Games Workshop Price Increase - Wave 2

As mentioned earlier, Games Workshop is increasing prices again. At first it looked like it was just for the new Citadel Finescale line, but here is a list of product outside of that range, and corresponding new prices in US dollars, supplied from an anonymous retailer.

If you are interested in what Canadian prices would be, increase the new price by about 20% and you will not be far off. Interesting considering the Canadian dollar is currently higher than the US dollar, and has been for quite some time. In fact, the Canadian dollar has been at parity with the US dollar for quite a few years now, yet Canadian prices have consistently been 20% higher since the dollar was only worth about 80 cents US.

Product Description                       Old Price      New Price

ASSAULT ON BLACK REACH             $90.00         $99.00
CODEX BLACK TEMPLARS                $22.00         $24.75
CODEX DARK ANGELS                     $29.00         $33.00
CODEX SPACE MARINES                 $30.00         $33.00
CODEX SPACE WOLVES                  $29.00         $33.00
CODEX BLOOD ANGELS                   $29.00         $33.00
CODEX CHAOS SPACE MARINES       $29.00         $33.00
CODEX ORKS                                $29.00         $33.00
CODEX ELDAR                               $29.00         $33.00
CODEX IMPERIAL GUARD                 $29.00         $33.00
CODEX TYRANIDS                          $29.00         $33.00
CODEX GREY KNIGHTS                    $29.00         $33.00
CODEX NECRONS                           $22.00         $24.75
CODEX DARK ELDAR                        $29.00         $33.00
CODEX TAU EMPIRE                        $22.00         $24.75
CODEX CHAOS DAEMONS                 $29.00         $33.00
WARRIORS OF CHAOS ARMY BOOK     $29.00         $33.00
EMPIRE ARMY BOOK                        $29.00         $33.00
BRETONNIAN ARMY BOOK                 $29.00         $33.00
WOOD ELVES ARMY BOOK                $29.00         $33.00
DWARF ARMY BOOK                        $29.00         $33.00
SKAVEN ARMY BOOK ENGLISH           $29.00         $33.00
VAMPIRE COUNTS ARMY BOOK          $29.00         $33.00
LIZARDMEN ARMY BOOK                   $29.00         $33.00
WARHAMMER ARMIES ORCS & GOBLINS $37.25         $41.25
HIGH ELF ARMY BOOK                      $29.00         $33.00
DARK ELVES ARMY BOOK                  $29.00         $33.00
OGRE KINGDOMS ARMY BOOK            $29.00         $33.00
DAEMONS OF CHAOS ARMY BOOK      $29.00         $33.00
BEASTMEN ARMY BOOK                    $29.00         $33.00
WARHAMMER: TOMB KINGS               $37.25         $41.25
HOW TO PAINT SPACE MARINES        $29.00         $30.00
HOW TO PAINT TANKS                     $29.00         $30.00
UNIFORMS & HERALDRY OF THE SKAVEN  $24.75         $29.00
NECROMUNDA UNDERHIVE                 $41.25         $49.50
BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC RULEBOOK       $41.25         $49.50
WARMASTER RULEBOOK                    $45.00         $49.50
INQUISITOR RULEBOOK                     $45.00         $49.50
WAR OF THE RING: BATTLEHOSTS      $24.75         $29.00
HOW TO PAINT CITADEL MINIATURES $29.00         $30.00
MORDHEIM CITY OF THE DAMNED RULEBOOK $41.25         $49.50
EPIC ARMAGEDDON                          $41.25         $49.50
BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC ARMADA          $40.00         $49.50
DARK ANGELS CHAPTER UPGRADE FRAME $13.25         $16.50
SPACE MARINE COMBAT SQUAD         $22.50         $25.00
SPACE MARINES ASSAULT SQUAD      $29.75         $33.00
SPACE MARINE SCOUTS                    $22.50         $25.00
DARK ANGELS VETERAN SPACE MARINES $24.75         $25.00
DARK ANGELS RAVENWING BATTLEFORCE $90.00         $105.00
SPACE MARINE VINDICATOR              $44.50         $49.50
SPACE MARINE BATTLEFORCE            $90.00         $110.00
SPACE MARINE LANDRAIDER              $62.00         $66.00
SPACE MARINE PREDATOR                 $44.50         $49.50
SPACE MARINE WHIRLWIND               $44.50         $49.50
SPACEMARINE LANDRAIDER CRUSADER/REDEEMER $62.00         $66.00
SPACE MARINE SCOUT BIKE               $12.00         $15.00
SPACE WOLVES BATTLEFORCE           $90.00         $100.00
SPACE MARINE VENERABLE DREADNOUGHT $43.00         $44.50
KHORNE BESERKERS                         $33.00         $37.25
CHAOS SPACE MARINE LAND RAIDER   $62.00         $66.00
CHAOS SPACE MARINE PREDATOR      $44.50         $49.50
CHAOS SPACE MARINE DEFILER         $62.00         $66.00
CHAOS SPACE MARINE ATTACK SQUAD $22.50         $25.00
CHAOS SPACE MARINE BATTLEFORCE $90.00         $110.00
POSSESSED CHAOS SPACE MARINES  $29.75         $33.00
CHAOS SPACE MARINE VINDICATOR   $44.50         $49.50
ORK BATTLEFORCE                          $90.00         $100.00
ORK BOYZ MOB                               $24.75         $29.00
ORK LOOTAS AND BURNAS                $24.75         $25.00
ORK BATTLEWAGON                         $62.00         $66.00
ORK GRETCHIN                                $15.00         $16.50
ELDAR DIRE AVENGERS                     $33.00         $37.25
ELDAR GUARDIANS                           $33.00         $35.00
ELDAR BATTLEFORCE                        $90.00         $95.00
ELDAR FALCON GRAV TANK                $41.25         $49.50
CADIAN HEAVY WEAPON SQUAD         $35.00         $38.75
CATACHAN HEAVY WEAPON SQUAD     $35.00         $38.75
IMPERIAL GUARD SENTINEL                $25.00         $30.00
IMPERIAL GUARD VALKYRIE                $62.00         $66.00
IMPERIAL GUARD CADIAN SHOCK TROOPS $24.75         $29.00
IMPERIAL GUARD CATACHAN JUNGLE FIGHTERS $24.75         $29.00
IMPERIAL GUARD CADIAN BATTLEFORCE $95.00         $115.00
IMPERIAL GUARD CATACHAN BATTLEFORCE $95.00         $115.00
TYRANID WARRIORS                        $35.00         $42.00
TYRANID CARNIFEX                         $45.00         $49.50
TYRANID BATTLEFORCE                  $105.00         $110.00
TYRANID TRYGON/MAWLOC              $49.50         $57.75
TYRANID HORMAGAUNT BROOD          $24.75         $29.00
TYRANID TERMAGANT BROOD            $24.75         $29.00
NECRON BATTLEFORCE                     $90.00         $105.00
NECRON MONOLITH                          $62.00         $66.00
DARK ELDAR KABALITE WARRIORS       $24.75         $29.00
DARK ELDAR WYCHES                       $24.75         $29.00
DARK ELDAR HELLIONS                      $24.75         $25.00
TAU XV8 CRISIS BATTLESUIT             $22.25         $24.75
TAU BATTLEFORCE                           $90.00         $110.00
TAU HAMMERHEAD                           $44.50         $49.50
TAU SKYRAY                                   $44.50         $49.50
SOUL GRINDER                                 $62.00         $66.00
IMPERIAL CRASHED AQUILA LANDER     $24.75         $30.00
AEGIS DEFENCE LINE                        $22.50         $24.75
SKYSHIELD LANDING PAD                  $39.50         $41.25
IMPERIAL BASTION                          $29.75         $30.00
HONOURED IMPERIUM                       $24.75         $25.00
40K TREES                                     $8.00         $8.25
URBAN BARRICADES AND WALLS         $20.00         $22.00
WARHAMMER 40K BASING KIT            $20.00         $24.75
CHAOS MARAUDER HORSEMEN            $22.00         $24.75
CHAOS KNIGHTS                              $24.75         $29.75
WARRIORS OF CHAOS BATTALION       $90.00         $100.00
EMPIRE GENERAL                              $22.25         $26.50
EMPIRE VOLLEY GUN / ROCKET BATTERY $24.75         $25.00
EMPIRE BATTLE WIZARDS                 $22.25         $24.75
EMPIRE FLAGELLANT WARBAND          $28.00         $29.00
EMPIRE PISTOLIERS                         $22.00         $24.75
EMPIRE BATTALION                        $105.00         $115.00
BRETONNIAN PEGASUS KNIGHTS         $35.00         $41.25
BRETONNIAN PEGASUS KNIGHT           $15.00         $18.25
DWARF CANNON                              $22.50         $25.00
DWARF BATTALION                          $90.00         $100.00
SKAVEN CLANRATS                          $33.00         $35.00
SKAVEN BATTALION                       $105.00         $110.00
VAMPIRE COUNTS GRAVE GUARD        $33.00         $41.25
VAMPIRE COUNTS CORPSE CART        $25.00         $26.50
VAMPIRE COUNTS BATTALION            $90.00         $100.00
LIZARDMEN STEGADON                     $41.25         $49.50
LIZARDMEN TEMPLE GUARD               $33.00         $41.25
LIZARDMEN BATTALION                    $90.00         $105.00
GOBLIN REGIMENT                           $30.00         $35.00
FOREST GOBLIN SPIDER RIDERS         $30.00         $35.00
NIGHT GOBLINS                              $30.00         $35.00
ORC WARBOSS                               $22.25         $26.50
BLACK ORCS                                  $33.00         $41.25
ORCS AND GOBLINS BATTALION         $95.00         $105.00
HIGH ELF REPEATER BOLT THROWER   $22.50         $25.00
HIGH ELF PRINCE AND NOBLE             $22.25         $26.50
HIGH ELF ARCHMAGE AND MAGE         $22.25         $26.50
HIGH ELF CHARIOT                           $25.00         $26.50
HIGH ELF BATTALION                      $100.00         $105.00
DARK ELF COLD ONE KNIGHTS            $24.75         $29.75
DARK ELF BATTALION                       $90.00         $105.00
OGRE KINGDOMS GNOBLARS              $30.00         $35.00
OGRE KINGDOMS BATTALION             $90.00         $105.00
GIANT                                           $45.00         $49.50
DREADSTONE BLIGHT                       $29.75         $30.00
WARHAMMER FORTRESS                   $90.00         $99.00
MORANNON ORCS                            $27.25         $33.00
RANGERS OF MIDDLE EARTH              $27.25         $33.00
KNIGHTS OF MINAS TIRITH               $24.75         $25.50
CORSAIRS OF UMBAR                       $27.25         $33.00
HARADRIM RAIDERS                         $25.00         $25.50
DWARF WARRIORS                          $27.25         $33.00
DWARF RANGERS                            $27.25         $33.00
ARMY OF THE DEAD                        $27.25         $33.00
WARRIORS OF THE LAST ALLIANCE    $27.25         $33.00
MORIA GOBLINS                             $27.25         $33.00
THE RIDERS OF ROHAN                    $25.00         $25.50
THE FIGHTING URUK-HAI                  $27.25         $33.00
WARRIORS OF ROHAN                      $27.25         $33.00
WARRIORS OF MINAS TIRITH            $27.25         $33.00
MORDOR ORCS                               $27.25         $33.00
WARRIORS OF HARAD                      $27.25         $33.00
WARG RIDERS                                $25.00         $25.50
EASTERLINGS                                $27.25         $33.00
WOOD ELVES                                 $27.25         $33.00
BALROG                                        $50.00         $57.75
URUK-HAI SCOUTS                          $27.25         $33.00
OSGILIATH RUINS                           $24.75         $25.00
RUINS OF MIDDLE EARTH                  $19.75         $20.00
BLOODLETTERS OF KHORNE               $24.75         $29.00
DAEMONETTES OF SLAANESH            $24.75         $29.00
PINK HORRORS OF TZEENTCH            $24.75         $29.00
BLOODCRUSHERS OF KHORNE            $53.75         $54.50
TEMPLE OF SKULLS                          $29.75         $30.00
(6)SKULL WHITE SPRAY 400ml            $15.00         $15.75
(6)CHAOS BLACK SPRAY 400ml            $15.00         $15.75
(6)PURITY SEAL SATIN SPRAY VARNISH 400ml   $15.00         $15.75
CITADEL SPRAY GUN PROPELLANT 3 PACK    $8.25         $9.00

Games Workshop Finescale Price List - Going up, Up, UP!!!

Games Workshop is at it again. Though they have not yet announced it, it seems they are increasing prices. The first product range to see such an increase appears to be the old metal range, which is purportedly being changed to a resin range.

This price list comes from Gifts for Geeks, and represents an overall increase in prices across the board, ranging from about 3% to 25%! There are a couple which were not changed, or reduced, but the overall impact is a generally large increase.

41-60 COMMANDER DANTE £10.50
53-60 LOGAN GRIMNAR £14.50
55-61 THE EMPERORS CHAMPION £9.50
48-63 SPACE MARINE CHAPLAIN WITH JUMP PACK £10.50
44-60 DARK ANGELS COMPANY MASTER £10.50
48-61 SM LIBRARIAN IN TERMINATOR ARMOUR £14.50
53-61 NJAL STORMCALLER £14.50
41-61 ASTORATH THE GRIM £12.50
43-60 ABADDON THE DESPOILER £14.50
43-61 HURON BLACKHEART £10.50
50-61 ORK WARBOSS WITH ATTACK SQUIG £14.50
50-63 ORK BIG MEK £14.50
50-65 ORK PAINBOY WITH GROT ORDERLY £10.50
46-61 ELDAR AUTARCH WITH POWER WEAPON £10.50
46-62 THE AVATAR OF KHAINE £22.50
46-63 HARLEQUIN DEATH JESTER £10.50
46-64 HARLEQUIN SHADOWSEER £10.50
47-61 COMMISSAR YARRICK £10.50
47-63 IMPERIAL GUARD LORD COMMISSAR £9.50
51-61 TYRANID ZOANTHROPE £15.50
51-63 TYRANID TYRANT GUARD £15.50
51-64 TYRANID HIVE GUARD £15.50
51-65 TYRANID BROODLORD £15.50
57-61 BROTHER CAPTAIN STERN £14.50
57-60 LORD KALDOR DRAIGO £14.50
57-62 CASTELLAN CROWE £10.50
57-63 INQUISITOR COTEAZ £10.50
45-60 DARK ELDAR ARCHON £9.50
45-64 LELITH HESPERAX £10.50
45-63 URIEN RAKARTH £10.50
45-61 DARK ELDAR SUCCUBUS £9.50
56-60 TAU ETHEREAL WITH HONOUR BLADE £9.50
83-62 CHAOS EXALTED HERO £9.50
83-63 CHAOS KHORNE EXALTED HERO £10.50
86-60 EMPIRE CAPTAIN WITH HAMMER & PISTOL £9.50
92-60 WOOD ELF HIGHBORN WITH GREAT WEAPON £9.50
84-60 DWARF LORD WITH HAMMER & SHIELD £9.50
84-61 DWARF RUNELORD WITH GREAT WEAPON £9.50
90-60 SKAVEN WARLORD £9.50
90-61 QUEEK HEADTAKER £10.50
90-62 DEATHMASTER SNIKCH £10.50
91-61 VAMPIRE LORD £9.50
89-60 GRIMGOR IRONHIDE £10.50
89-62 BLACK ORC BIG BOSS £10.50
87-60 CARADRYAN £10.50
85-61 DARK ELF ASSASSIN WITH TWO HAND WEAPONS £9.50
81-60 MALAGOR THE DARK OMEN £12.50
10-61 URUK-HAI WITH CROSSBOWS £14.00
10-62 URUK-HAI BERSERKERS £14.00
08-61 GOTHMOG (PELENNOR) £20.50
05-60 ELROND AND GIL-GALAD £15.00
10-60 SARUMAN AND GRIMA £15.00
02-60 GANDALF THE WHITE £20.50
04-60 ARAGORN (THE BLACK GATE) £20.50
04-62 THEODEN (HELM’S DEEP) £20.50
04-61 BOROMIR (ITHILIEN) £20.50
09-60 SULADAN THE SERPENT LORD £20.50
08-62 THE DARK MARSHAL (RINGWRAITH) £20.50
05-61 DAIN AND BALIN £15.00
97-60 SKULLTAKER £14.50
48-40 MARNEUS CALGAR AND HONOUR GUARD £36.00
48-41 SPACE MARINE TECHMARINE WITH SERVITORS £25.50
55-40 BLACK TEMPLARS SWORD BRETHREN SQUAD £25.50
48-42 SPACE MARINE STERNGUARD VETERAN SQUAD £25.50
48-43 SPACE MARINE VANGUARD VETERAN SQUAD £25.50
53-40 CANIS WOLFBORN £30.00
43-40 NURGLE DAEMON PRINCE £21.50
43-41 CHAOS SPACE MARINE RAPTORS £25.50
43-42 DEATH GUARD PLAGUE MARINES £25.50
50-43 BOSS ZAGSTRUK £14.50
50-40 GHAZGHKULL THRAKA £22.50
50-41 ORK TANKBUSTAS £25.50
50-42 ORK BIG MEK WITH SHOKK ATTACK GUN £23.00
46-41 ELDAR RANGERS £20.50
46-42 ELDAR DARK REAPERS £23.00
46-44 ELDAR STRIKING SCORPIONS £23.00
46-40 ELDAR FARSEER AND WARLOCKS £20.50
51-42 TYRANID LICTOR £15.50
51-40 TYRANID HIVE TYRANT £36.00
51-41 TYRANID PYROVORE £21.50
45-40 DARK ELDAR INCUBI £23.00
45-41 DARK ELDAR MANDRAKES £20.50
56-40 TAU SNIPER DRONE TEAM £23.00
83-42 ARCHAON THE EVERCHOSEN £30.00
83-43 CHAOS LORD ON DAEMONIC MOUNT £22.50
83-41 CHAOS DRAGON OGRE SHAGGOTH £36.00
86-41 LUDWIG SCHWARZHELM £22.50
86-40 KURT HELBORG £22.50
82-41 THE GREEN KNIGHT £22.50
82-40 KING LOUEN LEONCOEUR £30.00
92-42 WOOD ELVES TREE KIN £30.00
92-40 ORION KING IN THE WOODS £22.50
92-41 WOOD ELVES TREEMAN £36.00
84-40 THOREK IRONBROW £36.00
84-41 DWARF GYROCOPTER £23.00
84-42 DWARF BOLT THROWER £23.00
90-40 SKAVEN WARPLOCK JEZZAILS £30.00
91-40 VAMPIRE COUNTS VARGHULF £21.50
91-42 COUNT MANNFRED £22.50
91-41 VAMPIRE COUNTS BLOOD KNIGHTS £61.50
88-41 KROQ GAR £40.00
89-44 GOBLIN SPEAR CHUKKA £18.50
89-43 SAVAGE ORC GREAT SHAMAN ON WAR BOAR £15.50
89-41 ORC WARBOSS ON WYVERN £40.00
89-42 GOBLIN ROCK LOBBER £23.00
89-45 GORBAD IRONCLAW £30.00
89-40 AZHAG THE SLAUGHTERER £55.00
85-41 DARK ELVES REAPER BOLT THROWER £18.50
08-40 THE DARK LORD SAURON £25.50
08-42 GULAHVAR THE TERROR OF ARNOR £30.00
08-43 MORDOR TROLL CHIEFTAIN £25.50
02-40 THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING £37.00
97-42 FLAMERS OF TZEENTCH £15.50

Vindicare Part 2 - Back in Black....

In Part 1 of this series, I talked briefly about the posing of the model, base selection, and overall plan for priming/base coating.

After letting the model cure over night, I checked the strength of the joint. Because this is a smaller joint, I not only pinned and super-glued, but I also used greenstuff to fill the gap and give the joint some additional strength. In order to ensure such a joint is strong, you should let it cure for at least 24 hours. Satisfied with the bond, I then moved onto the next step. Priming.

This Vindicare is ready for priming.

Previously I mentioned that winter is a difficult time of year for priming with a spray type of primer. The whole process is hampered by the cold and airborne moisture, and often results in very poor quality of primer coat, which can flake off, or get fuzzy. One solution would be to do this indoors, but even with good venting, fumes from such primers can be extremely uncomfortable, and disperse quickly through your home. This can be especially problematic in small apartments, or homes with pets/children.

Needless to say, painting in February poses some problems unless you already have models that are pre-primed, or another viable solution. One such solution is the use of an airbrush to prime your models. There are many brands and varieties of airbrush available, along with many brands of paint that can be used in an airbrush for priming and painting purposes. I won't expand on that, except to say that my airbrush is a Testors Aztek, which I have had for over ten years of reliable service. This is driven by a small compressor, which suits my needs well.

The Testors AZTEK is an inexpensive, reliable, and easy to maintain airbrush.

For this project, I decided I would use my airbrush, and Vallejo Model Colour Black mixed with 50% water to prime the model, running at about 20psi with the gravity feed option. At this mix and pressure I found the airbrush sprayed very well and the paint was opaque enough that the model was quickly covered in a nice smooth and opaque coat of paint. After a brief inspection, I hit the crevasses a little more intently to ensure the model was fully primed. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of this stage of painting, but imagine the Vindicare in  matte black, and you'll have a good idea of what it looked like.

I allowed the model to cure for 15 minutes. During that time I cleaned the brush by spraying out the remaining paint (which was not much admittedly), then filling the jar several times with windex. While doing this, I actually practice airbrush control on a piece of cardboard, drawing fine lines, and dots, and then connecting the dots. This is a great way to practice airbrush trigger control and free hand work without wasting too much paint. After the brush was clean, I prepared the next colour, VMC Sombre Grey. This was prepared in the same manner as above, and I thinned the paint with 50% water.

Now, instead of painting the whole model with a full coat of the Sombre Grey, I targetted the model to create a grey highlight effect. To do this, I angled the airbrush at 45 degrees, and used a very fine spray stream and very light touch, aiming at areas where light would naturally fall on the feet, legs and abdomen. I then widened the spray to full flow and did the same thing, aiming on the upper torso, shoulders and head. This leaves a nice dark shade and a naturally fading transition to the highlight. The trick to doing this is a very light touch on the air flow, so that you build up the layer of lighter paint slowly.

Here you can see the features of the model appear very bright. This is because I used a high contrast. I was not worried about the brightness at this point in time, but rather, getting a nice contrast between light and shadow, so you can clearly see the definition in the model's details. Notice how the muscles have a highlight on the upper surfaces, yet the lower surfaces and crevasses are darker, and appear more in shadow. I will take advantage of this high contrast light and shadow in the later stages of painting the miniature.

I also highlighted the upper torso and the feet a little more brightly. To do this, I merely applied another coat over the specific targeted areas. This gives the illusion of more light falling on those specific areas, and supports more strongly the illusion that his body is casting a deeper shadow.

Here you can see how the weapons have a strong shadow below their main stalks and bodies. This is an easy effect to achieve on straight angular pieces, as long as you maintain your airbrush angle on the part. The spray can not bend around the corners, so will leave a very sharp line between highlight and dark, which you can use later with the overall painting process to your advantage, as it makes picking out the highlights easier, since you know where the light and shadow will more naturally play.

The back of the model shows a deeper shadow. The reason for this is because I consciously decided to spray mostly from the front and sides of the model, when doing the highlight. I did this to simulate a light source in front of the model, as if the subject might be emerging from a shadowy corridor. Again, you can see a sharp contrast on the pistol. You can also see deeper transition of shadow on the lower back, and around the back of the helmet, and buttocks area. It is enough to suggest definition without creating too strong a highlight.

Notice too that the base has also had a strong application of the grey colour now. This is partly to add highlight, but also because I plan to paint it a ruddy grey colour.

I mention earlier that I use a Testors AZTEK double action airbrush, but a similar effect can be achieved with a single action airbrush, like the Games Workshop Spray Gun, though you do not have as fine control over the stream size. The trick to achieving this effect is to hold the brush a little further away from the model. You should only do this from above the model, and let the wider spray cone naturally highlight the lower portions of the model.

Remember, with either type of air brush, a light touch is key here. If there isn't enough paint on the first pass, you can always build up the highlight. Just keep a light touch, and take careful passes to not build up too much paint at once. The trick to knowing if you are depositing too much paint or are too close is to observe if the paint pools on the model. If you are too far away, the paint will dry before it hits the model, and the model will appear dusty, and can even develop a texture. Naturally, practice makes perfect, so if you haven't got much experience with an airbrush, you should look up some airbrush exercises on the internet and practice on a piece of cardboard before moving to a model. Then you should try it on an old test model or junk model, so you don't ruin your project piece.

Related Article:
Vindicare Part 1 - Strike a Pose
Vindicare Part 2 - Back in Black
Vindicare Part 3 - For the Gold

Links:
Testors Airbrushes
Vallejo

Vindicare Part 1 - Strike a Pose

Well, it's been a while since I have done a hobby update here. Life keeps me busy, and even though I don't always get a chance to update the blog, I'm still doing hobby stuff.

But this weekend, after the monthly gaming night with the friends and discussing our hobby progress for the year so far, I decided to give updating the blog a bit more priority. Partly so they can easily see what I'm working on, and to help keep us all inspired (especially me since I've been losing inspiration lately).

In February, I spent much time experimenting with paints and such, mostly trying out a bunch of my new Vallejo Paints, after I had recently purchased the full Vallejo Game Colour, and the full Vallejo Panzer Aces paint sets. I've been using Vallejo for a long time, just have difficulty getting it here, so needless to say, getting both of these full sets, and at such good prices, was definitely a happy day.

I also decided I would break out the airbrush and start using it more for painting table top miniatures. The primary reason is that priming models during the winter months is a lot harder to do with spray primers, often being forced to do it indoors. The fumes from spray primers are particularly nasty healthwise, and having the residual smell in the house is unpleasant. Where with the airbrush, I can prime models to my heart's content without the fumes overwhelming the house, which I know my wife and pets all appreciate!

The main subject for February's experimentation was a Games Workshop Vindicare assassin. Specifically, this model:

By way of an explanation, I have posed the Assassin so his rifle is slightly at rest, to give him more of a sense of readiness, as opposed to the "Here are my guns!" pose prevalent in the late 90s that he originally has. This required a little green stuff work to fill in the shoulder joint.

The model was also mounted on a resin base from Dark Art Miniatures. They are rather nice easy bases to work with, with lots of flat surfaces. They are also easy to drill, for pinning your models to, but not so soft that they crumble after drilling, and not too hard that they shatter.

Anyway, I went with this basic base as it gives a nice generic base for me to use for the model, allowing it to be used on nearly any table. I know that basic stone and dirt bases are very easy to make, but I rather like their stone bases, though I really only got them to fill out an order when I bought some lava bases, which these will be complimenting for the army that gets those lava bases, as rough volcanic rock. But that's another story.

One other thing you might notice is that this miniature appears shaded. Well, that's a side effect of age. Tins oxidize as they age, and you often get a brownish tinge on older models if they have not been previously sealed. No real harm as this is sealed with the primer and paint. But I was able to use this oxidation as a visual clue to gross flash and mould lines. A trick you can use that helps you see flash and mould lines better, and similar to this, is to give your model a generous wash of black or brown ink. It really makes them stand out without harming your model.

Related Article:
Vindicare Part 1 - Strike a Pose
Vindicare Part 2 - Back in Black
Vindicare Part 3 - For the Gold

Links:
Vallejo Paints
Dark Art Miniatures

At Last! The Grey Knights Emerge From the Immaterium!

At last! Games Workshop has officially announced today the imminent re-release of the Grey Knights Codex and model line, which will include all new plastic models.

Details as to the model mix, and the focus of the codex are scarce at this time, but look for GW to leak more info as the next few months roll on, until the final big splash release in April!

Needless to say, this much anticipated release has been the subject of much speculation over the last few months, after GW removed the models and codex books for sale form their stores. The rumour mills are churning, and there is much slathering of lips and champing at the bit... what is a Grey Knights Player to do in the meantime?

Well, I'd suggest trolling the web for some cool pictures to inspire and increase your agony waiting for their imminent arrival.

So, to start, I offer up one of my own Grey Knight models for your consideration.

The keen eyed of you, will notice that while this model is different from the previous range, it is indeed, not a new model. It is in fact one of the original Grey Knight Terminators, combined with newer Grey Knight Terminator Captain arms. While generally a good fit, they did require a hint of modification to make it look seamless, and as if they were designed to fit, including a tiny bit of green stuff work. 

The base is a standard 40mm round base, built up with several resin ruin pieces from the GW 40K scenic basing kit. This was done to give the model height, and make it a) imposing, and b) large enough that when stood beside a standard second generation metal Grey Knight Terminator model, it did not look out of place.

This is a standard technique I use to make smaller models appear larger through the illusion created by a taller stance. For those of you who are picky about true line of sight in the game, I don't worry about it too much. This is a game about COOL MODELS, not just about winning, and I won't even go into "Modelling for Advantage"...

You probably noticed that I've painted this Grey Knight in...well....grey... This was a conscious decision, and one I will stand by, based on original colourations of the original Grey Knight models and artwork, which depicted them in dark greys, even black, with gold trim.

The model was undercoated with GW Chaos Black spray. I then painted on several thin layers of Chaos Black by hand, using a large tank brush. The Grey was blended up using a combination of wet blending and layering techniques from Chaos Black all the way up to Codex Grey, and to a final highlight of equal parts Codex Grey and Skull White.

The black bolter casing was a simple wet blend from Chaos Black to Codex Grey to Skull White. I blended from darkest to lightest to light limit the Skull White, yet take advantage of how it helps brighten the black.

The steel bits were base coated with Chaos Black. I then layered equal parts GW Chaos Black and Boltgun metal, Boltgun metal, and Chainmail. These were done with layered feathering, to change texture from the softer warmer metals and make it look more stark and severe, and to simulate a sharpened edge - which is further enhanced by the filing job I did to reduce the thickness of the blade edge. Again, to tie the tonality, I glazed it with very thin black ink

The gold bits were base coated using Scorched Brown. I find the red tones in the brown help make gold and brassy colours pop a bit more, and it is warmer visually than painting them over black. I then painted on Tin Bitz, Dwarf Bronze, and Burnished Gold, blending the intermediate stages as I went. I washed this together using a thinned down brown ink, as a glaze. This ensured the tone remained uniform. I then directly painted the crevasses with undiluted brown ink to make them more bold. Finally, I made some subtle "bright" highlights on the higher textures, to make it have an aged shine.

The green laurel started with Dark Angels Green, and I picked out highlights with Snot Green, then Goblin Green, and finally gave it a unifying glaze with thinned green ink, followed by a darker wash to pick out the crevasses and details.

The red details all started with a base coat of Scorched Brown. Again, this is because of the red tones already in the brown, which help the red go on more easily, and help keep it warm and brighter. I blended upwards from Scab red to Blood red, adding a touch of Snakebite leather to the red for a final highlight, and edge highlighting.

Though difficult to see, and very small on this particular model, the eye lenses were painted with a red gem effect. This started with Chaos black, highlighted up to Scab Red, Then Blood Red, and finally Fiery Orange. I glazed this with a Purple Ink, and gave it a tiny white dot to simulate the reflection spot.

The white detail bits started with a Shadow Grey/Skull White mix, and layering on more white. I kept this thin and did multiple coats to ensure better control and a smooth finish that does not look chalky, a problem all too common with white painted models.

Finally, the paper, purity seals, and scroll work were base coated with Graveyard Earth. I then layered an equal mix of Bleached Bone and Graveyard Earth on top. Finally, I blended in pure Bleached bone, up to about a 50/50 mix of Bleached Bone and Skull White. The scroll work lettering and detail was painted on with a 50/50 mix of Chaos Black and Brown Ink. The ink helps thin the paint to ease the freehand lettering work on the name scroll, as well as allow fine lines to simulate written passages elsewhere.

When painting the base, I wanted to ensure the model stood out, and didn't blend into the base. To do this I used some slight contrast by painting the concrete in a reddish pallete, and the dirt with a reddish brown. Queuing off the red detail on the Terminator also helped create a colour triangle which draws the eyes to the core of the model. The reddish colouration was intermingled with grey and bleached  bone, blended, overbrushed, and  drybrushed to simulate a dusty ruin, without over accentuating the base.

Hopefully this has been inspiring enough to make you go off in search of more pictures of Grey Knights and start working on your own!