When I started this blog one of the main purposes in doing so was to use it as a way of keeping track of my painting notes. I've had notebooks for this before but have done a poor job in the past of hanging on to them or using them consistently. Since I like to skip around with my projects and always have a number underway at any one time, not keeping up with my notes can become very problematic. Thus my plan to use diceRolla as an online painting notebook was conceived.Typically with the first WIP post of a new project I would include a complete list of the paints I had used up to that point, broken down for each discrete area of the miniature. As I made further progress these steps would be added and through the magic of the Edit Posts button a fully updated painting guide would gradually be created. (An example of how this ultimately looks once complete can be seen here.) This method provides less than a step-by-step or painting tutorial would but it is enough for me to feel comfortable about leaving a project for a long time without sacrificing consistency in the colors used. And voila... I had a painting notebook!
This system worked well initially but after my unexpected four or five month break from painting last year I neglected to resume this helpful habit. I'd like to say it was just laziness but truthfully I became self-conscious about this practice once I realized how many exceptionally talented painters see my work here. I worried that these "color guides" as I called them would come across as presumptuous or vain if their purpose as being for my own benefit were not understood, so I stopped doing them. I've since come to regret that as I, true to form, failed to take any notes once I started painting again last autumn. In that short amount of time I've already forgotten how I went about painting my nascent Blisstonian 9th army and the currently dormant Rogue Trader crew for Killzone. I'll likely be able to figure those out again but it will require time that would otherwise go to something more productive.
Therefore one of the things I've decided to do with diceRolla this year is return to my former intent of maintaining an online painting notebook. If all goes according to plan, the first WIP post for each new painting project will have a list of colors used, gradually expanding to include every pot of paint touched in the process of working on the miniature. Hopefully this will not be too intrusive as to annoy any veteran painters and perhaps might even prompt suggestions as to how I can improve my painting or choice of colors. And if anyone does in fact find these notes to be in some way helpful to their own hobby, then that will just be a nice bonus.
What follows then is my first color guide of 2011, beginning the year with a selection of Frog Fighters for the game Critter Commandos. Over the coming days I will return to edit this, updating it as I make progress painting these miniatures until completed. This is meant for my benefit but if anyone has questions, please don't hesitate to ask as I'd be happy to help if possible.
Bodysuit: Necron Abyss, Asurmen Blue, Exile Blue, Cygnar Blue BaseJetpack: Iyanden Darksun, Gryphonne Sepia
Jetpack Bands: Thamar Black, Boltgun Metal, Badab Black
Skin: Knarloc Green, Thraka Green
Eyes: Underbelly Blue
Guns: Thamar Black, Boltgun Metal, Badab Black
Pineapple: Tausept Ochre, Devlan Mud
Base: Charadon Granite
Armored Suit: Macharius Solar Orange, Gryphonne Sepia (twice), Mecharius Solar OrangeJetpack: Iyanden Darksun, Gryphonne Sepia
Jetpack Bands: Thamar Black, Boltgun Metal, Badab Black
Skin: Knarloc Green, Thraka Green
Eyes: Underbelly Blue
Pistol and Sword Blade: Thamar Black, Boltgun Metal, Badab Black
Sword Hilt: Tin Bitz, Dwarf Broze
Base: Charadon Granite
Armored Suit: Iyanden Darksun, Gryphonne Sepia (twice), Iyanden Darksun, Moldy OchreEyes: Gnarls Green
Hairdryer: Mechrite Red
Before I go back to painting these guys tonight I'd just like to note the bases upon which these miniatures now stand. I tried my best to blend them with their original bases and am reasonably satisfied with the results. I am normally very reluctant when it comes to the greenstuff however so even this is an accomplishment of which I am proud. I wasn't sure if I'd bother with bases at all but trying to paint them without anything to hold onto was too much of a hassle. Now that they're properly based, painting my Frog Fighters has proceeded far more comfortably.
As an unanticipated side effect of mounting them on bases appropriate for WH40k, I'm also starting to have thoughts... terrible, heretical thoughts... about what to do with these miniatures once I've finished painting them. It's been many years since I lasted looked at the rules but I remember Critter Commandos as being something of an awful mess as far as game mechanics are concerned. Therefore if I want these miniatures to do anything besides sitting on my shelf I suspect I'll need to look elsewhere for a viable gaming experience.
Hmm... Killzone, perhaps? Someone call the Deathwatch. ;)
They're near enough Slann.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.solegends.com/citrt/fw87tsf18slann.jpg
A more than worthy foe from the depths of history.
Hey Paps, I wouldn't worry about what people think of your blog re posting your painting recipies. YOUR blog is YOUR blog, we're all just friendly passengers on YOUR journey - do you get what I'm saying? A lot of bloggers seem to forget that and worry about what the 'audience' might think.
ReplyDeleteI like Porky's suggestion re 'space Slann' like in the bad old days. But I would definately have the Death Watch on standby.
Pom
@ Porky - Ah yes, the Slann. Excellent! I like the way you think, Porky, thanks for the link! I really like your idea, perhaps they are the ancient Slann returned to set things right again in their galaxy. Be careful, this could get messy.... :) Thank you, Porky!
ReplyDelete@ Rogue Pom - As ever you offer me wise counsel. You're totally right, too, that's something I need to do a better job of keeping in mind. There was never any consideration for the 'audience' when I started this and I really appreciate your reminder. I am however very grateful to have such a caliber of passengers here. Thank you, Rogue Pom!
Oh, and please notify the Inquisition, the xenos threat has been confirmed.
You're so right about the benefits of using the blog to store paint recipes! Last night i started to paint a rhino for the Purge & had to look through old posts to find out how to paint them again as I had forgotten.
ReplyDeleteAs for the frogs, I love the armored one with the hair dryer (I guess that would be the heat ray of death to an amphibian). As for use on the table top, maybe some just use the old stats for Tau human auxiliaries? Don't recall you having tau though now that I think about it...
I agree, blogs are great places for paint recipes. I wrote up my new Blightlord recipe in a post this morning before I saw your post. I will definately be doing it more often.
ReplyDeleteLove the frogs but I cannot help but think of Space Bullywugs.
JJ: This is your blog, do what you want! (Ah, if I could heed my own advice though.)
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love the last guy (in orange). I don't know why, though.
Maybe they could be Daemons? Who knows what the forces of Chaos produces...
@ Da Masta Cheef - Right on! It's good to hear this way of keeping notes has worked well for you. I should have started up again months ago but at least I'm back onboard now. I'm happy to hear the Purge are getting a new ride, too.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good suggestion about referring back to the rules for human auxiliaries. I was thinking last night about having these frogs be a part of the Tau empire but I had forgotten about that particular option. Hopefully after the move is done I'll be able to go through my old White Dwarfs and find the issue that covered new auxiliaries. It's been a long time but I did in fact dabble a little with the Tau some years ago. Hmm, I like the potential here... thanks for the ideas, Masta Cheef!
@ Slipwing - Lol, I'd completely forgotten about the bullywugs! "Bullywugs... in... Space...." I'm very glad to know that keeping my painting notes online will not be either too bothersome or unusual for others who come here. Thanks, Slipwing!
@ Loquacious - Yeah, I feel kind of foolish now about ever having forgotten that and stopped doing with my blog what I had originally intended. I appreciate all of you being so understanding and tolerant of my sometimes odd ways, you will definitely be seeing more painting notes here in the future. Using these frogs as daemons is also a really interesting idea, I like that a lot. It's great that I now have so many options with which to experiment and see which feels best for the frogmen. Thanks so much, Loquacious!!
Papa JJ, I personally think this is an excellent idea and one I am considering copying on my blog. As was said above, this is your blog, don't worry about what others may say. Anyway, I love the minis and can't wait to see them finished.
ReplyDeleteThese guys are so brilliant. I'm hooked. No wonder the French like to eat them.
ReplyDelete@ Meatball - Fantastic, I totally recommend it if you're at all like me and don't care too much for keeping up with paper notes. I'll do my best to keep the focus here as Jasoncentric as I can, it is quite a compliment that you gents would still be interested in checking out what I've been up to. Thanks again for all your support and best wishes to you, Meatball!
ReplyDelete@ Night Runner - Wow, that's very kind of you! Your work is so impressive and inspiring, it means a lot to me that you like what you see here. I think to keep these frog fellows safe, however, they're going to need the USR for Preferred Enemy -The French. :) Thanks again, Night Runner, I really appreciate hearing from you!