Help with Explosions

[Dlatrex]

Hi guys. I have a project that I've been working on wayyyy too long and am currently on the border of scrapping the idea and going into a different direction.

I need some help painting a 'plasma explosion'. More specifically my diorama is featuring a Glaive Encarmie which is being cut in two, and thus rupturing. I tried my hands at sculpting a (poor) gas cloud which is emanating from the two halves of the just-shattered sword, with a couple of flashy points escaping faster. The idea was for it to follow a scheme similar to this:
http://static.environmentalgraffiti.com/sites/default/files/images/explosion-1bcropped_0.img_assist_custom-600x308.jpg

making a lumpy doughnut shape and then using a cold palette instead of a warm one. I tried using whites and blues as base, growing darker the closer to the outside I got, with the final layers and drybrush being greys and blacks. Even though it matches the colors used in the sword I'm not sure it's getting the correct effect.

Is there any recommended reference material for a cool looking sci-fi explosion? Any models which seem to get these cold-explosion effects quite well? All advice welcome!

[euansmith]

Prior to giving up on 40k when 6th Edition came out, I was working on some Angry Marines. I made their jump pack contrails using a mixture of "10 Seconds No More Nails" and "Woodland Scenics: Bushes". Here (http://adeptusiratus.blogspot.co.uk/) is a link to my abandoned work log.

[Brakkart]

Not sure if they make exactly what you are looking for, but Armorcast do a range of Cinematic Effect bits to add character to your mini's, such as muzzle flashes, missiles launching, energy weapon discharges etc. Worth a look:

http://armorcast.com/store/index.php?cPath=100&osCsid=d289ce1568533ae1cac68b172a7cd561

[Frost451]

The coolest explosion effect that I have seen was a dude that used cotton bunched up and spraypainted black. Inside he hid battery powered tea lights. It looked friggen awesome. You could try something similar just put something blue over the light. Also you could get some clear plastic cups and try melting them just enough so they deform. that with a blue a or purple pulsing tea light inside might work quite nice.