The One Colour Challenge

As discussed in my previous post, I signed up for the One Colour Challenge on Instagram. I was assigned green, and so armed with an assortment of shades I went to work! 

I finished after about two days’ worth of work, and had fun! But not going to lie: I’m so tired of working with Moot Green for the time being. It also gets everywhere. 

An old Space Marine was chosen for the task. To create a bit more visual interest, I decided to put him on top of a supply box. I like to think he’s defending the last shipment of toilet paper in the sector. Everything else is essentially my normal jungle base but with bits of dried parsley sprinkled on to represent more foliage. I might end up using that on my normal bases after this. I kinda like the effect. 

Without further ado, here are the paints used:

• Moot Green (Games Workshop)
• Yellow Green (Vallejo)
• Military Green (Vallejo)
• Black Green (Vallejo)
• Green Grey (Vallejo)
• Russian Green (Vallejo)
• Biel-Tan Green (Games Workshop)
• Athonian Camoshade (Games Workshop)
• Nuln Oil (Games Workshop...and yes, it was allowed)

I was glad to do this challenge. It helped pass the time and stretched my creative muscles. I can’t wait to see what the others have done for their entries!

Lunch Break Hobby Time, Part II

A few days ago I signed up for the One Colour Challenge on Instagram. It’s being put on by @the_warhammer_lass and participants are assigned one color to paint a miniature of their choice. You can use any shade of that color (green in my case). Bases can be whatever we want. The challenge itself will be from March 28 to April 4, which the finished models being displayed on Instagram. There are no prizes, winners, or losers. This is just a fun challenge to get us all through these weird times.

So I assembled my paints yesterday and dug through my boxes to find an appropriate model: a Space Marine from the Assault on Black Reach Battle for Vedros set. 

So far he’s been given three very thin coats of Games Workshop Moot Green. Once dry, he’ll be given a wash of Games Workshop Biel-Tan Green and then I’ll block in some of the darker greens elsewhere. Still not entirely sure what I’m going to do with him, but I’m definitely enjoying this challenge! 

On the Workbench: Celestial Lions, Part I

My first project for 2020 is working on the Celestial Lions from Warhammer 40k! I stumbled across them in an index of Space Marines and was struck with their color scheme. Being that I'm sick to death of seeing Ultramarines everywhere, I decided that I wanted to do something decidedly different. It turns out they've been featured in a few of the 40k books lately which has really fleshed out their story.

Without giving too much away, they were targeted by their side's own Inquisition and nearly obliterated for a crime they didn't commit. Their chapter barely survived and has been struggling to rebuild for some time.

I'd painted up a test figure a few months ago and was really pleased (for the most part) with how he turned out. As a result, I've spent the last week or so working on the Celestial Lions using figures I'd already acquired.

After priming in black, the figures were given a coat of Retributor Armour spray. They were then given a wash of Games Workshop Agrax Earthshade Gloss in order to maintain that brilliant shine. I then applied a drybrush of Vallejo Gold followed by one of Vallejo Silver. I think it really makes the armor pop.  

The helmets and shoulder pads were then given a coat of Vallejo Prussian Blue, followed by a wash of Games Workshop Drakenhof Nightshade. They will eventually be given a lighter coat of blue; I think I used Vallejo Deep Sky Blue on my test figure. 

While those were drying, I went to work assembling a few more Space Marine Hero and Primaris figures that I had laying about. The book Spear of the Emperor by Aaron Dembski-Bowden confirmed that the Celestial Lions have Primaris Space Marines (second generation superhuman warriors who are even stronger than the regular Space Marine).

I'm going to paint up a very small number of regular Space Marines for my Celestial Lions to represent just how decimated the chapter was after the massacre. The bulk of the force will be the afore mentioned Primaris Marines with some Space Marine Scouts thrown in there as well. My goal is to finish up the Tactical Squad by the end of January.

Nightkillers

Departing from Flames of War for a moment, I'd like to return to my first love: Warhammer 40,000. 

After spending several years on my Imperial Guard force (think Zulu Wars British soldiers in space), I wanted to take on a new challenge: Chaos Space Marines. These chaps used to be mankind's greatest defenders....now they're its most vile group of traitors.

I picked up a three pack of Chaos Space Marines from my local gaming shop and went right to work. After much deliberation I settled on the Nightkillers chapter. Three hours or so later, this was the result:

Overall, they were a joy to paint! I'm really pleased with how the color scheme worked on these models. My next challenge is to finish up a Chaos Space Marine Terminator Lord that's been sitting on my desk since September. What is a Terminator Lord, you may ask? It's basically a giant guy in Iron Man-esque power armor and spikes. That sums it up pretty well.