Raptors Legion and Imperial Fists Rhinos

[Powerslave]

Hey guys!

I have recently finished two Rhinos for my Space Marines Army. I have painted one Rhino from the Raptors Legion Space Marines Chapter (upgraded with Forge World Raptors Rhino Doors) and I have painted one Rhino from the Imperial Fists Chapter (also upgraded with Forge World Imperial Fists Rhino Doors).

The Raptors Rhino was painted with Vallejo Model Color Paint. When I was visiting back home in Kiev, Ukraine - I attended the parade on Independence Day - and I have seen some of the tanks and military machines that were on display that day. They were all painted in a very deep, dark green - with an exceptionally clean paint job. So, I decided that I would paint my Raptors Rhino just like that. I also wanted to give my Rhino a "Vietnam" weathered look - because according to the official fluff - Raptors are master jungle fighters, some of the best in the galaxy, so I wanted to make the setting 'Nam like.

First, the Raptors' Rhino:

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/2292/img0623j.th.jpg (http://img266.imageshack.us/i/img0623j.jpg/)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/3169/img0621b.th.jpg (http://img181.imageshack.us/i/img0621b.jpg/)

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8023/img0629o.th.jpg (http://img245.imageshack.us/i/img0629o.jpg/)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/3491/img0620p.th.jpg (http://img261.imageshack.us/i/img0620p.jpg/)

... continued in the next post (picture limit)...

[Powerslave]

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/9241/img0619f.th.jpg (http://img54.imageshack.us/i/img0619f.jpg/)

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/6463/img0628h.th.jpg (http://img54.imageshack.us/i/img0628h.jpg/)

Here is the detailed breakdown of how I achieved the final results (I always provide the steps, because it can be useful to others):

1. Prime the Rhino White (my choice of Primer is always white).
2. Water down Vallejo German Cam. Dark Green to the consistency of milk and basecoat the tank (Takes about 3/4 coats).
3. Basecoat the Tracks, the searchlight and the smoke launchers with VMC German Grey.
4. Basecoat all metal areas with GW's Boltgun Metal.
5. Now - to the eagle - basecoat the Eagle with P3 Morrow White, the beak with VMC German Cam. Orange Ochre, and the wood / wings with P3 Umbral Umber.
6. The background of the Raptors Coat d'Arms is done with VMC German Fieldgrey.
7. Highlight the Armour plating with VMC German Uniform.
8. Highlight the Searchlight, Tracks and Smoke Launcher with VMC Lufwaffe Uniform.
9. Wash the Eagle's beak with a light brown wash (I made my own from P3 ink).
10. Highlight the Beak with P3 Sulfuric Yellow.
11. Highlight the Wood and the Wings with P3 Beast Hide.
12. Wash the Wood and the Wings with a dark brown wash (I used GW's Devlan Mud).
13. The bolts and screws were then basecoated with GW's Boltgun Metal and as soon as they dry add a small highlight of GW's Mithril Silver.
14. The searchlight was done with layers of P3 Sulfuric Yellow, P3 Heartfire, Foundation Macharius Orange and GW's Red Gore (from lighter to darkest). The two smaller lights were done in exactly the same fashion. The little blue lights were done with GW's Ice Blue and GW's Enchanted Blue.
15. The purity seals were done with P3 Menoth White Base for the parchment, and the seal was done in Red Gore (2 coats of Red Gore). Then they were washed with a light brown wash.
16. Now - cover the searchligh and the smaller lights with Gloss Varnish and let them dry.
17. Seal the miniature with normal Varnish from a can.
18. Then, I used SIN Industries (MIG) Tan Filter to unify the three greens on the Rhino. I covered the Rhino with the Filter, in some areas making it more intense to show how the paint reacts to exposure to the sun. In general, two good coats will do.
19. The areas previously painted in VMC German Grey and Luftwaffe were then filtered with the Blue for Panzer Grey Filter.
20. Deepest recesses were done with MIG Dark Wash.
21. Then, I let it all dry, for about 30 minutes (Filters and MIG washes are enamel based so make sure to let them dry, try to apply them to a varnished surface, and of course work in a well ventilated area).
22. Now I took the MIG Pigments - in this case Vietnam Earth and Track Brown.
23. The deepest areas in the tracks were covered with a bit of Track Brown pigment and fixed with MIG Pigment Fixer (let it dry for about 20 minutes).
24. All openings, crevices, armour folds, and areas that would collect mud / dust were covered with light coats of Vietnam Earth and then fixed with the Pigment Fixer.

... more coming in the next post...

[Powerslave]

Now, let's take a look at the Imperial Fists' Rhino:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3743/img0614q.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img0614q.jpg/)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3548/img0607ylt.th.jpg (http://img220.imageshack.us/i/img0607ylt.jpg/)

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3690/img0610sg.th.jpg (http://img98.imageshack.us/i/img0610sg.jpg/)

http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/1314/img0605.th.jpg (http://img267.imageshack.us/i/img0605.jpg/)

Here, I used my left over GW Yellow paints and then threw them away. This one took me less time than the Raptors' Rhino - because this one involved less weathering (but it took ages to dry). So, here is the detailed step by step guide (last time I am using this paint system, as I am now using only P3 and VMC paints):

1. Prime the Rhino White.
2. Basecoat the Rhino with Foundation Iyanden Darksun.
3. The Imperial Fists symbols are basecoated with Foundation Fenris Grey.
4. The Tracks were done with VMC Dark Grey.
5. Basecoat the metallic areas with GW's Boltgun Metal.
6. All the golden areas were then basecoated with GW's Dwarven Bronze.
7. The IF symbols were washed with GW's Azurmen Blue, then highlighted with Shadow 8. Grey, and the golden lines were then painted with GW's Burnished Gold.
9. The armour of the tank was Highlighted with GW's Golden Yellow.
10. Then the Rhino was washed with GW's Gryphonne Sephia.
11. Extreme highlights were done with GW's Sunburst Yellow.
12. Golden eagles and all areas were washed with GW's Devlan Mud and then highlighted with GW's Shining Gold.
13. The antena and the smoke launchers were done with Foudnation Adeptus Grey, then highlighted with GW's Codex Grey and washed with GW's Badab Black.
14. The parchments and seals were done in the same way as on the Raptors' Rhino (see the above description).
15. The red shoulder was done with Foundation Mechrite Red and highlighted with Red Gore.
16. Varnish everything.
17. Now, make a mix of brown oil paint (I use Abteilung oils), dry Track Brown MIG Pigment and some gloss varnish at a ratio of about 2 : 4 : 1 and apply it to your tracks and to the areas that you want covered in mud (use an old brush). Seal it with the Pigment Fixer. Also, in some areas, add MIG Dry Mud where you want to show that the mud began to dry, and add some MIG Standard Rust in certain metallic parts that have been in opposition to the elements.

I hope this was of interest to you all - and once again - I am looking for feedback and criticism. All comments are welcome.

[person person]

Awesome