When in need of painting inspiration .. just paint Sci Fi or Fantasy, nobody can say you are wrong!

Games Workshop "late 1980's or early 1990's era" Space Orcs for Space Crusade which is an early (or just before) Xmas painting project, where I intend to run a retro Space Crusade game for my original D&D friends (see below, early stages of work): 

What can I say, they have only been waiting to be finished for about twenty years! Passed on to me by a nephew who grew up when I didn't!

How to Paint Black Templars -Tips from the Internet

Linked to my recent interest in using "Vallejo contrast [Xpress] paints"- and possessing  a bottle of Black Lotus (very evocative naming from the marketing department, top marks) I was looking around for some "dark chaps" to paint up. Two candidates jumped to mind, one from Vietnam - black pyjama Viet Cong, the other from the unpainted bucket of Space Marines - some Black Templars. Time to turn to the Internet for some help (see below, saviours of  universe [Black Templars] needing a coat of paint before they can go "hand-to-hand "with Chaos in the name of the Emperor - all WIP): 

I have surrounded them with a sophisticated painting task-force of Vallejo dark paint ranges to see if anything works, I have great hopes for Dark Grey (994), Black Grey (862) in combination with Xpress Black Lotus (423) and Black Ink (094), highlighted perhaps with Glossy Black (861). Talk about "fifty shades of grey"!

Meanwhile this is what other people did (very well) on the Internet:  

• https://taleofpainters.com/2021/10/tutorial-how-to-paint-black-templars-crusader-squads/
• https://www.fauxhammer.com/tutorials/how-to-paint-black-templars-armour-tutorial/?fbclid=IwAR0W2-EiEvXew3VukW3DHfOkJN430qGfKujhwh-sSul4Qo9VWF5xSFP6c9Q
• https://www.redgrasscreative.com/painting-miniatures-black-templars/
• https://spikeybits.com/2021/10/how-to-paint-black-templars-space-marines.html

The exploration of black painting space continues!

A Study in Dry-Brushing "Gun Metal": Necrons

I will say it again and again, for me a historical painting impasse is often unblocked by a trip down Fantasy or Science Fiction lane. In this case it was a return to Necron metallic robotic Vallejo Gun Metal and an exercise dry-brushing. I applaud the Games Workshop design team for some incredible robotic sculpts, but try as they might with other worldly paint schemes, but I am going to always see them as Terminators and steely-gun metal (see below, my Necron hoard gathered across a decade): 

At least they have all been, primed, then black-washed and dry-brushed gun metal. What follows will be silver highlights and perhaps inking in detail. The "orb" power sources need a unearthly shade of green or the like. I seem to have a platoon like structure of three squads of eleven and a HQ unit, not far away from Chain of Command! A welcome "Work In Progress" (WIP). 

Nurgles .. Fun with Painting .. Nominally Fantasy/Sci-Fi

The good thing with good old "make-it-up" fantasy and science fiction is that nobody can really tell you are doing it wrong and really anything goes, especially when you are talking boiling beasts of  Chaos like GW Nurgles (see below, this was a little bit of an exercise in dry-brushing, first pass Army Painter Primer [Grey], then Vallejo Brown Dipping Formula, then Vallejo Dark Flesh, using a slightly worse for wear GW/Citadel Dry Brushing Brush): 

Just for experimentation I decided to throw an ink glaze (Vallejo Skin Ink) over it to get a wet look (see below, admittedly most of this would be lost when I dry brush but inaccessible places will still look dark, dank and wet): 

I now have a wet looking band of Nurgle miscreants (see below, the "game" they are being painted for is a "Party of Demons in Hell" take on FrostGrave - which should be interesting, I intend to mix and match to make an "old ball bunch"):

I then stopped the batch process and took one through to completion, or at least very near completion (see below, dry brushed passes of 50:50 Vallejo Caymen Green/Camp Green, Vallejo Camo, Vallejo Rotten Flesh on the main body): 

Another, this time close-up view, in the unnatural light of day for this "demon-thing" (see below, Vallejo Blood Red, for flesh - boils Vallejo Vermin Brown "tapped" on some with with Vallejo Off White): 

I also plan to use these as standard "biggish monsters" for RPG [Undead and Chaos]. Painting wise I experimented here and there on the other bits, such as introducing Vallejo Blue Ink into the guts finding an old guide to painting miniatures useful, but having to convert "old" GW to closest Vallejo. I had fun basically :) 

Freeblade: Astoria Level 55

Astoria the mega human/cyborg - "Mega Robot of Death" (see below, courtesy of hours of fun over several months on the iPhone; Orcs and Chaos quake at the sight of this looming bulk coming towards them):

Nearly finished the game. When I have a figure of sorts may beckon at Xmas ;) 

Another Corona Virus Project: Paint me a Space Marine the 'Eavy Metal Way (Old School)

I do like following the GW "instruction manuals" that pass on the trade secrets of the Heavy Metal painters (see below, this is dated back to 2008, so old in fact the paint ranges [as in the curious names of the paints] are well out of date, but thankfully they still translate to Vallejo Game Colour instead): 

Flicking to page 89 my attention was caught by the guide's "how to paint a Space (Ultra) Marine the 'Eavy Metal way". What can I say, I have many GW Space Marines, painted to varying degrees of quality, from fast skim to over-painted and too fussy. This time I am going to try the milky many coats better than one thick coat approach (see below, my Space Marine in waiting with his heavy weapon - note the dramatic black and white imagery, this particular Space Marine comes from the Space Marine Command Pack): 

My "blue phase" of Space Marine painting and so many shades of blue at that (layers of Ultra Marine Blue, [recesses with Imperial Blue and Black] mixed with with Space Wolves Grey to a fine line of pure Space Wolves Gray as an edge highlight). The difference here is that rather than over paint large areas with a shade-base-highlight of successive "same colour" thickly painted; it was a case of many thin coats of one colour with a dark colour in the recess, with the armoured parts mixed with increasing amounts of a contrast colour [Space Wolves Grey] - retreating each new layer to the edges of the armour very quickly (see below, the bulk of painting is actually done now, with the rest more a finishing and touching up exercise - paint less seems to work): 

Next, the "eyes have it" (see below, a very detailed sequence of ultra fine detailing to the tiny patches of the model that make up the eyes; shade red, base red, orange highlight, dwarf flesh bottom half of the "lens [eye]", with a tint sparkle of white in the top back corner [I kid you not] - this took some patience and steady hands to do): 

One mean looking Space Marine .. a tiny difference to the model but the eyes really does transform the figure (see below, a finishing touch yet to come, will be to "gloss varnish" the eye and "matte varnish" the rest of the figure): 

The "weapon" and "gold trim" are next up (see below, here are the arcane 'Eavy Metal instructions to follow by the latter - base colour, wash, touch-up and fine line highlight): 

Gun [or rather heavy weapon] finished and Gold Trim applied (see below, 90% done but just a few extra chrome bits to do):

Little bits left to do. Badge emblems [white skulls and green laurels] and parchments [ribbons and vellum] are added with a shade-base-highlight and wash combination (see below, the finished product - minus the base texture and features that has to come):

Showing off the sacred vellum scrolls and protection rites with red rosette (see below, note the skull eagle on the back is just a 'spare part' added on by me - yes I am a GW heretic, I will be turned to Chaos [I already have a pack of Chaos Space Marines]): 

In retrospect one of the things I like about the model is the fine Grey Wolf fine highlight lines, minimalist but very effective (see below, his Chaos cleansing path lays ahead of him): 

Phew, done (bar the basing! Even if he is a glorified grunt he was worth it as I have painted a Space Marine I am proud of and plan to pass on some of the techniques to more my historical models(see below, ready for a Space Hulk or a Black Fortress near you): 

There are five figures in all for the Command Pack, but I will take a break before moving onto the one. Al in all it was a slow "week's worth" of hobby painting time spent on this one figure - not a factory production line method for sure!

Dakka Dakka Attack Jets Rumble with the Imperial Navy (AI 40K) - Game 2

The Orc War Boss raged as the Orcling's Dakka Dakka Jet's blip disappeared from the crude radar apparatus. He turned and pointed to the three surely looking young Orcs. "Waaagh". The Orcs understood their leader's order. The Dakka Dakka Jets took off in unison hell bent on revenge. Soon enough they had their chance (see below, three Orc Dakka Dakka Jets tangle with a pair of Imperial Navy Thunderbolts - winner takes all): 

The speed of the Orc Dakka Dakka Jet has to be respected but it first must be controlled and all three Orcs are guilty of overshooting their original marks (see below, the temptation of running up to speed 8 was just too much for these young hot-heads, dangerous as the Navy pilots had a height advantage and have planes that can turn):  

The battle suddenly became a twisting turning fight that teh Navy pilots liked, with two Dakka Dakka Jets again over shooting but remaining safe while the third lay in the cross hairs of "both" Navy Thunderbolts - this little Orc surely was fried chicken! (see below, despite being in the optimum "middle range/killing zone" of both auto-cannon (6 dice) and lasers (2 dice) [rolled for twice], the Navy pilots missed a sitting duck [perhaps putting each other off] - something they could well live to regret latter, be sure to take your chances quickly when they come in Aeronautica Imperialis):  

The Navy pilots then faced a nightmare of their own creation, two Orc Dakka Dakka Jets up 'close and personal' in the Orc Dakka Dakka Jet "close-in killing zone" each wielding a hefty load of firepower (8 dice) and with the Orcs holding the initiative, at least one Orc jet would get to "fire first". Perhaps it was inexperience (or just plain bad dice rolls) but the young Orc muffed his chance and only inflicted a inconsequential amount (one hit) of damage to the sturdy Thunderbolt's frame (see below, the bottom Orc jet misses his chance [badly]): 

With the immediate threat to himself gone the Navy pilot coolly decides to "take out" the medium range Orc Dakka Dakka Jet lining up on his partner and the result is one young Orc dies in an incandescent ball of flame, not ever "seeing" his killer, his eyes being fixed upon his opponent directly to his front (see below, first blood to the Navy, 1-0):   

The fast paced action continues, spinning into a dizzying frenzy of raw speed and crafty turns. The lower Thunderbolt twists and jinxed onto his opponent's tail while the upper Thunderbolt cleverly anticipates the third Orc pilots "stall turn" and gently "swoops" in from the side lining up a medium ranged shot (aka the Thunderbolt's armament "sweet spot"). The Orc pilot is first blinded and then deafened by both the eye-piercing laser and crashing sound of the auto-cannon's shells, before an explosion hurtles him into oblivion (see below, "Fly Navy" 2-0, things are not looking good for the last Orc): 

Being tailed is possibly last thing you will ever do! Strike three to the Imperial Navy as the Orc, although not in the Thunderbolt's "sweet spot" takes the "tailing fire" before it can move. A good hit means a dead Orc (see below, the young Orcs knows his mistake, but sadly not live to tell learn from his mistake and "tell the tale", 3-0 to the Navy, 4-0 in the campaign - but there is a seemingly endless supply of Orcs ready to join the fray): 

The Orc War Boss orders reinforcements and plans to lead the next mission himself (see below, the next painting project is the Orc Dakka Dakka Fighta Bomma - with a turret at the back that could come in useful given the twisty turning capabilities of the Navy Thunderbolt fighters): 

Conclusion: The air war continues unabated on Drakon-514. The Imperial Navy holds a slight tactical advantage. Who will win? Only time will tell, I see only a winter of sky combats over Drakon-514.

First Test Run of Aeronautic Imperialis: "Fly Navy" versus "The Space Orcs"

A cloudless sky over Drakon-514, a simple patrol to test the refurbished engines but a wailing alert shattered a peaceful dream as an Orc Dakka Dakka Jet appeared as a tiny pin-prick on the horizon. Joss froze he only had his integral armament as the Techs did not want to risk causing an unnecessary malfunction, he just hoped the interloper was not tooled-up with long range missiles or better still fast asleep at the wheel (see below, the Navy Thunderbolt closed with the Orc Dakka Dakka Jet): 

The planes turned into one another. the Orc was no slouch as it was he who fired first. Joss slightly out of position, paid dearly for his early error as the NAvy airframe took a beating. He could hear his instructor cursing his incompetence (see below, thankfully the Thunderbolt is made of stern stuff, being able to soak up three hits, whereas the Dakka Dakka Jet is a more flimsy, with two structure points):  

The planes whizzed by. Joss marveled at the simplicity of the Dakka Dakka Jet in comparison to the sophisticated Navy Thunderbolt and its ability to "turn on the gas". It was pure speed, but in overshooting its position the Orc had given Joss an opportunity (see below: the hunter is now being the hunted):  

The Orc had the initiative but was not reacting with its OODA loop now more predictable than the Thunderbolts. With a seeming less ease the Thunderbolt seemed to move itself into position (see below, medium range is the killing range for Thunderbots, whereas Dakka Dakka Jets have to get in close - if the Orc had gotten in closer earlier it would have been Joss' loss being reported):   

The Dakka Dakka Jet was now atoms spinning crazily earthward, to scatter across the sandy, barren plains of Drakon-514 (see below, the was killed two times over and came to a catastrophic ending, not even time to feel the shame of fear):  

Joss dipped his wings, circled slowly and headed for home. Already the Squadron Leader had sent him an automated congratulations as the computers chimed with his next mission details. In the air war over Drakon-514 there would be no time for luxuries, his next mission might not be against an inexperienced "Orcling" as this one was.

So I got some "Space Marine Command Figures" - Why do I bother with GW figures?

I do not consider myself a Games Workshop 40K wargamer - not at all. The toys I have amassed over the years (decades) are bought purely out of the Sci-Fi feel good factor - spawned I think from the sculpts and art work rather than belief in their universe (Note: GW have still done very well out of me). No I am not a 40K gamer per se, I do not possess the complete 40K Orc hide-bound rule tome for one thing. I do not posses any complete "army". I have a basic knowledge of the 'sequence of play' from a starter/primer magazine used to lure people in but I am sure I would be torn apart in a "competitive shop game". Over the years I have acquired various "now out of date" Codex's from second hand shops or bought some new (Tau, Necrons and Tyranids - now out of date) to assist painting and modelling, but artwork first or a cheap bargain is my motto. All this is not going to stop me from buying some Space Marine Command characters (old school, not Primus) .. because I see a use for them in an expanded Space Crusade system (see below, I class these as "character painting projects"):  

My children, well my eldest son for now, have inherited my Sci-Fi and fantasy troops as I was running out of space in the loft so they surreptitiously "moved into a downstairs bedroom" (I should really call it a tactical loan). I have never fought a Warhammer 40K with my "own" troops but have enjoyed an intro squad game at a shop (they were very complementary about my Tyranids). The one club game I once played was with other peoples toys (Orcs [me] versus Chaos Space Marines) and frankly was a terrible experience, as I was one half of a historical gamer pairing trying to understand the system, thankfully some "grown-up" (middle-aged) teenagers came over to help and salvaged something. I didn't even get to do a proper "Waagh" ;) 

My hope is to recycle these troops 'character' into exploring "The Black Fortresses" (modern versions of the Space Hulks to my mind) akin to move-style horror RPG. I'll mix in other ranges. So although for 90-95% time I enjoy ignoring GW, I still like that they are there - particularly as I will freely borrow from their paint ranges and techniques.  

"Fly Navy" (Thunderbolt and Fury) - Aeronatica Imperialis is approaching lift-off

With three Orc Dakka Dakka Jets in air it seemed reasonable to scramble a pair of Imperial Navy Jets to fight them (see below, there were two variants included in the "Wings of Vengeance" starter box - Thunderbolt [the staple Navy fighter] and Fury [hard hitting but can run out of ammo] so I made one of each; not that you can notice from a top down view): 

I think my plane painting will take a pause here until I get a couple of games under my belt. The rules seem fairly straightforward (Canvas Eagles - Blue Max comes to mind) but the devil may be the tabletop detail. 

It's "just for fun" painting really .. but it really helps clears the cobwebs - Aeronautica Imperialis (40K)

Sometimes it is a case of an excuse for "freedom of expression" and sci-fi (and I care not what 'how' the figure manufacturers want the figures to be seen to be painted) gives me that (see below, my second Orc Dakka Dakka jet comes off the painting stocks): 

It also allows me to try new techniques .. sometimes fast, sometimes more slower (see below, in the case of Aeronautica Imperialis it is slower, as in the approach I took for this project with a "two milky coats" is better than "one thick coat" so "thin the paint" - at first with water but next I will experiment with the Vallejo medium):   

The result is pleasing as I let the thin paint layer add depth even though the end result is a little cartoony, but that befits the project (see below, in many ways it was an exercise in over-painting a model to then see how much you can take out of the process to leave it with the same effect): 

The end result was a Dakka Dakka Jet "pair" (see below, [milky washes] of Vallejo Game Colour [sic] of Gory Red, Gory Red, Contrast Skeletal Hoard, Scarlet Red, Scarlet Red, Contrast Skeletal Hoard, Blood Red, Blood Red and a final Wash of Skeletal Hoard .. with highlights of Blood Red):  

This gives me three planes (ahem, or rather sci-fi objects) that I can run through the rules with me and the kids .. if I can drag them away from their digital devices (see below, during my painting my technique was to have complete coverage with the first milky was and then selectively paint the stronger areas with the second and then let Skeletal Hoard . aka an aged brown .. shadow the model. The next milky paint layers were applied more and more selectively .. with the final highlight being very selective and minimal .. as were the subsequence applications of .. aged brown wash): 

All in all this "game in a box project" was an un-locker to other more historical projects that had been lying around (for instance Ancients and ACW).

Final Painting Note: My experience with the Citadel Contrast paints was slightly underwhelming, they are certainly no "magical tartan paint" (one coat and a highlight and you have a figure) but, well at least the one I tried (Skeletal Hoard), was a superior kind of wash that I will integrate into my painting technique - when I want to be a bit fussy about the effect I get, And I am almost always a fussy painter. The test of these paints to my mind would be how they perform in the yellows, but they certainly seem to be capable of giving Vallejo's "Wash" and "Ink" range a run for their money (but more expensive) or better still complement them.  

Painting Imperialis Aeronautica - Navy Thunderbolt

Some opposition was required for the Orc Dakka Dakka Jet. A smooth looking cool dude, a little bit like Stingray's colours for me, [one for the Gerry Anderson oldies] but I see that as a good thing (see below in a flat base of Vallejo "Imperial Blue" and "Golden Yellow" on the tail): 

I was also cruelly thinking that the model reminded me of a Formula One Racing Car hitting a Saab Viggen; finally if you ask me and also quite big and chunky for a fighter - but I still like it! (see below, WIP with the base colour - kind of a WWII US Pacific War colour scheme): 

Highlighted and passed fit for the wargames table (see below, battle ready and taken to the air!)

Video's I found online, but in the end I did my own thing with the paints that were just to hand: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2mg5GGVSoo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2F3zLMyweQ

Happily clicking away .. Freeblade

Happily blasting Orcs (or should that be Orks?) and Chaos Space Marine things to multiple bits, reaching an impressive level 45 (whatever that means) without spending a penny (you can hear the developers and marketers weep). It is fun and gives a basic amusement (see below, I have gone back to a menacing light "off green" look):  

Note: The GW marketers may have the last laugh yet though, as I have discovered a not-so-silly bur still silly miniature in the GW range (still big and impractical to have on a sensible table top) that might go on the Xmas shopping list [if I finish the game - setting that as a discrete challenge to myself].

40K Games Workshop - Aeronautica Imperialis - Orc Dakka Dakka Jet

The current state of the "Painting Tray" (see below, a 15mm Persian War Tower and a GW 40K Orc Dakka Dakka Jet primed and undercoated with Airfix Acrylic Grey (01)):

My experimentation with Citadel Contrast Paints continues, the 'Skeleton Hoard' is used as a deep wash as I don't think it gives much colour paint coverage (see below, the detail of the Dakka Dakka Jet panelling comes out very nicely): 

The "Shade" colours are applied. One of the things I am doing with this model is trying to apply the principle of "two milky layers of paint is better than one thick layer" (see below, Vallejo Game Colour Gory Red [fuselage], Gun Metal [engine, guns and shiny bits] and Orange Fire [highlight trim]):

The Citadel Contrast Paint 'Skeleton Hoard' is applied to dull down with a dirty brown wash on the jet (see below, somehow dull and dirty is very Orc, leave the shiny stuff to the Elves): 

The "Base" colours are applied (see below, Vallejo Game Colour Scarlet Red - Gun Metal (again) - Golden Yellow triplet, with sight concern that the yellow looks "too fresh"):

A slightly closer look at the model at this stage (see below, the metal and red look good though - still concerns about the yellow): 

Repeat the Citadel Contrast Paint 'Skeleton Hoard' is applied again to dull down the model with a dirty brown wash (see below, once again better): 

Highlighting the yellow but trying to do it subtle, also doing it now as if it goes wrong I can quickly dull it back down again with my favourite Citadel Contrast Paint (see below, Vallejo Game Colour Sun Yellow):  

WIP with the "red layer". The process of applying the highlight, or should I say an "extensive highlight" as it begged to pretty much cover the whole model again, is influenced with the several milky layers of paint approach as it tends to encourage subtle blending and it successively tones each layer into another - but it takes time (see below, the Vallejo Game Colour Blood Red is half way through the red layer and I am really liking the look of the "final" red layer):  

OK the "red" is done! I like it, it says a big "Orc jet statement" to me, as if it is yelling "come and take me on if you think you are hard enough" (see below, just the metal bits to bring out in a final, more subtle, highlight): 

With the metal shined up we have a "factory fresh" Orc Dakka Dakka Jet (see below, most shiny metal got a final Gun Metal retouch, but the side protrusions got a Vallejo Model Colour Old Gold):  

Taking the now staple Citadel Contrast Paints 'Skeleton Hoard' pot, watering it down lightly the "factory fresh" is turned into "operational dirty" (see below, that will do for now as it is mounted on its flying base and put on the "wargame ready" shelf):    

Next: Calling out for some Orc Dakka Dakka Jet friends to make a flight of three. Note: I chose not to attach the rockets and bombs at this stage to keep all areas accessible, after all it was a small (but perfectly formed) model.

Respect and kudos to this You Tube inspirational video, many thanks as after seeing this the idea of the painting this model became irresistable: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22elLsWjHxk