AndyS Mjagnir WIP

[AndyS]

So guys, as I'm painting the Trolls I'm painting this beast too! I'm not breaking any new ground with the Trolls so I thought I'd start this WIP as it should be more interesting!



I attacked him with the airbrush. The armour a mix of VMA cammo black brown and black. The flesh with a mix of Foundry mediterranean flesh shade and VMA cammo black brown. Honestly a little darker than I hoped.

After taking the photo I went over the flesh with Reaper bronzed flesh shade (I think!) but it would not flow properly even when heavilly thinned with VMA thinners. So I had to stop.

Has anyone used Reaper paints in the airbrush before? It seemed like it was drying on the needle.


Cheers!

[AndyS]

Well I solved my Reaper paint problem by thinning with water, thinners and flow extender. Very dilute but at least it goes through the airbrush! Using this method I airbrushed up to Reaper Tanned Flesh light. I'm beginning to gain some confidence and I can just about put the paint where I want it now! Still far for expert, or even competant for that matter.
After this I washed the whole flesh area with very, very dilute VMA cammo black brown and black mix. This was in order to bring out the amazing texture on the skin.
Sorry, no pic of this stage really.
OK, so the flesh of a model this size is quite daunting to me, so I decided to concentrate my efforts on the face to start. Using the Reaper Tanned Flesh triad and also the Pale flesh I highlighted the face.........then went to bed. Unhappy as it looked really washed out and pale! So before work today I added in some Tanned flesh again, some red and some purple. This is where I am right now.





The face is still somewhat pale but it's getting there!

[grefven]

I think it looks good, especially with how the purple shines through.

[AndyP]

I'm liking the skin tone too. Also you asked previously to let you know how I get on with the iwata eclipse hp-cs airbrush I bought and can say it makes thing a lot easier. Not gone into highlighting with it yet but much easier to position the paint where I want it and alter the amount being delivered. Much smoother trigger action. Definitely recommend upgrading from the cheapies.

[AndyS]

Cheers guys. Looks like a new airbrush could be on the Xmas list then!

[darthmarsh]

Andy I think that looks absolutely amazing. I like the pale face to, It helps to give it a otherworldly feel

[AndyP]

How are you finding getting in under his hair? I was of 2 minds to leave it off until after I paint him.

[AndyS]

Andy, I'll let you know when I get round to that bit! I put the hair on as it needed some filling. I didn't want to have to do that after painting the skin.
Still not sure about the pale skin. I'll put another pic up later. Looks a little cartoony. I'll leave it for now and see how the rest turns out!

[AndyP]

I did the same with the hair but I keep looking at it and thinking I may regret it.

[AndyS]

As promissed another couple of pics. The face as of now and the back, showing what I've managed with the airbrush. The back obviously needs a lot of brush work!
I think I have figured out how to improve the face. Some glazes with olive greens and browns. Just to sit the colour somewhere between Troll and Man. But this will wait until the rest of the skin is ready.





More tomorrow......maybe!

[zedmeister]

Daaammmmnnn. Already shaping up nicely.

This gonna be good

[AndyS]

Cheers Zed, truth be told I'm not very happy with it at the moment!I've painted the stomach area and it looks totally different to the head. Probably a bit more how I'd like, but looks dirty some how. Let's hope I can pull it together at the end.

[darthmarsh]

I really like it as it is Andy. The extra details like the lips and teeth really help to pull it all together. He looks ghoulish and incredibly intimidating! good start on the chainmail as well, there's crazy amounts of detail on that thing

[Murderous Monkey]

I have been lurking for some time and (having finally logged on) wanted to say that your Norse inspired me to purchase the faction before the Kickstarter pricing finished. I'm looking forward to seeing how this shapes up over the next few weeks!

[AndyS]

OK, so I have a few new pics. First some more work on the face and skin.



I have added some more brown to the face as it was too bright. I have also begun the stomach, torso and the right hand side of the back. Then I got bored of skin! To continue momentum of the piece I decided to move to other parts of the model.



And that's it for now. I should get the brushes out again tonight! I'm not sure about the patchwork skirt at the moment. That may change.

[JLLongshore]

He gets scarier each update !!

[AndyS]

So I've been splashing some paint around again. I changed the green leather patches as I found them too distracting, replaced them with a slightly different brown.
Painted the arm and leg wrappings, I actually like what I've done with these for a change! Bones are done too!





I still feel there is a long way to go and not much time to get there, still have to re-visit the flesh, start the hammer........not to mention the base!

[Lesrac]

he looks really good.
can't wait for the finished mini

[Quuids]

Incredible work, you are almost convincing me to buy one of these!

[darthmarsh]

He keeps getting better and better. I think you did the right thing with the patchwork, it is less obvious and looks better for it. Can I ask how you do you metals? the Pauldron is brilliant

[AndyS]

For metal I basecoat the whole area with dark brown.
Using an old GW drybrush I 'stipple' everything except the recesses with a dark metal colour (currently whatever the GW replacement for Boltgun metal is called).
Then I get VMC oily steel and 'stipple' stlghtly less area with that. Then repeat with VMC natural steel, then with VAC steel.
Then highlight the edges with VAC steel.
Then add shadows with thinned dark brown and some dark green in places too.
Add rust to taste with Foundry paint systen tan! (thinned of course).

[JLLongshore]

can't really rate or grade him, or comment on him, I just have to look at him.

[Quuids]

So I ordered him, who wants to paint him? Haha I can't do these mini's justice I'm afraid....

[SteamHammer]

Looking beautiful. Odd request but could you post a photo of your stippling brush please?

[razormage]

Looking beautiful. Odd request but could you post a photo of your stippling brush please?

Heh, I went looking for this because I was curious to try some stippling tonight. I found this in his Troll WiP thread:

The technique is too easy! Just get an old drybrush from a well known manufacturer of former greatness. Put on your paint. Wipe a good deal of it off on a cloth. Poke it at the area you want the paint on! I did use a cut off brush with harder bristles on the axe. It makes more definate lines. The old splayed out drybrush was softer so produced a softer effect. A combination of both is good!

I'm guessing the mentioned manufacturer starts with a G and rhymes with Blames Dirkchop.

[AndyS]

Correct!

[AndyP]

Blames Dirkchop

[SteamHammer]

Thanks. Time to chop up an old brush to accompany the splayed drybrushing one I used.

[AndyS]

I'll put the brush pic up at lunchtime!

[AndyS]

Blames Dirkchop, sounds like an 'adult performer'!

[AndyS]

here are my brushes Steamhammer.

[SteamHammer]

Thanks. Will make one of my own and try it out on the next tarvax.

[AndyS]

So another few pics to add to the WIP. Have added the arm! Done more skin and probably some other bits I can't remember. Still so much to do and so little time to do it!






I really should make a start on the base too!

[AndyP]

Looking great as usual. Really like that skin tone. What have you used? Tried your stippling technique on Beowa's metal. Works really well and easy to get the hang of. Nice one

[AndyS]

Glad you're getting on with the stippling Andy. Will Beowa be ready for WAMP?
Flesh wise, since I started using a proper brush it's Reaper Tanned flesh I think. With Fair skin also. These both come as a triad. Red glazes are also Reaper (not actual glazes but paint with glaze medium and water). Can't remember off hand which one so I'll look later.
I'm beginning to like the Reaper paints. They are really matte. No shine at all once dry. Also the blending shows when wet but not so much when dry. So the blends are better than you think!

[razormage]

Just gorgeous, AndyS. It's always a good day when you've got new WiPs. I'm really enjoying the way his hair is greyed up close to the temple and then browns as it goes down its back. Not sure if he's dyeing it, or it's just getting filthy on that back!
I'm hoping to try your stippling out on my Cawrdraig, but right now it's a race to even get the third one finished, much less come back to them! I was surprised by how little your stippling brush was actually splayed; I was expecting something closer to a totally destroyed brush.
That leather is gorgeous.

[AndyS]

Cheers Razor! I thought I'd try and make the hair look like he's getting old. So grey at the roots and his younger hair colour at the ends. Dreadlocks contain lots of old hair which is no longer attached to the scalp but with nowhere to go! The hair is still in progress so will change a little.

[AndyP]

Glad you're getting on with the stippling Andy. Will Beowa be ready for WAMP?

They are both done. Just finishing off the bases now so should be on there by end of the week. Not up to your quality but I'm pretty happy with them. Always room for improvement though

[AndyS]

Looking forward to seeing them Andy.

Yes, always room for improvement!

[AndyS]

Here's the honestly not finished model.



I think I need a face close up added for WAMP. Maybe.

[razormage]

I would also, if you could fit it somewhere, try to get a close up of the details you've got on the metallic shoulder pads. The model is so large that at the distance you've got, a lot of the nice detail painting you've done is lost. I'm loving the way he's turned out, and am now kind of intimidated about painting my own. Maybe I should just stick with draconic stuff for the moment.
[EDIT: Then I actually clicked through and viewed it at 1000px. Please ignore me, for I was ignorant. the details are coming through great.]

[zedmeister]

Lovely piece of work. Definitely need higher res images!

[razormage]

Lovely piece of work. Definitely need higher res images!

Click the thumbnail he put up, and it'll take you to his Photobucket, which has a much higher res (if you click twice to zoom in). I thought the same thing until I realized it.

[AndyS]

click on the magnifyer then view original.

[AndyP]

He looks fantastic. Really well done

[grefven]

Looks totally awesome.

[Mahrdol]

Yes very nice.

[SteamHammer]

He looks awesome and even though mine would never turn out that nice I kind of wish I'd got him now.