The Day Job

Sometimes I like to bring a little something from my day job here and have it feed into discussion.

Here’s a quick piece of work I made while sitting noodling around at an open event..

He is a 3D model, sculpted and coloured in ZBrush in about three and a bit hours, I intended to do much more to him, but as always, once I have solved the design problem and “know” what it will look like, unless a client is evolved, i lose the urge to complete the work.

A bit of explanation might be required, If you’re new to the blog, well I teach Games Design. mostly that means teaching students art, computer based art packages, 3D modelling and working with assets in game engines.. as well as teaching the principles of design and of game design.

One of the things I’ve seen a lot of recently is the use of the very technologies I use, being used in my hobby. and its all thanks to 3D printers.

People model and object, print it, and use that as a base for casts, GW now use CAD for a lot of their plastics, and some even say its the future of the industry, or a giant whole where miniature piracy becomes the next big thing.

personally I’m very excited by the possibilities that 3D printing brings up, I use one in my work, but only as part of a ZBrush based character design project.

here’s some student work:

Not very easy to see, the pic is from an event we did for younger students, and of course, I cant use any pictures with people in :)

These small busts, (about the size you would buy an andrea bust or such) were sculpted digitally by students and printed using a powder/resin printer.

The college has ordered a mixed media higher resolution printer for next year!

If anyone is interested in this stuff, I’ll get some better pics of the work during end of year show, and I’m happy to discus/demonstrate this technology and it’s applications further if you are :)

Five more Orks, Please

I knocked these out today. nothing astounding, but a few touches I quite like.

 
I call this fellow “Orkus Fenix” – the second I built that gun I knew I had to give him a do-rag.
I’m also not usually a fan of bloody weapons, but if ever there was a time…..

I did a few tattos on these orks and I must say I’m very pleased with the result of throwing a little more complimentary blue into these Bad Moonz.


And I’m still loving the checks, dags and “flames” these guys like so much.

so there we are, nothing earth-shattering, but it completes the unit.

Now I just need to paint their trukk. still, I might tackle a biker first, then move up :)

Bad Moonz Armour Painting Tutorial Videos

These should have gone up a while ago but I had a few issues. – namely I used “weapon of choice” as the tune, and Youtube spanked me for it and banned the vids, so I had to find some royalty free music, as a result it isn't stunning.
But these Videos have no dialogue on them, so feel free to mute them and use winamp for the tune of your choice :)

This first one is the armour colour itself. these steps would work with any colour.

This technique works for any metal surface. I use it on marines and tanks. sometimes with a highlight on the lower edge.
At the moment of writing these are a bit low resolution, but I believe youtube does that. If there aren't higher res ones available tomorrow I may have to re-upload them.
one last note.
I think I’ve improved this video over the last ones. but ultimately I am making these for you guys to get something from, so if there’s anything you want to see, or want me to try and do differently in the making of them, please let me know.

En Guard!

I know, that’s not how it’s spelled.
First, an apology. It’s been a while since I posted the trukk, but the reason is not much has happened hobby wise.
Work became insane, with end of year marking going ballistic and preparations for the exhibition.
Summer arrived, meaning lots of work in the garden, and much sitting in the sun reading (Ravenor omnibus, worthy of words, but not till I’m done)
Also, Red Dead Redemption arrived. and I’m a big western fan.
I do have a few offerings however from the hobby frontline, and I also seek opinions.
I painted another Ork.


Yeah, only one, but I tried to capture it on film. I am having some issues with my webcam and interference form my desk lamp, so I need to fix that.
anyway I’ll try and get that footage sorted soon.
now, I seek opinions and the title of the post becomes clearer.
If you’ve been reading my blog a while you might remember this guy-
 
 
At the time I painted him I really wasn’t happy, with either the scheme or the terrible job I did on it. I even had trouble photographing him, cursed mini. so I left the guard alone a while as I was at a bit of a loss, but recently I dug out a few minis and tried a few test schemes, only two, but I was looking for some feedback from you for a direction.
the first of the new blood,
 
 
A desert/wasteland feel, on red earth similar to the Orks I’ve been doing, maybe there's some terrain for those in my future.
the second of the new blood,

 
 
A more woodland feel, something like the Action men I had as a child :)
So there you have the two new guys.
I’m looking for some help here, which direction do you prefer? please don't judge on the basis of the paint jobs, these are very quick rough jobs, the Urban/Winter look of the top guy is still in the running even, it’s more about colours, patterns etc, and I’d also love to hear any refinements, you know, “grey guy, but with darker armour” etc. I’ll try a couple out, and by the end of this have both a scheme and a rogues gallery of differently coloured IG I don't know what to do with :)
Anyway I hope that update amused you for a few minutes, and I promise I’ll try to do better :)

Off the production line

Spent a little time modelling this weekend, Got my Trukk finished, built anyway, and primed, so as soon as I’m feeling brave I’ll get stuck in and start on that.
Here’s some pictures of the finished beastie

I wanted it to look well used, and maybe like it was something these guys spent a lot of time in.
I also very much didn't want it to look like the kit :)



I think something about the yellow I plan on using gives me that “afrika korps” feeling and I wanted some of that to be reflected in the trukk.
The observant among you will notice in the background there are some boyz-in-progress. hopefully I’ll finish those off this week and get some pics snapped.
As always, your comments are welcome, and thanks for taking the time to read this.

Waagh-Orks In Progress

I thought I’d share a WiP and the first germ of an Idea with you.
Over the last few days, when I’ve had the time I’ve been chipping away at an Ork Trukk build, the vehicle will accompany the Boyz you’ve seen me painting in the last few posts.
I didn't want to build a vanilla trukk however, as that's exactly what I did with my first one, for the AoBR boyz I Painted as Blood Axes.
Here’s it’s current, (very WiP) state

The structure Is basically complete, enclosed engine bay, four wheels, running boards etc. the back flatbed needs aosme more structural work, maybe a tailgate or some more side plating I’m not sure. and the whole things needs detailing – rivets, bolts straps metal panels and bands etc. maybe even a bodged headlight or two.
the devious plan is however two fold.
building the model this way has enabled me to save a few components.

I believe I might just see the germ of a trike there for my Big Mek.
Once I get this finished up and primed I’ll get some paint on the rest of the Boyz, then its onto the two-wheeled lunatics.

Speed test

Lets open with a group shot.

That’s the current state of the mob.
After a couple of comments in the previous post, I’m getting to a place where I’m very happy with my Orks’ appearance, But I was concerned about speed. clt40k asking how long it would take to paint 100..
Well I wont be painting quite that many, as I’m starting with a 4-600ish contingent to use as a combat patrol and to add to my existing tribe of Blood Axez to make a proppa Orky army.
So, the speed test. I started the day with nothing built, Took two AoBR boyz (they’ve all been AoBR boyz plus bitz) converted them to shoota boyz, including two total shoulder rebuilds with GS, then I set to building a Nob from the new kit. Wicked kit. primed them, and set to painting.
With this first boy I went vanilla, sometime can be difficult to get the normal kit arms to fit an AoBR boy, so I had to build him a new shoulder. this guy didn't get the best paint, but he’s okay.


I decided to try something a little more dynamic with the next one, and looking in the bitz box saw I had a few spare Shoota Magazines.
Hey, Even Orks have to reload sometimes.
This Guys paint pleases me more, and I think I found my rhythm here.


Lastly I tackled the Nob. I know he shouldnt have the Skortcha in a boys mob, but he’ll by Wysywyg enough with the Shoota and it allows me to use him in a Nob mob If I choose. besides, I think it’s silly he cant have a kombi-skortcha :)


There you have it, Three Orks from sprue to finished, in a day. well not an entire day I’ve watched a movie and some TV around meals etc, and I didn't exactly get up early.
I’m fairly confident I can manage a group of 5 from sprue to done in a day with ease.
would they be better if I took longer? probably, but not by much, I’m quite pleased with these guys and count them among some of my best work so far.
But that’s my own, very subjective opinion :)
The rest of the force arrived today so I have the delight of building many new toys. I’ll have to ration myself, so that the mountain of unpainted plastic Doesn't pile too high.
and I have to tackle a build for a Mek on bike/Wazdakka counts as.
Thanks for reading I’m always glad to hear from anyone out there in blogland, so don’t be afraid to comment :)

Further Orksperiments

On reflection, while the original Boy I painted was much more in keeping with GW colours, and in line with the notion of using more colour on an army, I decided it was a little too bright for me, and set out to find a paint scheme and style that I felt I could apply to a whole army and be happy with in a reasonable timeframe.
I present the results of three days of Orksperiments. (if that pun gets too old, let me know)

Now, I know which one I like, but let me talk you through :)

As I said the first boy -

was too bright. In the picture above I’ve taken some steps to tone him down a bit, with more needed. but for all his skintone was off, I quite like his armour and the other colours, or at least the idea of the other colours.
The second boy to receive paint -


Was, I feel, an overreaction on the skin tone front, I went TOO dark. but roughening up the armour really worked for me, and some variation / weathering has helped the overall look a lot I feel.
Onto boy three


I’m quite happy with him. I used a different painting approach for some elements, working over a white primer with the “juices” method for skin, leather, blacks etc and I think it’s given him more depth and variation. I’m not sold on the finish on the trousers, and because I painted him in a frenzy in about 3 hours over white there's some patchyness in places, but overall I’m content.
I’d love to hear what you all think, and I’m happy to be disagreed with, the opinions and perspectives I get from you makes me think more about what I’m doing and ultimately improves both my painting and my army, so thanks :)