Aeronautica Imperialis Wrath of Angels WIP - part 3

 

Greetings and welcome back.  I have some progress to share on the Imperial half of the Aeronautic Imperialis Wrath of Angels box set. After a primer coat of Vallejo Surface Primer black (air brushed on in an ~ 60:40 mix of paint to flow improver), I painted the Storm Eagles with Proacryl Black Green and the Xiphons with Proacryl Coal Black. My idea was to have 2nd Company (Ravenwing) fighters escorting the gunships of another company (probably the 5th to match my 28mm collection).

The paintwork here is pretty straight forward.  The Storm Eagles were drybrushed with Proacryl Bright Yellow Green, then washed with a 70:30 mix of GW Agrax Earthshade and custom glaze medium. Then the engines and a few other bits were painted in with Proacryl Dark Silver and shaded with GW Nuln Oil.

 The Xiphon Interceptors were heavily dry brushed with Proacryl Bright Neutral Gray and shaded with a 60:40 mix of GW Nuln Oil and custom glaze medium. There engines were batch painted along with the Storm Eagles.

Next I made a choice to depart from the light blue, sky reflecting cockpits I have used on the other planes.  I like the red I've seen in GW art and elsewhere from other hobbyists. So I embarked on a mission to paint something similar.  I used a rough 70:30 mix of Proacryl Bold Pyrrole Red and custom glaze medium.  This was painted on in several coats, allowing each to dry fully before the next was applied. 

After tidying things up, the cockpits look suitably Astartes ominous to me. They are especially striking on the Interceptors.Some additional edge highlighting was added after the cleanup since I couldn't dry brush over the repairs without messing up the cockpit glass I just painted.

I managed some time to start on the transfers next.  Here, I have added Dark Angels chapter badges to the side doors, and 5th company badge to the left front nose section. I'm planning to put an aircraft or squadron number on the right side opposite.  But I'm also considering putting number son the wing instead.  Still thinking that through.

The Xiphon Interceptors got Ravenwing (2nd company) badges on the wings and a Dark Angels chapter badge on the left side of the tail fins. I saw this similar to marines wearing the chapter badge on the left shoulder pad of their armor. I'll put aircraft/squadron numbers on the right side of the tail. I'm a big fan of how the Xiphons are coming out. I need to spice up the Storm Eagles with additional detail or something, however.

But for now, that's where the project sits.  I have some vacation travel, but should still manage to finish these planes by the end of January.  Then it's back to the Horus Heresy most likely for some Squaduary painting. Though I'm so into the tiny plane grove right now that Squadronary is sounding good too! Heh. We'll see.

Best wishes for your own hobby projects.  I enjoy making the rounds from day to day to see what others have on the table, so keep on postin'.

Cheers and Happy Gaming!!