RC's WIP - Azog's Hunters (Tale Of X Painters)

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2014 1:29 pm

Before we get started, my utmost apologies to anyone who was expecting some form of awesome Diorama project based on the title of the thread.

I have very unexpectedly rejoined the hobby after a pulse-buy like decision to jump back into it all.

Having recently delved into my pockets once again, I now have all the gear to get going again (courtesy of Element Games who I thoroughly recommend). Unfortunately I ditched everything when I got out of the hobby two years ago so my shopping list implies I am a starter...

Paint Station, Hobby Starter Set, Layer Paint Set, Shade Paint Set, Fine Detail Brush, Small Drybrush, Standard Brush, Stippling Brush, 2 Water Pots, Paint Palettes, Mould Line Remover, File Set, Super Glue, Plastic Glue, Chaos Black Primer Spray and... Hunter Orcs on Fell Wargs

I'm going to be assembling and painting an Azog's Hunters army over the next year for the Tale Of 'X' Painters (viewtopic.php?f=96&t=29538) and this thread will follow that project along with any other random side projects I decide to take on.

On my list of wants for the army still to purchase are... 24 Hunter Orcs, 12 Gundabad Orcs (6 spear, 6 sword and shield), Azog, Bolg, Yazneg, Gundabad Orc Captains. That's my short-term list at least.

Hopefully I'll get started on the mounted Hunters this weekend as I intend to enter one into this months painting challenge. Until then, here is the last miniature I completed over 2 years ago for nostalgia's sake...

Another goal of mine with this re-entry to the hobby is to really further my painting skills. As you can see from Lurtz I have a lot of areas I can improve in and my key focus will be highlighting and getting these smoother while still adding more intermediate layers. Fortunately I was going for a somewhat dirtied look with Lurtz anyway, but I'm well aware it's a technique I need practice with.

Thank you for listening to me ramble on if you have made it this far, I hope you are able to follow me in this new hobbying journey. If you would like to do something similar over the next year, get signed up to the Tale Of 'X' Painters now...

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:24 pm

Welcome back to the hobby and may your re entry be fruitful.
Looking at Lurtz I can see you have made a good start and my thoughts for improvement would be to concentrate on glazing. Using this technique will help create the smooth transitions you are after. Some warm and cold colour theory will also help.
I can try to help you with these if you wish but I warn that when you go down the glazing line then progress does slow, however it is worth it.
I am fortunate that I have been getting some advice from painters that are definitely among the best in the country which has helped push my painting forward. I just need to spend more time developing my skills.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:35 pm

Glazing is definitely a technique I need to start exploring, sooner or later. I've often avoided glazing and blending for one reason or another but I'm keen to get away from this train of thought and push myself to improve. As a result, any advice you have to offer is much appreciated.

Whilst we are on glazing, what is your opinion of the Citadel Glaze paint line, if you have tried and tested them? As I'm just getting back into this I am unfamiliar with them and wanted to ask how useful they are for such techniques. Is the formula different to the Base and Layer ranges or simply the colour?

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:05 pm

I don't use specific glazes like the GW ones. I have a mixture of Paints GW Vallejo and Scale 75 and I simply water each colour down to create a glaze. I sometimes use a glaze medium, particularly with metallics to keep the pigments together.
Using a glaze is about the application, paint thickness and quantity and the direction of stroke. So when you look at it that way why buy specific paints when your general line has multiple uses from base coats through to glazes.
The only advantage I see is they will be watered to the same consistency, so from that point of view they could have an advantage for the starter.

PowerofWill · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 4:16 am

Good to see that you're back! Lurtz looks good, especially considering how long it's been.
As for the citadel glazes, I've used them a few times, but like Gandalf the Grey said, there's really no point in buying them since you can use pretty much any paint you want for a glaze. Plus, you still have to water them down for them to work properly, otherwise they're more like a wash.
Hope that helps

-PoW

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 11:59 am

That's great thanks both of you. I expected that to be the case looking at all the new ranges but thought I'd seek clarification from those with more knowledge than me. I'll get practicing on some cheap old plastics soon.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Sat Oct 11, 2014 12:36 pm

Let me know before you start and I will let you know about how to apply glazes.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2014 12:51 pm

Thanks Gandlaf.

Harfoot · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:04 pm

Welcome back, look forward to seeing your work.
Like your "take of Xpainters " thread, just thinking if I will commit, I paint a lot but not just LOTR minis. Will non GW minis that fit into the Tolkien Middle Earth be allowed?

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2014 5:24 pm

They'll be allowed of course Harfoot

Harfoot · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2014 6:34 pm

Thanks Red C, i just entered.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:07 pm

Great stuff

turwaitheon · **Posted:** Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:14 pm

Good luck with your journey!

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2014 12:32 pm

I'll be getting started on the Hunter Orcs this evening in terms of assembly. I've also spent some more money investing in a few more tools, paints and some basing materials to brighten up the bases. Whilst they are Hunter Orcs and the aim will be to have them looking somewhat dark, I have opted to go for brighter 'summery' basing materials in an attempt to contrast with this. The first completed model will tell if this was a good decision or not...

I'll post an army list shortly once I've totted up points etc.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Tue Oct 14, 2014 3:47 pm

The first thing about glazing is the paint thickness, this guide explains it perfectly
http://www.reapermini.com/Thecraft/15
Getting this part right is one to practice and helps no end.
Now how much paint on the brush. Virtually none, wipe off all excess so the paint dries as the stroke finishes. You can see it do this as your stroke finishes and you will see the slightest chage in colour. You hen know your heading in the right direction.
Now for the stroke, use the flat of the brush and push a light colour from dark to the light area. This will gather the pigment I. The lightest spot and start to creat the highlight and the blend.
Use vice versa for a dark colour to create a shade.
Now it's simply practice practice practice.
This shows you what you can achieve
http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/sho ... IP/page113
The Gandalf has been achieved from a dark base coat and then multiple glazes to achieve this affect. Very time consuming but very effective.
Hope this gets you started.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 12:27 am

Well that's me done for the night. Lighting is very poor at this late hour so I'll get some better photographs in the morning sun tomorrow. Not too bad so far seeing as it's my first use of a brush in such a long time but as always plenty of room for improvement. I'm sure I'll get back into the swing of things soon.

JamesR · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 3:22 am

It looks quite good. You'll have master pieces cranking out in no time

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 8:16 am

Thanks James, very kind of you.

I've taken some better photos and made a little more progress. Not sure where to go with the armour yet. It needs some tidying up (left hand shoulder pad I'm looking at you) but after that unsure as of yet what else to do. Some more shading I think is in order but I'd like your views on this also, I just feel it looks too clean for an orc as it stands. Thoughts?

Note the mold line on the head on the second photo is actually just a thistle of a brush, I only noticed it once I uploaded the pictures. Oops.

Gandlaf the Grey · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:08 am

If would want a rusty dirty armour look then add plenty of glazes of dark brown, reds, bright orange on the lighter sides.
We're you want shade use purple, blue, green and black in the darkest points then you can push the armour to something like what I've done below.

Look at the glazing advice above and that is how to apply this.

Red Corsairs · **Posted:** Wed Oct 15, 2014 11:14 am

I'll give it a go, thanks Gandlaf.

RC's WIP - Azog's Hunters (Tale Of X Painters)

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