Originally, I'd planned to avoid the standard GW Raven Guard color scheme for veterans that uses all white arms and heads. I wasn't a huge fan of it, because I felt that pure white was a poor choice for stealth-oriented troopers. I decided to go with white decorations and pad rims instead.
After looking at the above Marines, I'm rethinking my plan. At this point, they look very odd to me. The scattered patches of white feel like they frame the black too much, especially on the shoulder pads. I selected fancy pads that had both open, flat areas to which to apply Chapter symbol decals, but that also provided white decoration. It's just not working out. I also selected helmeted heads that contained some sort of brow decoration that I could paint white while leaving the main helm black. Again, it looks really odd.
I'm not sure how to fix these guys. My first thought was to rip all the heads off if I can and paint them full white. But I think I'd still be left with the "picture frame" problem of the shoulder pads. So, perhaps solid white pads instead.
What do you readers think? White helmets with silver brow details, or black details? Solid white pads, or white pads with black details? The only thing that is off the table are solid white arms. Keep in mind that the jump packs will be attached eventually, adding more black behind the heads, with silver in the intake grilles.
Hmmm. I think the only way you will get away from the framing you don't like is to paint the shoulders solid white. I wonder how doing the shoulder insets metallic would look, and leaving the trim white? Probably odd.
ReplyDeleteThe whole inset, or just the decorative bits?
DeleteThe whole inset. Just replace your black on the shoulders with a metallic. Might work, might look like hell, hard to say.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try it out. The models are annoying me right now, so worst thing that happens is they get the Simple Green dip afterwards.
DeleteIt looked odd. I ended up painting the full pad and helmets white, but will cut back in with black on the decorative parts. Basically, the GW scheme sans white arms.
DeleteThe issue is that the veteran kits are so ornate due to their veteran status, that it makes the model look very striking no matter how you paint them, unless you paint the details flat black. This is probably why a lot of Raven Guard art and the FW style has them use very plain armor.
ReplyDeleteI would look to addressing the "bling" color issue to correct this problem. I'm willing to bet a simple gold for the details will help undo a lot of the glaring spots of white. Just take a look at GW's VV example on their website (but ignore those white arms you didn't want). They still look very black and stealthy even with some gold bling.
Just a thought.
That makes sense. I know the sergeants legs with the little insets threw me off color wise, and all of the models are very fancy.
DeleteI think changing some of the decorative parts to silver and/or good will work nicely. I may avoid the Vanguard kit for future squads, at least until all the weapon bits are gone from this one.
I'd do the white helms to mark them as vets and leave out the shoulder pad trim as black. I think your better off making the helm really pop, and white would do that. Then downplay the body for "stealth" gives the eyes somethings to focus on.
ReplyDeleteI ended up with white helmets and pads, with black and silver decorative bits. Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of it. They look like Death Spectres. But I'm powering through just to have the squad done. I'm getting sick of them already!
DeleteThe next squad of veterans (Sternguard) will be less decorated in their armor, and therefore only have white helmets and crux terminati. Everything else will be black.