Squaduary 2022 - TO DONE

 

Well, Squaduary 2022 has come to an end.  Brushes down, I have completed my pledge to paint this squad of five Adeptus Custodes models.  To be fair, its a squad of three Custodian Wardens, a character (Vexilus Praetor), and a lone Custodian Guard model that will join an existing squad painted a while back.

The project went well, and I'm pleased with the results.  The models came out well and they match well with the existing painted models in the army.  That's not always easy to accomplish as other readers will know, especially when models are painted years apart from one another. Go paint recipes (and paint hoarding)!

The squad of Custodian Wardens really look the part with their ridiculous choppy guns.  You have to love the grim dark where a super soldier can wield a giant power axe that shoots equally giant self-propelled munitions.

I love the red and gold contrast here; in fact I just can't get enough of it. I can't take credit for the color scheme, but I'll take responsibility for the results here, good and bad. Not going into a Golden Demon competition, but still pretty snappy, eh?

The single rank-and-file Custodian Guard came out as expected and will match his fellows well enough.  There were some minor things I would have done different in the details here, like the Misericordia, but I had to leave those things well enough alone so this model would match the other eight.

Of the five completed models, the Vexilus Praetor is my favorite. The combination of the Warden's style with the pose of this model and the fancy banner just really work for me.

I went cheat-mode here again with the Micron .005 pens.  They are just hands down the best way to put text on these models.  I mean if you have the brush skills, please keep on painting.  I just don't at that scale.  Even the pen-work is sloppy here, but it just works at a normal viewing distance, regardless.  My prior banner used brown instead of black for the text, but it looks too faded to me.  I like the contrast black brings to this scale model on the table, even if it's a bit sharp in contrast.

So that's another five models in the DONE pile and a successful Squaduary 2022 completed.

I very much enjoy these challenges and I hope others have enjoyed this one as well.  Special thanks to our host Thousandeyes over on Stepping Between Games.

Without a pause, we're on to #MonsterMarch6...I don't paint monsters currently, so you'll have to check back later in the week for my kick-off post where I should reveal my monstrous titanic pledge.

Stay safe out there.  

And may nuclear winter bring the prepared survivor many happy years of hobby in the bunker...

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

Squaduary 2022 Week 3 Progress - Adeptus Custodes

 

Greetings and welcome to my Squaduary 2022 week three progress update.  I ended week three by mounting the models permanently to their bases, using 5-minute epoxy and a brass pin in one foot.  You could pin both feet for extra security, but it makes pinning and positioning the models that much more fussy for limited gains, in my opinion.

After some cleanup, I painted in the silver face plates and addressed the blades of the various power weapons.  The black casing on each weapon was neatened up and the gold details tweaked (and completed in some parts where they got missed).  I can't decide what I want to do with the misericordia so that detail slides into week four.

The black weapon casings will need highlights during week four as well.  Otherwise I'm more or less done with the models themselves. So that leaves just the bases to complete before March 1st rolls around.

Oh, I almost forgot the Vexilus which needs some writing on its various dangling scrolls. Lots of little things to paint on these models when taken as a group like this.  I've done well enough batch painting so far, but the struggle avoid missing certain unique details is real.

I'm super happy with the results so far and look forward to showcasing the finished project next week after the challenge has completed!  Head on over to the Squaduary week three progress page to check out the other projects going on this month. The end is in sight!

 Until next time, stay safe out there.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

Squaduary 2022 Week 2 Progress - Adeptus Custodes

 

Greetings and welcome back for a week two status update on my Squaduary 2022 project.  This week I got some highlights on the gold and red, then painted in all of the blue gems.  I also began detailing the weapons, starting with the gold scroll-work.

The gold armor is pretty much done at this point.  The gauntlets and straps need highlighting, though.

The Vexilla is starting to take shape.  Some text will appear on the scrolls in week three. 

The highlights on the robes are really starting to bring out the sharp details in the folds.  The helmet plumes also show more contrast and detail here.

 

 

 Lots of detail on these Wardens.  Those ridiculously large axes are so outrageous.  Only in 40k. 😂  I love 'em!

So that's the progress so far.  Head on over to the Squaduary progress page to see more of the great projects going on this month.  Week three is in full swing. Check back next week to see more progress on the Custodes. I need to get the remaining details painted and the highlights done so I can get them based during week 4 of the challenge.

What are you working on this week?  Stay safe out there.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!

 

Squaduary 2022 Week 1 Progress - Adeptus Custodes

 

Greetings and welcome to week two of Squaduary 2022.  I pledged five Custodes models and got started on them with a gusto during week one.  It all starts with the red and gold...

I use an airbrush when painting the gold to get a smooth uniform finish.  Then I paint the red on with a brush.  These models really just paint themselves.  The details are well defined as are the different areas of the model.  It's totally paint by numbers here.

The robes and top knots already show good shadows with just a base coat.  The bases have all been uniformly primed black using Vallejo Surface Primer Black through a airbrush with a little flow improver added.  Next, the armor and robes were shaded, followed by some initial base coats for the weapons.

Some initial pipework on the midsection of the armor was painted in as well. With just a few added details and shading, these Custodes look ready to rumble.

A look at the shading on the demi-robes (or whatever their called).  I'm looking forward to the highlighting here as these robes are going to look great with all that surface detail.

Even this humble Custodian Guard is coming along well.  The leather vambraces and a a few straps were also base coated and shaded with the armor.  Black weapon cases were painted in and the weapon bladed got their initial blue base coat.

The flexible joints of the armor have been painted with Vallejo Dark Rubber and shaded with Nuln oil.  The full paint recipe I use is available on the Custodes tab above.

I'm looking forward to painting the Vexilla.  The cross bar got a coat of black to match the weapons.

And that's where I got to on week one.  Now week two is under way so check back next week for more progress on these great sculpts.  So much left to do, but plenty of time and enthusiasm left.  I would love to bring these in early and try for a bonus Blade Champion.  Time will tell.

Hope your projects are going well. Stay dafe out there.

Cheers and Happy gaming!

Kill Team Christmas Challenge - TO DONE

 

Greetings and welcome back.  The Death Korps of Krieg veteran guardsmen kill team for the Goonhammer Christmas Kill Team Challenge has been completed. I was able to capture the original paint recipe pretty well given the years that have passed between now and when I paint my first DKoK unit.

 

The back row, from left to right: Medic, Hardened Veteran, Sergeant, Zealot, and Bruiser.

Here's a side that the enemies of Krieg should never see.  There is just as much detail on the backs as the fronts of these models.  I could go a little heavier on the weathering around the bottom of the great cloaks, but this will stand for now.  It's a bit washed out in these pics.

 

 

The front row, from left to right: Trooper, Sniper, Spotter, Gunner, Gunner

 

So there we have it.  I have another ten models ready to go at some point to round out the options available to a Veteran Guardsmen roster in Kill Team.  But that will wait for another time. For today, we put another project in the done column, and another big stamp o' DONE in the blog.

 

Now on to my personal Squaduary 2022 challenge - Five models for an Adeptus Custodes force in Warhammer 40K.  I love these Guard models, but I'm ready to move on to something new.

Stay safe out there.

 

Cheers and Happy Gaming!