Cadian IG Restoration/Tallarn Conversion

[DarkElf27]

Vikki Stardust

Personally I wouldn't use black lines for the clothing, it's a bit too contrasting and makes it look a bit too cartoony. Brown wash or a slightly watered down light brown paint would work much better in complimenting it. Also, the exposed metal bits of the gun might benefit from a black wash followed by a light drybrush of a lighter metal, maybe silver.

Hmm, I can try tracing the folds in brown ink or flesh wash instead of black ink. I was deliberately going for high contrast on a very light fabric, as I've gotten some negative feedback on the style of wash I did on other fabrics, but I still want to highlight the detail.

What about the rest of the color scheme, or the head itself?  

[Vikki Stardust]

DarkElf27

Vikki Stardust

Personally I wouldn't use black lines for the clothing, it's a bit too contrasting and makes it look a bit too cartoony. Brown wash or a slightly watered down light brown paint would work much better in complimenting it. Also, the exposed metal bits of the gun might benefit from a black wash followed by a light drybrush of a lighter metal, maybe silver.

Hmm, I can try tracing the folds in brown ink or flesh wash instead of black ink. I was deliberately going for high contrast on a very light fabric, as I've gotten some negative feedback on the style of wash I did on other fabrics, but I still want to highlight the detail.

What about the rest of the color scheme, or the head itself?

You mean this guy? To be totes fair, this is an example of how not to wash a model. sweatdrop Not unless you give it another coat of paint and leave the wash showing thru in the deepest recesses and lines.

Okay, say you paint your cloth khaki, give it a 50/50 wash of brown with water, then use a damp brush to move the wash into the recesses and keep it from pooling, then give the cloth a drybrush of khaki, followed by a lighter drybrush of khaki mixed with.. a drop of white or a creamy colour, like that bone stuff.

The rest is fine, tho those eyes are a bit creepy. sweatdrop  

[DarkElf27]

Vikki Stardust

To be totes fair, this is an example of how not to wash a model. sweatdrop Not unless you give it another coat of paint and leave the wash showing thru in the deepest recesses and lines.

Okay, say you paint your cloth khaki, give it a 50/50 wash of brown with water, then use a damp brush to move the wash into the recesses and keep it from pooling, then give the cloth a drybrush of khaki, followed by a lighter drybrush of khaki mixed with.. a drop of white or a creamy colour, like that bone stuff.

The rest is fine, tho those eyes are a bit creepy. sweatdrop

Well to be honest, I'm on the other end of the pendulum swing, and I'm trying to avoid washing to significant extent. On my next model, I'll try doing the lines in brown instead of black to ease on the 'cartoony' contrast a bit, and post it to compare. Right now I've been busy with painting on a much larger scale, that being my bathroom and front porch. sweatdrop  

[DarkElf27]

Mostly done with my second prototype, but unfortunately it will be my last project before packing up and moving. UK, here I come!  

[DarkElf27]

As promised, here are the shots of the second prototype. The lines are in brown ink instead of black, the collar is shorter, and the headdress is longer (with some cloth distortion, instead of being flat).



Also comparisons between the first and second. The one on the left is the new one.


 

[Vikki Stardust]

Much better shading! wink  

[Hoxtalicious]

She's right, when you look at the mini from a distance (Yes, I got up from behind my desk and took half a dozen paces backwards) it looks splendid. The black lines across the face are perhaps a bit harsh, but other than that it works and shows off an effective colour palette that does not clash or contrast.  

[DarkElf27]

Hardly worth the update, but here's an updated prototype mini. The major changes are the addition of a lowered facemask/shemagh and the molding of a cloth belt over the standard, leather belt. Trying to diverge some from the Cadian appearance, and make it look a bit more like proper desert raiders.

 

[Lady Blodwynn]

An interesting direction to take your minis into. Can't wait to see a painted prototype with your changes.  

[DarkElf27]

Lady Blodwynn

An interesting direction to take your minis into. Can't wait to see a painted prototype with your changes.

I've another couple changes I'm putting into the first full squad of Tallarn. I ordered some Bald Heads from Mad Robot Miniatures to free-sculpt the shemaghs onto, and they are every bit as detailed as they are on the photo. No bubbles in the resin, very high-quality casts; I will order from them again.

I also found a couple old Wood Elf Glade Guard capes, and ordered another set from BW bits (reference link and photo here) to use as well. I hollowed the back of it slightly, and filed the quiver flat. Originally I was going to put ammo packs, canteens, and grenades in place of the quiver, but I don't know how well that will work, so I also trimmed down a Catachan sheathed knife to resemble a sheathed curved blade, more fitting for Tallarn. This is the right size to put over the quiver, and looks decent, adding to the theme.

Last but not least, my wife found and ordered some Humbrol Hobby Spray, which is an acrylic spray paint designed specifically for models and crafts, fairly cheap at 4 quid a can, and comes in over a hundred colors, including Desert Tan, which matches the cloth on my current prototypes.

Making tons of progress, but saving pictures for when I have the full squad converted. Working tons with Greenstuff, and getting quite a bit better with practice. smile  

[DarkElf27]

Photo updates, for the remaining guardsmen to fill a full squad of Tallarn.

Bodies, one from scratch and 6 beheaded from Cadian counterparts (sorry Mac), then greenstuffed up with:

-Lowered facemask/shemagh
-Cloth belt
-Cloth ties on weapons



Heads, based from Mad Robot Miniatures bald heads, with a variety of coverings to add some spice to the unit, some raised and some lowered facemasks. I took a cast of the winged skull from Cadian helmets and transfered it onto the bands of the new heads so they keep their Imperial appearance.



Greenstuff is still drying, but tomorrow, I will add the heads to the miniatures in suitable fashion and take individual shots.  

[Wodzu]

Now to make a form of this heads, and replicate them for another minis smile  

[Lady Blodwynn]

I like where this is going, can't wait to see a fully painted squad!  

[DarkElf27]

Wodzu

Now to make a form of this heads, and replicate them for another minis smile

I'm going to wait to make casts of these until I've done the next batch. The emblems are very thick on the front of the head because they were attached after the whole band was sculpted. Next time, I'll attach the emblem directly to the head, and then sculpt the band from the edges, and hopefully it won't stick out as much.  

[DarkElf27]

Lady Blodwynn

I like where this is going, can't wait to see a fully painted squad!

I'll be attaching the heads tonight, and then priming them with Desert Tan. 3nodding