Painting Checkers

Painting Checkers

I just wanted to go through my process for painting the checker pattern for my Orks.  There might be some other Ork players out there that haven't given this a go.  It's dead simple and it can really set off a model.  Here we go then.

1.  Base the area that you want checks in a very light grey.  Don't go full white as it looks a bit too bright and white typically covers poorly.  If you want full-on white, you still want to build up from a light grey.  If you have an airbrush, use it here after masking off the area you want using the proper low-tack tape. If not, then just use thin layers to build up coverage such that it stays relatively smooth.

2.  Using a pencil, very lightly sketch out a grid pattern on the light grey/white area.  This doesn't need to be laser precise as this will just be a guide for you.  If you can use panels lines like I have in the following picture to help guide your grid, it makes things much easier.

 3. Using straight black or black mixed with dark grey (50/50) you can start to fill in the squares.  I usually start by painting the outline of the square, then fill in.  Paint consistency is very important here.  Thin is good, but if you go too thin, you lose control of your paint.  I would recommend practicing a small square before applying the dark color to the model.

4. Clean-up the checks by using either the light grey or the black to even out the boxes.  Don't become too concerned about perfection here.  Just get them such that at arms length they look acceptable.  The more time you spend in this last step, the better they can look, but remember to take a break and look at the model at normal viewing range from time to time.  Often times we focus on the details of things that disappear completely when you pull your head back from the model.

5. (Optional) Use a sepia wash to dirty up the checks, dulling the white.  This helps tie the pattern back into the model.  Weathering the checks is another great option.  You can use a medium grey shade to show chipped paint or even just the base coat of the rest of the model.  Apply these colors using a bit of sponge to achieve an irregular pattern.

That's it.  Nothing fancy but this looks great on the table.  If you have an airbrush you can also mask off the white squares and spray black over the strip.  This gives a very precise look, but not everyone has access to an airbrush so I wanted to go through the steps assuming you didn't.  If you have any questions, just post below.

Ork Blitza Bommer WIP

The Ork Blitza Bommer

     I've had this model rattling around in a box for quite some time.  It occurred to me that it would provide a perfect test bed for some weathering techniques I'd like to try.  The Forge World Modeling Masterclass Vol. 1 has a ton of great techniques and I've purchased some supplies to give them a go.  The picture above shows the model pre-weathering, so I'll update when I've completed the next step.  The pilot and the tail gunner were finished some time ago.  Here are some close-ups of those:

 Pilot sporting a fine leather flight helmet

Grot tail gunner with a big "flash" gun sight

Thoughts on the Model

     The Ork flyer was a bit of a shocker when it was released some years ago.  The shock was not that they released a new kit for my beloved Orks, but that the kit looked better than the Ork flyers that were already on offer from Forge World.  Exhibit A:

Fact: Not as cool!

     The Ork flyer kit that GW released contains a good amount of options.  Enough that you could make at least three variations of each of the three unit types.  I choose the Blitza Bommer not because it seems the best, but because it has a wacky "roll to see what crazy thing happens" table for bombing targets.  I also liked the over-sized bombs it gets to carry.  I'll be saving those to paint last.

A Brush With Destiny: Sam's Introduction

Painting's my Game!

     Howdy folks!  My name is Sam.  I've been involved in table top gaming for almost four years.  Compared to the numerous veterans out there, that might not seem impressive.  It's not meant to be.  I just want to establish a frame of reference for what brought me here.  I play 40K (Space Marines, Blood Angels, Orks, Grey Knights, and Imperial Guard), dabbled in Firestorm Armada (Dindrenzi, and Aquans), and I'm looking forward to trying a few new games very soon (Warmachine, Infinity, and Relic Knights).  I've participated in exactly one (1) tournament (I did win it though) and a couple painting competitions (did very well in those) and I've become a huge fan of miniatures gaming.  I run a blog currently called Painting in Space, and there I chronicle my hobby achievements and sometimes I share some of my gaming experiences as well.

My first completed model on the left, and one of my latest completed models on the right

Where did I come from, where did I go?

     I was introduced to Warhammer 40K through the popular Dawn of War computer games series produced by Relic and published by THQ.  Specifically it was Dawn of War 2 that set the hook.  My initial interest was specifically set on the painting side of the hobby.

     I didn't have the amount of money required to jump into the game with both feet, and I didn't know if it was even something I would be interested in.  I purchased the Assault on Black Reach painting set.  This set had six horrible paints, one sub-par brush, and five finger-fit Bolter Space Marine models.  I diligently painted them up and felt pretty good.  I knew then what I must do: PAINT!

Let's Paint!

What do I bring to the table?

     What I hope to bring to you are bits of practical painting advice.  I've been working on improving my fundamental painting techniques, and I believe that these are techniques that almost anyone with a passing skill with a brush can emulate.  I hope to bring tutorials, tips, and spot light features on techniques that can improve your miniatures.

     I hope to help others get started in the hobby, expand their abilities and get the most enjoyment out of their investment into their miniatures.

We are the Dice Gods

The Dice Gods are coming!

     Some say they aren't real.  Some say it's all about averages.  It takes those that live beyond the averages to know, in their hearts, that the Dice Gods are real.  The twists of fate favor the bold, but just as quickly they can teach a memorable lesson in humility.

What are we about?

     Greetings dear readers!  You've found The Dice Gods.  The current list of contributors includes Kris, Sam, and Ash.  All three of us aim to deliver content pertaining to table top war gaming.  We'll likely focus on 40K but we're all about trying out various games within the same arena as the Games Workshop monster.  The list of other games includes Warmachine, Hordes, Firestorm Armada, Battletech, and Infinity. That's not all, we intend to mix in some other games that people in the traditional war gaming community might not either be accustomed to or haven't had table time with like Heroclix, Super Dungeon Explore, and many other yet unnamed games.  We're going to try and expand what people might consider for their own tables.  This is a glorious time to be in table top gaming.  Numerous companies are out there with innovative new games, amazing models, and it's ripe for exploration.

What makes you different?

     What we will start with, here on this blog, is a simple editorials, reviews, or tutorials that might be thought provoking, insightful, or useful.  Eventually we have plans to expand to video battle reports, podcasts, and much more.  We want to improve on what has been done before.  We'd all like to build the community up, looking for the positive angles, and seeking to focus on the entertainment factor of these games.  We play because it's fun, not because we want nothing more to win at a game of toy soldiers.  We want something with more meat on the bones.  That means narrative games, expansive campaigns, and just general alternatives from the "out of the box" games.  We hope that you'll join us and help us along the way, because your feedback, your input makes a difference.  Should you choose to, we can turn your efforts into something bigger that gives back to the whole community.

Stay tuned...