MEGC Painting 101: Hormagaunts

As many a gamer has experienced, painting your army can be a tedious and daunting task!

Whether it is the 40k hordes of Space Orks or Tyranid Swarms, to the masses of Skaven Clan Rats or Goblin Fanatics of Warhammer Fantasy, painting handfuls of models can take a lot less time and effort than it may seem. Lano from the Miniature Empire Staff team has set himself the challenge of painting 60 Tyranid Hormagaunts in little time as possible and to a good detail.  

Introduction

Hi guys, Lano here from Miniature Empire!  Many people within the gaming club and the store knows me to be very particular when it comes to painting models, and the quality that I like to present on the table top!  

So when people hear that my main army is a 8000pt a Tyranid army, they ask me how j have the patience and dedication to paint so many miniatures. 

The answer to be frank, is that I don't, whenever I have huge group to do, I take a step back and question whether I am capable of doing it at that present moment.  Along side my tyranids I have other armies from other systems, I firmly believe that to keep the painting "mojo", you have to keep yourself entertained with many different projects!

If I had to paint the same colour scheme again and again, I'd get bored and lose interest. I find that this is a situation many painters find themselves in, and it is very easily avoided!

Now, to the task at hand, these 60 Tyranid Hormagaunts!

Step 1 - Priming and Basecoat - 1hr

Common knowledge between painters is that the Basecoat is a vital foundation for good paint jobs. My basic colour scheme for Tyranids is red and bone coloured chitin, but with the arrival I've decided that a new Variant Strain colour scheme would be used, opting for a more basic look, I've decided pure red would give them a more organic look, and I would then concentrate on the highlighting to bring the model to life.

I've used Army Painter Pure Red spray, two even coats, and 30min to dry. 

Army Painter do a vast range of coloured primer cans. Unlike the Games Workshop rubbish, you don't need a base coat of white or black. These cans come ready to spray and can be directly applied to bare plastic!

Finding the right colour can save you ALOT of time.

Step 2 - Washes - 1hr 10min

Nothing fancy here. Games workshop, while their models are horrendously over priced, do a very good selection of paints  and washes. They may not be able to compete with Vajelo but they still have a case. In particular, I am really impressed with their washes range, the colours they provide allow for very easy shading and time efficient!

In the case of all our Hormagaunts, I applied Nuln Oil. 

Step 3 - Dry Brushing - 1hr 40min

When it comes to doing batch highlighting, I believe that dry rushing is the most time wise.  Depending on the degree of your dry brushing, you can very easily create a heavy highlight, or a very light one.  

In terms of our models, I applied 3 different brushes. 

First in Khorne Red, secondly in Evil Sunz Scarlet, then finally in Wild Rider Red!

Three brushes might seem over the top, but using the darker reds first in a heavy brush, the working my way lighter with softer appliances let me highlight quickly! 

Step 3 - Chitin - 2hr 15min

Yet again, nothing fancy here, 50/50 Evil Suns Scarlett and Lamian Medium, followed by 50/50 Troll Slayer Orange/Lamian Medium, and finally 50/50 Fire Bright Orange/Lamian Medium.

After a days work, this is as far as I got, hopefully in my next shift at work, I will get these guys finished. 

There is not much left to do.

Total time so far: 6hr 05min

The Tale of Four Gamers: Like A Bull in a Jungle Shop (Part 3)

As the two armies sized each other up, both generals gazed upon the marvellous golden pyramid.

The ogres thought of nothing but plunder and riches, the lizards of nothing except protection and duty.

With the cry of a local smaller gecko, both armies began the advance.

Gautam's ogres decided to blitz one side of the temple, where Lano's Lizards decided to split their forces, the Saurus warriors would try to hold the blunt of the attack, while the skinks flank, and the Ripperdactyls advanced through the trees!

After Lizard's first turn of movement, the skinks on the right hand side of the temple make good progress,

...while the Skink Skirmishers with Javelins take refuge upon the temple.

Very quickly, things start to get messy, the Saurus warriors get an Alpha strike on the Irongutz and force them to break!  The Ripperdactyls successfully manage to get a charge against the lonely Firebelly...

To which the Firebelly did no take kindly, and breathed fire all over the Ripperdactyls!  Leaving one behind! Lucky that Lano posed it in such way, he firmly believes it helped him!

Having crashed through the Irongutz, the Saurus warriors over run into the Ogre Bulls and meet them head on!

Where as the fleeing Irongutz are quickly shot down by two units of highly trained skinks.

Needless to say, this battle had been bloody, the Lizardmen held their temple and fended off all the Ogres, with none but the Firebelly escaping! 

It was a good battle in the end, with both learning valuable lessons in this new game. One especially, which taught Gautam that magic is a powerful ally as it it is a foe!