Flash! Aaaa-aaaahhh, it annoys everyone of us!

Huge apologies to Queen and their fans for that dreadful pun...

So I got this chap yesterday (pre-ordered a while back).

(Picture courtesy of Games Workshop website)

The thing I've noticed on a lot of the recent metal models is the sheer amount of flash, particularly the threads of metal (which I assume is left over from the injection process), left on the model.  I know flash has always been there, but has there ever been so much as there is now?

Just looking at the parts, I'm dreading trying to get rid of it all, and I  know I'm going to miss a couple and have to remove them post-undercoat.

Also, I really don't like the way they've attached the wings to the metal "sprue" - that's a big chunk of (waste) metal that will have to be removed - I'm not a big fan.  That's also something I've noticed recently - lots of waste metal, and chunky "attachment points".

On a positive note, the miniature looks very nice, plenty of detail and looks like it's going to be fun to paint - he's my favourite of the Blood Angels miniatures, plenty of character and a dynamic pose.  I'm also a big fan of the fact that he's off the ground, it will put him "higher up" than any marines he's with, and help him stand out.

An update, and yes I know it's about damn time...

Finally got some pictures to share, been fairly productive the last couple of weeks, but not really got much finished.  Haldir and the Empire Swordsman are done, pictures of those boys to follow some time soon.  The Eldar Warlock has gone back on the shelf, I just can't get the enthusiasm to carry on with his colour scheme, he may be stripped and started again with...


So pictures of stuff I have finished!


Blood Angels Sergeant
Finally got this chap finished, I'm much happier with the red now, having applied some orange highlights which finally brought the red to life.  I was loathe to go that bright with the highlights, but it certainly has helped - I've only applied the orange to the top edges of the miniature and that seems to have worked.  I didn't think red was that hard to paint, I must just be getting pickier now...

Imperial Guard - Corinium 5th Regiment "The Greenjackets"
This is the model I'm most pleased with, he'll be part of the command squad I bought recently, for an Imperial Guard force I'm working on the background for - an expeditionary force made up of squads from different regiments.  I'm not sure how far this will go, but I'm going to be trying my hand at a little short story writing to go with the army.  I wasn't a big fan of the Vostroyan models initially, but they've really grown on me.

The green came out really well, the yellow contrasts nicely with it and the metalwork looks great.  I wanted this guy to look like he'd come from an "old elite" regiment (as he'll be a veteran), something like the Grenadier Guards.

Progress...

OK, I'm getting pretty bad at this update malarkey - it's been over a week since the last one, so it's time to work on getting myself a bit more...well...regular.

So here goes.

The High Elf champion has been mothballed for a week or two - I'm struggling to work up the enthusiasm to finish him at the moment, so he's going to sit on the side while I work on a couple of other projects.

The Blood Angels Sergeant is done bar the basing:

Not overly happy with the red in the end, I'm going to have to think of a different way of doing it. The current recipe is:

• Scorched Brown
• Scab Red
• Blood Red
• Macharius Solar Orange
• Wash of very thinned Leviathan Purple

It's about the right shade, but the transitions aren't as smooth as I'd like them to be, particularly getting close to the top highlight.  I want a "rustier" red - i.e. more the colour of blood, than GW do their Blood Angels.

Red's a bugger I've decided.

Works In Progress...

OK, no progress tonight, but this is where I got to last night.


First up, Blood Angels Marine Sergeant, the red is pretty much done, apart from the top of the helmet, which is way too dark.

Next up, High Elf Champion, silver metalwork done, and the blue dragon wings on the helm are nearly done, just in need of a top highlight.  I'll be using the same blue colour on the forearms and part of the breastplate.  Next to do is the gold metalwork (filigree?).

Off to the GW store for lunch tomorrow, so these two chaps should have some extra paint added to them...