armor since its all the same color blue. But i wouldnt use too much near the top, would make the elves look more pure and less dirty.

[rvrchamp]

I would suggest painting the sand on the models' bases. tart with a dark color, then dry brush up to a lighter color. Remember, "dusty not streaky!" If your brush is leaving streaks on the sand you need to brush off more of the paint.

Also, I'm not a fan of the light colored base rings. I think its too distracting and takes my eyes away from the model to the base. Perhaps use a darker color to mark the facing arcs?

[Spinballwizard]

Yeah, I'm still a rookie when it comes to washing. Thanks for the tip, though. I can go over the glowey bits in my greens as well. (Makes some of the individual parts on my Gorgon come out.)

I would suggest painting the sand on the models' bases. tart with a dark color, then dry brush up to a lighter color. Remember, "dusty not streaky!" If your brush is leaving streaks on the sand you need to brush off more of the paint.

That's one of those things I've wanted to try, but have confidence issues with. My plan is to eventually work it into my basing, though; the grit is a bit light for my tastes. I do want it to look more "dirt"y though eventually. This whole thing is intended to be a learning experience!

[roddo]

I think you need more contrast in your minis, thats why the studio scheme works. Your using 2 colors so similair its hard to see the details, but that could be a camera setting as well. Otherwise they look good, and maybe i'll see you at Gencon!!!

[rvrchamp]

That's one of those things I've wanted to try, but have confidence issues with. My plan is to eventually work it into my basing, though; the grit is a bit light for my tastes. I do want it to look more "dirt"y though eventually. This whole thing is intended to be a learning experience!

Practice on an empty base or piece of cardboard. Spray the cardboard the same color you spray your model, glue the sand to the cardboard, and get to getting son! I'd suggest painting, or using watered down paint, to do a basecoat, then try the drybrushing. I'm sure a google search will turn up a hundred different tutorials on how to drybrush bases.

Good luck, and have fun with it!

[Spinballwizard]

Been a while. Needed to get back into a groove and got distracted by other projects. Garryth here was a dipping experiment that could've worked out better, but I was able to recover him and turn him into something decent. Tried washing and drybrushing the grit on him too.



I've also got the second Chimera mostly done. (I need to wait for glue to dry... the torso broke off getting ready to do the base!) Invictors need a dull coat before I can do some detail work, and my Artificer is basecoated.

[rvrchamp]

The grit looks good man...

With washing, you'll need to go back and re apply the basecoat and highlight colors. Leave a little bit of the darkest color though to show difference.

Keep workin on it and you'll figure it out in no time!

[Spinballwizard]

Here's Ezuria! Didn't do a wash on him like I should've. Still came out pretty nice.



Discordia got a basecoat and a wash, Artificer got washed as well. Invictors still need that dullcoat. I need it to be a bit less breezy outside.

[chimpeau]

By chance, are you a fan of MTG? The names you gave your jacks seem too much a coincidence.

[Spinballwizard]

Someone caught on!

Yeah, I let my hobbies bleed together like that. I was always an elf player in MtG, so between my affinity for elves and how cool they looked I had to get into Retribution. (It's a shock I don't play Legion, actually. Though it's crossed my mind...) I wanted to name the myrmidons I had duplicates of so I could tell them apart, so I stole some elven-ish names/ideas to use as identifiers for my 'jacks.

[Spinballwizard]

2 updates: Discordia and that Artificer!





Actually I love the way the Artificer's armor came out. Tried a different wash (Coal Black as opposed to Cygnar Blue) which seems to be working out better for my shading problems. It's extremely apparent on the Artificer.

[PaintVagrant]

Looking good Dan. Are you still on schedule to have your 50pts painted by gencon?

[Spinballwizard]

50? I'm hoping to have more than that. I'm talking my entire Retribution collection!

Basecoating Strike Force for sure this week. Might work on a couple of my touch-ups or 'jacks this week as well. I have 3 myrmidons that need to get on my new scheme.

[PaintVagrant]

Sweet! Good luck, Im still not sure if Im going to gencon yet but Im going to try.

[Spinballwizard]

Update: Believe it or not I am actually working on stuff. I just don't typically post WIP work. Things I've done in the last 2 1/2-3 weeks:

• Basecoated, added grit to, dipped, and dullcoated Mage Hunter Strike Force and Commander (They look really good!)
• Dullcoated Invictors (Finally!)
• Basecoated Invictor Officer and Standard
• Basecoated Battle Mages
• Basecoated Sentinels, Officer, and Standard

The basecoated models mentioned are all getting a good washing tonight. (Decided I'm not going to dip them.) I plan to have most of this finished by the end of next week, maybe with something else (an Assassin or two?) to go with.

[Spinballwizard]

Got my Sentinels done!




Fairly close on Battle Mages, Strike Force, and Invictors. I might try to get my Assassins done this week as well.

[Spinballwizard]

Churned out a bunch of models this week!

Mage hunters were done Monday, actually, I just forgot to put them on the forums!




They were dipped, with a couple highlights here and there. One of my friends has already called them "amazing."

Now for the stuff I finished today. First, my two Assassins.




I think the green-haired one came out slightly better. Because you gotta have green hair.

I've reached the 4-image limit... new post!

[Spinballwizard]

I also finished Skeryth today. I think this is the best horse I've ever painted. (Beats the pants off my Drakhun anyways.)




I also gave a wash and a couple of highlights to touch up Hallyr and Skarath.





Next on the agenda: Finish Battle Mages and Invictors, wash down and touch-up the updated 'jacks, and prime the rest of my army. Ossyan and/or the famed Force Generator may see paint next week...

[Aggy]

I like the color schemes, but I think something is missing in the application of those colors.

[Spinballwizard]

Admittedly I rushed Hallyr and Skarath a bit, so the wash is kinda messy on the former, plus they were from my early days of painting (hence the touch-ups). Most of my highlighting is also done by drybrushing and therefore messy at times. I'm pretty bad when it comes to thinning paint and blending. Also, I'm still learning washing.

Update: My entire army is primed now!

[Nixon]

You should defiantly paint your bases. Some Umbral umber for base-colour and a dry-brush with a lighter brown would do wonders. Finished the bases with a black trim makes the models look so much more finished.
Since you have so much blue on your models you should go for a orange contrast. Maybe on the gold? Find a gold colour that is towards the red/orange spectre. And add more black or even brown to your shading. The models need more contrast.