Some new Chaos Marines in need of critique

First I must say that it is a very nice (in an evil way), dark coloursheme you've got there. I like those clasic evil colours, they reeally go well with Chaos.

The bases are also very good and it gives so much to the overall aperence of your army.

The painting is also good if a bit unfinished, if I may say. I think your models would benefit tremendously from having some highlights, especially on the red parts. I would use Blood Red and then Blazing Orange for the extremes. Try to make some highlights on the black parts as well, this would bring even more life to the paintjob.

Since I have this thing for bones and flesh I cannot help myself but to comment on the Obliterator as well. I think you have done great here, they are a treat to drybrush those fleshy parts, but here too you would benefit from some extra details.
First thing that struck me was the "lamps" on his guns and armour. They should (could) be in a different, contrasting colour. Not the same red as the armour. Try some blue or green, something you dont have in the "standard range" in your army.
Next are those areas where the tubings/weapons/armour go into/out from the flesh. If you pay some extra attention here and paint some Blood Red/tint of Blazing Orange in the recesses, and make it look like fresh blood he will look even more intimidating. Those kinds of wounds also benefits from a Gloss Varnish (only on the blood) it makes such a difference.

The troopers/ champion could do with a brown glaze on the horns, it could just be the pics but they look a bit...painted.

The lascannon has a nice drybrush but it clashes a bit with the rest of the army that is painted, I suggest you to keep to one look in the army. Ashley has been very consistently drybrushing his armies to a great result, click *here*. But when it's just on one detail like this...I suggest you paint it.

The length of my reply may indicate that I didn't like your army, but that would be wrong.
I like what you have done, those bases again they are cruel. Just a couple of small observations that coould make it an even better army.

Thanks for all the comments already

They look great The onlitorater is awesome and so are the bases. The only thing I would change is where the dude has the marinne head on the spike on his back... maybe bloody that up a bit?

Click to expand...

I may try adding some extra "ruined" feel to the marine head on the champ's trophy spike. It's just hard to get to now that I put the guy's horned head on Maybe some extra charred colors along the helmet's base and some long-dried blood colors dripping down the wire.

First I must say that it is a very nice (in an evil way), dark coloursheme you've got there. I like those clasic evil colours, they reeally go well with Chaos.

The bases are also very good and it gives so much to the overall aperence of your army.

Click to expand...

Thanks

The painting is also good if a bit unfinished, if I may say. I think your models would benefit tremendously from having some highlights, especially on the red parts. I would use Blood Red and then Blazing Orange for the extremes. Try to make some highlights on the black parts as well, this would bring even more life to the paintjob.

Click to expand...

It's hard to see in the pictures, but all of the red trim does indeed have highlighting. It's got a drybrush of Burnished Gold that tends to make the light reflect off the edges of the armor with a gold tint that seems to go well with the colors. Likewise the armor is highlighted with Mithril Silver. The metallic highlights seem to give the armor a harder metal plating feel to me. It's hard to see in a still-pic though

Since I have this thing for bones and flesh I cannot help myself but to comment on the Obliterator as well. I think you have done great here, they are a treat to drybrush those fleshy parts, but here too you would benefit from some extra details.
First thing that struck me was the "lamps" on his guns and armour. They should (could) be in a different, contrasting colour. Not the same red as the armour. Try some blue or green, something you dont have in the "standard range" in your army.
Next are those areas where the tubings/weapons/armour go into/out from the flesh. If you pay some extra attention here and paint some Blood Red/tint of Blazing Orange in the recesses, and make it look like fresh blood he will look even more intimidating. Those kinds of wounds also benefits from a Gloss Varnish (only on the blood) it makes such a difference.

Click to expand...

I like those ideas on the Obliterator, and I think I even have the paints and varnish on hand to give it a try. Maybe a regal blue on the lights would work well.

The troopers/ champion could do with a brown glaze on the horns, it could just be the pics but they look a bit...painted.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I've not been real happy with the horns on most of them (the one that caps in a skull seems fine). I did get some various brown inks, so I can give that try.

The lascannon has a nice drybrush but it clashes a bit with the rest of the army that is painted, I suggest you to keep to one look in the army. Ashley has been very consistently drybrushing his armies to a great result, click *here*. But when it's just on one detail like this...I suggest you paint it.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure what's out of place on the lascannon? All of the marines have red and gold ornamentation, as does the lascannon. And both have a black base. Both the lascannon and the rest of the army have all of thier colors beyond the base black coat drybrushed on. Could you be a little more specific about what feels out of place on the lascannon, please? My one set of eyes is just missing it. Of course, it's harder to see the drybrushing on the rest of the army in the pics, which may be the heart of the issue.

I can try to see if I can get a little movie of a fig so you can see the metallic highlighting to full effect, but I'm not sure where I could host it. Although you can get an ok-ish look at the highlighting on the first pic of Ruthkar. At least see enough to give you an idea.

Well, I got some more pics of models I've done. Once again, feel free to comment away please

Blastmaster-wielding marine of the Siren's Scream sub-division
Back
Front
Sonic-Blaster trooper of the Siren's
Right-Front
Left-Back
Mounted Daemonettes from the Death's Caress pack
Daemonette 1, Front
Daemonette 1, Back
Daemonette 2, Front
Nidhogg, Defiler of the Muspell (WIP)
Look at those sexay legs!

A few pics are slightly blurry. Sorry about that. Tried a few shots and those are the best. Guess my hands just aren't steady tonight. At least one clear shot of each mini though.

And I'm sure you'll notice the PG conversion on the 'nettes

Cheredanine said:

OK, so next questions:

1. do you dilute your paint?
2. have you tried dry blending/layering?

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1) No, I use what amounts to a modified Dramatic style. I doubt my ADD would withstand the mind-numbing hours of multi-coating every color 6 or 7 times.
2) Haven't gotten into those yet. Haven't even seen a deffinition of them, actually.

The skin colors on the 'nettes are off. I was trying a few different things out. But the results were kinda... meh. My next batch of walking 'nettes will be using a diferent color blend and a few tricks I picked up, like a wash made of Tentacle Pink, Fortress Grey, and Skull White.

Basic rundown of current method:
1) Primer
2) any undercoat, usually a shade of grey going under colors I want to be more vibrant.
3) Layer of base color
4) Touch-up any goofs and make the lines a bit neater
5) Ink / Washes
6) drybrush any areas of lighter color / highlights.
7) Varnish shiney non-metallic areas

There are a few other tricks I try. Like the purplish highlights on the 1st 'nette's shirt are drybrushed on codex grey on the black primer, then a purple ink wash over it. Going for a sort of semi-shiny spandex look.