What did you do today.

[me_in_japan]

OK - late-ish night update. Is MiJ gonna get this one right.....?

So, here's where I'm at with the mega-dread. The end is, while not here yet, most definitely in sight. Been working on the big gun. shoota. Blasta. Whatevs. Not finished yet, but I daresay you get the gist.

[Primarch]

@ToD - Some suitably angry looking Khornate types. Well done

@M_i_J - That dread is coming along very nicely. Very different from your usual Swooshy or Gribbly choice of minis.

[Wiz]

@M_i_J Can I ask how you managed to do those superfine scratches on the checkered area?

[me_in_japan]

@wiz - I scratched it with a sewing needle*. The metal paintwork was done ages ago, and so it's fully cured. If you scrape off new layers of paint as soon as they dry (in this case the white/black checks) they're still marginally softer than the underlying metal paint, so they can be carefully scraped away without overly damaging the metal layer underneath. For what it's worth, the metal paint is Vallejo Metal Air, on top of a base coat of Vallejo polyeurethane black primer. The white/black is Scale 75.

*I use the needle mostly to pick away the masking fluid that I use to mask the scuffs at the edges of all the plates, plus the larger blobs of revealed metal on the coloured plates.

[The Other Dave]

The white/black is Scale 75.

Where do you get Scale 75 from locally? One hears very good things about them.

[me_in_japan]

I order them online from Firestorm games. That's where I get most of my stuff, but I only buy intermittently. I know it's good to support local retailers, but since I live in Tsu, there are no local retailers, so to the internet I go...

incidentally, Scale 75 are my current favourite brand. You have to shake the bejeezus out of them every time you use them, as they separate like hell, but they are very nicely pigmented and sooooo matt.

[Primarch]

I did a spot of painting tonight, the whites of some eyes, some bling on a handful of marines and tidying up some shields. Nothing ground breaking, just the steady process of painting through attrition.

Quick question for the more painting-minded of you. Does anyone know any simple (like my kind of simple, not 7 hours and 15 layers, M_i_J kind of simple ) techniques for doing blood splatter? I have some minis that need to be knee deep in blood.

[me_in_japan]

yes! oooh! OOOh! I do! I do! pick me!


You need Tamiya clear red, or I suppose any gloss varnish would work if you mixed a bit of dark red paint in it. Anyway, get yer somewhat-gloopy-transparent-red-paint, and dip an old toothbrush in it. Using your finger (if you're feeling fastidious, wear rubber gloves) flick the bristles at your mini. It's actually fairly controllable, but it's probably worth practicing on a bit of paper first. And keep the paper behind the mini, because there will be oversplatter. Anyway, makes a lovely spattery effect, as seen on my Tantalus, and indeed, all my dark eldar.

[Primarch]

yes! oooh! OOOh! I do! I do! pick me!


You need Tamiya clear red, or I suppose any gloss varnish would work if you mixed a bit of dark red paint in it. Anyway, get yer somewhat-gloopy-transparent-red-paint, and dip an old toothbrush in it. Using your finger (if you're feeling fastidious, wear rubber gloves) flick the bristles at your mini. It's actually fairly controllable, but it's probably worth practicing on a bit of paper first. And keep the paper behind the mini, because there will be oversplatter. Anyway, makes a lovely spattery effect, as seen on my Tantalus, and indeed, all my dark eldar.

Thanks. I don't have any Tamiya paints, but I do have some reds and some gloss varnish I believe.

[me_in_japan]

That should work fine. Just be sure to do a quick bit of test-flickin’ before you approach the actual mini.

FWIW, btw, I’d recommend picking up some clear red, and maybe also smoke from Tamiya. They’re not pricey, and have multifarious applications.