Work in progress Gamma Galaxy Shadow Cat

[Xan]

I am starting work on my KS minis, with the intent of them becoming the Falcon Guards (JF Gamma Galaxy).  I'm starting with a shadow cat I got in a salvage box, mostly because it seemed to require the least amount of clean up before I could start painting.  And the Shadow Cat doesn't scream Jade Falcon so if I'm not as happy with it I can blame those darn Nova Cats for putting a bad basecoat on that we covered up when taking this as Isorla.

I have some very limited experience painting miniatures, with some Imperial Assault minis.  So this is my first attempt at something that is supposed to be this big, and my first attempt at Camo. I'm very surprised at how well the striping looks, but am hoping I can get some advice on what else I can do, and specifically any thoughts on a cockpit color.

So far the painting process has been, put a blue green basecoat on the non gun parts, then a grey/metal mix on the guns on the front vents.  Put a brown/olive green mix in for the striping, then try and hit the middle of the strip with some straight olive/green.  Then I put a brown wash over all the green and a black wash over the guns.  I then tried to highlight the top of the guns with some sliver mixed into a grey/metal mix (I don't think that did much), and then reapplying the brown green to the strips.

I'm not sure if I should be dry brushing anything on this or if that would mess with the camo look, same with any edge highlighting (I have never edge highlighted).  I may try and find some spots to put some sliver on to make it look a little more metallic.  When I was at the hobby store last I did see a metallic green that was tempting, but I didn't grab it.

For the cockpit I have two thoughts, one is a dark grey then try and jewel that up using blue, or a blue cockpit and jewel up using white. The only blue I have at the moment is a pretty blight blue (Vallejo electric blue.)  I'm worried the blue might pop a bit to much, particularly when I get to the Adder or Mad cat when I will be painting end of the guns blue to represent PPCs.  I also have some red, but I'm not sure that goes with this scheme.

Any thoughts on anything else I can do would be greatly appreciated.  I can post a few more views if that would be of value. 

 
*edit, fix typos

[worktroll]

You've got a good scheme going there! I might have done the central olive stripe a little thinner, but that's just personal preference. The metallics have come out great!

For the cockpit, if you don't want it too bright, consider basic black. If you're confident, do a gloss black after sealing - that way it generates it's own highlights! Barring that, a dark red would contrast well, without being too fancy. I have a nice dark metallic red I'm fond of using. Also metallic green & blue, but not for this mini. They dull down a little when you seal them (I like a matt coat).

You know about the colour wheel?


It usually works well if you use the colour opposite your main scheme, so in this case greens, so the opposite is red. Just a thought.

Rather than edge highlighting, one trick is to do a very very light drybrush - I call it a ghost brush - with a bigger brush, in a light colour. You want to leave almost no paint on the brush, so when you stroke it gently over the mini, paint comes off only on the edges. Try on the back of the mini first - if you leave streaks on the flat parts, you've still got too much paint on the brush. Then, when you put the wash on the mini, it'll be lighter in comparison, but still blend in.

Hope that helps! I'm definitely no CSO artist, I tend to specialise in unit builds, so simple repeatable techniques are my preference.

[worktroll]

Oh, and Gamma use jade trim, I noted (except for 9th Striker. ??? ) Don't overdo it, but look for nice small areas that will benefit from the deeper green.

[Xan]

Thank you! 

I'll give a red cockpit a try.  Thank you for pointing out the jade trim.  I think I have a couple of spots picked out for that color.

Thank you again for taking the time to reply, your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Xan]

The Red cockpit looks really good, thank you for the suggestion.

I took three tries at it and I wasn't super happy with how I painted at the time (The transitions seem a bit sudden), but the more I look at it the more I like it.  I might take another shot at the LH side again, undecided.

I also went in and repainted some of the panels to remove the dirty looks

I am surprised by how much a little white dot in the corner adds to the view.

Now to add some Jade, and base it.  Maybe a little silver to represent some paint chipping.  Undecided on the sliver.

Thank you again for the advice!

[worktroll]

That's very good! Glad to be of service.

And I'm always happy to talk minis. LIke I said, not the best, but it's what I do :)

W.

[jimdigris]

Looks nice! :thumbsup:

[Mecha82]

Very nice. :thumbsup:

[Xan]

Thank you all!

I picked a couple of areas to add the jade trim to, and it is loud. (But what else would you expect from a clanner).

I put some on the leg knee joints, a strip near the barrel of the gauss rifle, a couple spots on the back and a small panel on the left arm. 

Not sure about it at the moment, particularly on the left arm.  I might paint over it or try to remove it from just that area on the left arm. 

I think my fear is that my eyes can not decide what to be drawn to, the jade or the cockpit, and it gets a little confusing.  The paint is a bit glossier than what else is on the model so getting rid of the gloss when I seal it may fix that confusion. 

Or maybe if there was a bit more that would fix it as well, as right now its just a couple of spots trying to grab attention, and if there was some more maybe it wouldn't demand as much, so you see something that looks like there would be value to have jade added to a spot please let me know.  (conversely if there is a spot that looks bad please tell me that to!)

Thank you again for the advice it is really helping this guy come together.

[Major Headcase]

That looks great!!
A long time ago I learned about the concept of "the triangle of focus" when painting minis:
  For the mini of a person, that triangle is the right hand (usually holding a weapon), the left hand ( usually holding a shield or dynamically posed), and face (the character of a model that gives it life). These 3 focal points SHOULD stand out as they communicate the purpose and the power of the model. That's why model painters spend so much attention on the sword in one hand, the shield in the other and the face/helmet of the mini.
  What you have done is much the same thing. You have created a triangle focused on the big gun on one arm, weapon and fist in the other, and the striking red "face". These three project the character and lethal intent of the mini very well!
  The Jade trim is a great accent that to my eyes doesn't distract from the camo pattern at all and compliments it very well. Even adding a little more Jade wouldn't look bad, but that's personal preference.
I think it's great work!

[anarchy]

A long time ago I learned about the concept of "the triangle of focus" when painting minis:
  For the mini of a person, that triangle is the right hand (usually holding a weapon), the left hand ( usually holding a shield or dynamically posed), and face (the character of a model that gives it life). These 3 focal points SHOULD stand out as they communicate the purpose and the power of the model. That's why model painters spend so much attention on the sword in one hand, the shield in the other and the face/helmet of the mini.

That is a great tip!

[Xan]

That is a great tip, Thank you!  I hadn't heard of that theory before, I appreciate the advice.