My "first" army

[Tetz]

Hey guys, well I posted here showing some pictures of a big mistake I had with my first group of CSMs, but they were also painted with brushes way to big for the models so I got some new brushes and here's my first true painted squad. My biggest issue is the mold lines. I tried to clean them up a bit but as you can tell I obviously either missed that one or didn't do enough.

Let me know your thoughts and obviously ways to improve.

The Skull Champion:
http://www.rawkdesign.com/warhammer/100_1309.jpg

Skull Champion 2:
http://www.rawkdesign.com/warhammer/100_1310.jpg

The squad:
http://www.rawkdesign.com/warhammer/100_1314.jpg

[Mike X]

Looks good to me.

[Kieranator K82]

Looks good to me.

I totally agree. I see no problems at all. Whatsoever. A lot of people I know don't clean up mould lines so you're completely fine.

[Ithmaril]

Concerning the mould lines, I can only make out one, and I've had my own share of that "D'Oh!"-moments while painting, especially with Marines. And your Berzerkers really deliver, I like the tones of red and bronze you picked, and that black is the main armour colour. Keep it up!

[Hairy Piggy]

The red is very nice, how did you get that tone?

[Tarrandus]

Looks great dude :D Love the Champion's claw.

Hairy Piggy, it looks like a darker red, with a black/red wash. Merchite Red-> Baal Red wash would be my guess.

[oni]

Cool. I like the mix of the black and the red armour.

[Tetz]

Looks great dude :D Love the Champion's claw.

Hairy Piggy, it looks like a darker red, with a black/red wash. Merchite Red-> Baal Red wash would be my guess.

Thanks everyone for the feedback, much appreciated! It's been a great experience painting these miniatures. My wife thought I was nuts when I showed her how tiny these guys are.

As far as the red, I use Vallejo paints so it was:

Prime black > Scab Red > Wash with Charred Brown/Scab Red mix > Highlight with Bloody Red.

Could have used a bit more highlights, but I am so picky about my work I am never 100% happy with it.

[HorusReborn]

nice work on the reds man. The entire scheme works so well with this, props to you!!1

[Denzark]

You are absolutely bob on here. The painting I think is vg particularly for first squad. However if you can get the hang of this so easily (lucky b*gger) then no excuse in mould lines - removing them takes far less skill than painting to your abilities!

2 methods - run a sharp bladed craft knife along with the blade angles in a scraping motion (no need to actually trim you run the risk of cutting hunks out) or alternately invest in some decent rat-tailed files and just file along the lines.

Same technique metal or plastic. Glue doesn't go near a model of mine without them gone (although aforementioned posters oops moments do occasionally happen)

[person person]

Love the colour scheme. Nice red too.

[SandWyrm]

Very nice. Didn't even notice the mould lines until you said something. So relax. :)

[Lykum]

Really nice job on the reds. What are you using for the metallics? I am doing my first army right now as well (also Black Legion) and I have been trying out a bunch of different ideas for the bronze. What I ended up liking was a drybrush of bestial brown and dwarven bronze, followed by another drybrush of dwarven bronze, with a light highlight of shining gold. Then I go back and edge around the armor trim with black to clean up the lines.

[Brass Scorpion]

Cool. Great start.

[Tetz]

Really nice job on the reds. What are you using for the metallics? I am doing my first army right now as well (also Black Legion) and I have been trying out a bunch of different ideas for the bronze. What I ended up liking was a drybrush of bestial brown and dwarven bronze, followed by another drybrush of dwarven bronze, with a light highlight of shining gold. Then I go back and edge around the armor trim with black to clean up the lines.

I have made a few improvements to my metals since these guys, but the basics remain the same. I prime in black, then I do two light coats of bronze. Then I do a wash of brown (4 drops brown, 4 drops of acrylic thinner, 3 drops water), this gives a nice dark wash that looks great. I then go back and touch up the bronze with a light coat of bronze, and do some highlights with gold, and maybe a bit of silver.