First try at NMM... could use some more advice

[ToMaZ]

Hi all,

I'm a metallics fan, but today I've decided it was time to try some NMM. I feel I've been improving a lot lately so I felt confident I've read some tutorials before I started and searched the ugliest mini I could find in my collection... and found the mounted champion of khorne I hate this mini, I have because it was a present

Well, after a little more than an hour, I came up with this. It's quite sloppy when I see it now, but I think for a first try it isn't too bad. Or is it? I still have a lot of rims left on this mini, so a lot of space to practise. And I even have a horse left

Click to see full-sized image

Click to see full-sized image

I took the pictures pretty fast with some bad lighting, but it's the best I can do right now

How do you think it looks? I could really use some pointers to improve painting NMM

Thanx

[Demi_morgana]

You're right - the mini sucks
but seriously I think it looks ok; we have to remember that this icon is pretty small in reality so it should be ok when You finish whole model;

[mahon]

to me it looks good! very shiny, almost radiant

[Corvus]

I think the choice of colors and the blending is okay, but your paint needs to be thinned much more. Or else it's your primer which isn't sprayed on evenly, because the surface doesn't look very smooth

But what bothers me the most is the fact that not all highlights are in the correct place. Usually you paint some sharp highlights on the top edge of the metal surfaces, and then a smooth highlight towards the bottom. So I would have placed the highlight you did on the bottom right corner more towards the bottom left corner. And like I said the highlights on top need to be sharper.

If you have any more questions, then please ask

[mahon]

maybe it's the way he highlighted edges which makes it look 'glowing' with some inner light...

I like it - it has some molten metal look ...

[ToMaZ]

I think the choice of colors and the blending is okay, but your paint needs to be thinned much more. Or else it's your primer which isn't sprayed on evenly, because the surface doesn't look very smooth

I've tried again last night and those results are smoother. I think I've let my paints dry too much while painting it, because normally I use a wet palette and drying retarder, I didn't this time

But what bothers me the most is the fact that not all highlights are in the correct place. Usually you paint some sharp highlights on the top edge of the metal surfaces, and then a smooth highlight towards the bottom. So I would have placed the highlight you did on the bottom right corner more towards the bottom left corner. And like I said the highlights on top need to be sharper.

Ok I'll keep that in mind thanks!

I als tried to paint the sword with nmm.. it didn't go that well still need to figure out how to place the highlights and what colours to use. It looks like cold hard stone instead of cold hard steel. So if anyone has any pointers there I would be happy to hear it.

@ all: thanx for the kind words

[Corvus]

The trick with steel is to start off quite light, I use Vallejo Model Color's Light Grey, and then highlight your way up to white. You can always shade more afterwards. If you start with dark grey, steel will look like stone (been there also )

another question: what kind of primer do you use?

[ToMaZ]

Ok I'll try to start with a lighter grey for the sword. Now it looks like a stone with a sharp edge :s

For primer I use GW chaos black spray. I don't know a store that sells other brands of spray paint. I've tried airbrushing the primer, but it doesn't hold as wel as spray paint.

[Corvus]

Don't use the gw primer: it sucks. It's not really a primer IMO, rather black paint in a spray can.

Have you tried the Broux modelling shop in Hasselt?

[ToMaZ]

I think I know where it is, I've never been there however Is it in the centre, in the shopping area?

I don't like the GW primer either, but it's that or car paint for me right now