Please help me decide: Devlan Mud for my entire army or not?

[CrimsonGuard]

For a while now I've bee thinking about changing the look of my Retribution army. Nothing really drastic, but I felt they looked to "clean". I've been tinkering with them and I really like greenish effect I get when I give them a wash of Devlan Mud. But before I start washing my entire army I'd like to have some input. What do you all think looks better, and why?











Also I'd like to get tips on applying Devlan Mud. I usually end up with a spotted look and I'd like to minimize the pooling of wash on flat surface-aerea's on armor and such.

[Autumn Stone]

I must say, I think they look great as is. But ...

If you want to dirty them up a bit, why not paint mud splatter on the edges of the armour and cloaking rather than dip with devlan.

Try drybrushing just the edges where you want mud splatter with one or more neutral browns (graveyard earth, khemri, troll blood highlight etc) then carefully paint devlan mud streaks onto the bits of the drybrushed area to give a focal dirtied area, but keeping the overall look of angry elves dressed by Sony, but then run through miles of muddy forest.

My big tip for devlan mud is to paint it like it's a paint rather than just smother the mini in the stuff. You can be precise and focal with it. Paint it directly on just the undersides of folds and ridges etc. Also adding something to break the surface tension (I use pledge with future acrylic floor varnish) will help it stick where you want it. Finally, thicker unwatered washes often end up looking better than multiple watered washes. It's like the reverse of the multiple thin coats rule of painting.

Also try just one figure that you aren't too attached to first before committing.

Good luck and happy painting
Cheers
A.S.

[MagnustheJust]

As far as applying the wash goes, here's what I do...

I hold the mini by the base, but upside down. I then coat the mini from toe to head. Once righted, I used a clean but wet brush to clean up some of the puddles. It takes a bit of practice to get quick enough to get an even coat, but it is not that hard either. Trial & error see, to work best with this.

[Tuckers]

As far as applying the wash goes, here's what I do...

I hold the mini by the base, but upside down. I then coat the mini from toe to head. Once righted, I used a clean but wet brush to clean up some of the puddles. It takes a bit of practice to get quick enough to get an even coat, but it is not that hard either. Trial & error see, to work best with this.

This, but also, use a junk brush. Sometimes I keep a second "thirsty" ( brush you dry most of the way off on a paper towel" on hand to soak up the overflow.

As for which I lime better, I think that the cleaner look fits Retribution better, but then again, they are so are space elves, so I kind of assume they are the germaphobic sterilization freaks of the iron kingdom.

[flameberge]

I definitely prefer the first. The second with Devan Mud doesn't really make him look dirty as much as it just tints the color of the armor. I'd have to agree with Autumn Stone's ideas of making them look dirty.

[LesterM]

I definitely prefer the first. The second with Devan Mud doesn't really make him look dirty as much as it just tints the color of the armor. I'd have to agree with Autumn Stone's ideas of making them look dirty.

I in in agreement. First looks better I think the clean look suits elves better but some weathering could make them seem a little grittier without losing the "elfiness" of their current scheme.

And the original scheme looks great.

[dchadpage]

The second one looks infinitely better in my opinion.

[Dooby]

i say its not neccisary, but you could just put it in the recesses to give it shadows

[tedwin183]

Just say no to the crutch! Everytime I instruct a painting class, the FIRST thing I do is get them to stop using Devlan Mud as a fix-all. Forcing yourself to learn to shade with paint, rather than smearing a wash all over the model will make you a better painter in the long run.

[dchadpage]

What if I prefer to have the best looking minis possible now? If one aspires to continually increase their painting skills, sure. But the goal for many of us is to have good looking models to put on the battlefield.

[Thracy11]

Well, first of all, you applied too much wash. Had you applied selectively, rather than just soaking him in it, you'd have a much better looking mini.

Now, the first one looks way better, but then again its too also far too clean.

I really think that it would be worth the effort to carefully weather your army. Please please please take the time to properly weather those guys, they'll look great! Plus, if you're ever tired of Retribution, you'll be able to sell the whole army for a pretty penny!

[DoktorVivi]

I really like the Devlan Mud on him, though you should definitely also experiment with spatter. It can be hard to get a handle on how to do it, since how the spatter turns out depends on how much paint is on the brush and how stiff the brush is (you do want a pretty stiff brush). You'll also probably want to shield most of your model from any overspray if you do it since you just want the mud on the legs / lower area of their tunic / armor.

I much prefer dirty battle-weathered armies because that makes more sense to me... even the super sciencey elves aren't immune to dirt, and I think dirtying them up actually makes them look waaaaaaaaay better.

[althai]

I think I like the second one better, but it's hard to tell, because the photography was significantly better on the first (much less glare).

Of course, the important question is which do YOU like better?

[Arlaharen]

You've got a really solid scheme going there, one of the best Retribution I've seen to be honest. The basing really complements the colors on the models. I do think it looks better with the Devlan, but I think it would look even better if you'd crank up the contrast towards the lighter side as well. Shade the deepest part carefully (Devlan or a darker blue color) and hit the edges with highlights for an even greater effect.

[nuemonic1au]

I think I am with Autumn Stone on this .. some weathering effects applied to these models will make them look great ... but at the end of the day it really comes down to which one you prefer ...

[Saint-Ex]

I like the Devlan mud look but try to control it a bit better.

[PG_Chris Cuevas]

I think from tabletop level, your nice clean (non-devlan'ed) style will be perfect. I'd leave well enough alone : )