Wick Paints 54mm!

[Alyster Wick]

Those of you who have been around a while (going back to the old Clave) may be loosely aware that I half-finish minis (or at least I used to) at a prodigious rate. The amount of almost-there pieces I've converted is ridiculous and shameful.

But I'm trying to turn that around. This thread will be devoted purely to painting all the damn minis I've converted over the past 10 or so years. On a happy note, less than 36 hours after I started painting, let me present the first in a (hopefully) long line of 100% completely painted miniatures.



This fellow is Roland Marvel. He's a former street-scum turned indentured guardsmen turned muscle for a gun running operation who finally found is calling as a [title redacted until New Character Class article Dapper and I (mostly Dapper) have been working on for two years gets finished].

Upperhive nobles pay him a handsome fee to escort their hedonistic children around the lower hive for thrills. I hope the color scheme does justice to this concept.

On a more technical note, it's been about three years since I actually finished a mini. While the paint job could have been better at certain stages I'm really trying to stretch myself to try new technique or refine old ones. Overall I'm thrilled with how he came out and I'm pumped to put the things I learned painting him to good use on the slew of unpainted/half-painted models I have littering my "office" (also known as the place I put things that would cause my fiance to call off the wedding).

Cheers to completing projects!

[Heroka Vendile]

Very nice model and paintjob.

But you'd think a man who escorts the rich around the lower parts of a hive would have a firearm on his person at all times surely?

[DapperAnarchist]

I can respond to that! He carries concealed weapons for the most part, ones that divebar bouncers won't notice, or that are befitting of the companion of a noble son.

[Alyster Wick]

But you'd think a man who escorts the rich around the lower parts of a hive would have a firearm on his person at all times surely?

First, Dapper is correct, he prefers concealed weapons.

By way of a more details explanation, Marvel was pressed into the local PDF for a few years (not IG, I was typing without thinking). During that time he made some good connections. Other members of the squad were criminals (like him) who left the service with military training and an enterprising spirit. Others took part in more "legitimate" underhive businesses while still others went into the arbites.

These connections gave him the ability to procure and distribute surplus fire arms and occasionally the more specialized piece of equipment. As time went by he made inroads with more wealthy buyers who were looking to supply their own personal security forces. In the process of these exchanges he gain access to some higher-shelf items including a digi-las ring.

Long story, I know, but there needs to be a good reason for him to have a piece of kit like that. There are some other surprises financed by the family of one of his protectees.

Aside from this, he counts on his reputation to keep his charges safe. Marvel built up a reputation for himself over a few decades and he generally sticks to parts of the hive that he knows and where he's known.

Anyway, on to a new piece. Obviously I have some more work to do but I wanted to get people's opinion. I had planned to do an additional round of highlights on his coat but I'm pretty happy with how it is. That said, while it's "good enough" I'm not sure if it pops. Do people think an additional highlight is necessary?

[Inquisitor Dionzi]

Wow! What are the bitz 'n' gubbinz on the second mini? The paint job is looking really nice! The one thing I might suggest is to figure out where the metal parts would take the most wear, and to highlight up in those locations: worn metal is effectively polished, after all. As it stands, it sort of looks like his bionics and weapon (autogun?) are coated in a petroleum grease....

The lower part of his coat looks a bit shiny - like you used a wash - so I'd suggest dulling it down a bit, say, with a dry-brush layer or two. The chest-piece looks like worn leather, which is great! As a thought, you may also want to put some red on the right side of the model (his right, not stage right), so left-and-right are a bit more balanced, colour-wise.

Frankly, I wouldn't mind a copy of your #2 mini in my own band....

[Radu Lykan]

i used to have a link so i could buy that model one day but cant seem to find it, any one help?
nice job on the painting, looks like he has been out in the field for a while, maybe a back pack to add to this?

[Alyster Wick]

Wow! What are the bitz 'n' gubbinz on the second mini? [...]

Frankly, I wouldn't mind a copy of your #2 mini in my own band....

It the Damnation Inquisitor. Here he is on CMON. I bought mine off of ebay, wouldn't be surprised if there are a couple bouncing around out there. At least one other Claver has bought the model.

I've gotta say, at $25 the thing is great. You don't get all the useful gubbins that a GW or other mini might have but it wonderfully caste and very well detailed. As someone who is struggling with large blank spaces on coats the detail on the duster is fantastic and a joy to paint.

@Radu: Why didn't I think of a backpack? Damn, that would have been great. At this point I'm pretty happy with how he turned out and I like some of the (mundane as they may be) details on the back of the coat so I'm going to leave him as it. Still, I've had a 54mm IG backpack kicking around my bitz box for a few years and this would have been the perfect model for it.

Speaking of all that, the paintjob is done...for now. I like your suggestion Dionzi of lightening up certain regions but I'm not sure I want to risk it as I'm rather happy with him right now. Once I get a little more practice in with weathering techniques on some 28mm bases I may revisit and add some mud to the boots and coat as he is well traveled.

Other changes I'm considering:

I'm up in the air about adding more formal text to his edict at the moment. Right now it looks like it's faded almost to the point of illegibility and I really like the idea of him wandering the desert wastes saying, "You there, you're in violation of section five part two of the Imperial code!" while the offender looks quizzically at an unreadable document.

Also, I'd really like to add some red to the shotgun. My fear is that it will look to similar to the red wax seal currently on it.

In my more ambitious moments I want to remove the metal stock and give him a nice wood grain one, but I'll wait until my hand gets steadier. I've been remarkably consistent at getting in 3 or more painting sessions a week and the quality has been improving so as my skill builds I'll revisit these guys for touch ups.

And now the pictures!



Back (it's subtle but I'm really happy with the gore here)

Leftish

Rightish