Warhammer 40K: Rise of Hive Fleet Tiamat

* Updated. See notes at the bottom.

Thanks my buddy joining the Penang Tabletop Group painting challenge, I decided to paint my genestealers in parallel with his daemonettes. While I had some head start since the models were primed some time ago with a few basecoated here and there, I threw in a few additional new models to the mix for a total of 12 Genestealers (Lost Patrol), 1 Tyranid Warrior (a prototype), and 5 Termagants. A total of 2 hours average per day got the whole job done in less than two weeks with a few side test job with my extra Carnifex bits from the earlier Old One Eye model which I did last year.

Also, I just got myself a cheap collapsible lightbox from Lazada that just arrived today. Still need to find the right setting for the camera to get optimum images. They are currently a little blur/blue on display which means, more trial and error for me.

Genestealers

Sample of the newly painted genestealers

A throwback of the first genestalers I did for Death Angels card game

Side by side comparison between the old and new

2nd Shot of older models from a slightly higher angle

Same as above, straight angle

2nd shot of newer models at higher angle

Same as above, straight angle

Termagants

Side by side comparison of the last test models and the recent model. Left is new

I grabbed myself a box of the snap fit Termagants for testing, not knowing that I already did a test paint with surprisingly almost identical scheme here. The only major difference between the old and new is the blue lining on the carapace. The previous model was mostly done via drybrushing, which resulted in a much fader design compared to layering as seen above.

2nd Shot of both old and new paint job

Tyranid Warrior

Tyranid Warrior with venom cannon

2nd shot

This model became the primary test model to how the other units will look like under the same scheme as the Genestealers above. Glad to say, it worked and will now be using this as a basis.

The paint scheme used are based on weekly White Dwarf issue 33 with the Space Hulk Cover
Prime/Basecoat - Abbadon Black
Carapace Layer - Stegadon Scale Green
Carapace Edge Highlight/Carapace pattern - Temple Guard Blue

Flesh basecoat - Daemonette Hide
Flesh Layer - Genestealer Purple
Flesh Edge/Highlight - Pallid Wych Flesh

Weapons Basecoat - Bugman's Glow
Weapons Wash - Druchii Violet
Weapons Layer - Cadian Fleshtone
Weapons Edge - Pallid Wych Flesh

* I decided to run some test on the phone camera settings to find out the best result I can get since I was not happy with the blue tint which resulted in the earlier images. The results are those marked as 2nd shot as above.

Just to note the settings I used:
Metering modes - Spot
White Balance - Cloudy
Exposure Value - +1 as baseline for shots. Adjust accordingly
ISO - Auto (probably a 100 based on tests done earlier)

Warhammer 40K: Space Hulk - Genestealers

Been going full steam over the evenings lately with my tyranids.

Completed the Space Hulk genestealers recently. All 22 genestealers and broodlord.

The swarm ready

The broodlord

The broodlord was actually completed a few days ago right after Raya. Added some additional touch up on the termie helmets on his hand and in the pile, which shows below as the helmets are a little darker.

Added extra base to match with the terminators for the Death Angels Card game.

Spawn of Cryptus

Added the Spawn of Cryptus model to my Tyranid army as per previous post with Old One Eye. Decided the broodlord will have a simple sand base with some splotches of purple goo. Later models may have more elaborated bases as I get used to using Spackle for sculpting bases.

Termagants done!

Close up on 1

Also completed were the 4 spare termagants which I set aside for some time for a test to see how the rest of the hive would look like. Carapace and chitin is good so far. The only ones looking odd is the weapons. I will be using the left over parts from the carnifex as a test to see how the current scheme of fleshtone (as per Invasion Swarms: Tyranid Painting Guide) suggested for the Nephilim King Hive.

Warhammer 40K: A little touch up

Finally had a chance to do a little touch up on the last few models.

Farsight Enclave Commander Sha'Vastos and Commander Bravestorm

 

 

Painted the gold part on the sides of the jet packs and added at the back since it looked quite empty.

Necron Illuminator Szeras

After touch up

Before touch up

I did not have any pictures at the back of the miniature until I came across them in Games Workshop (in the old layout)

Tyranid Hive Fleet Tiamat

 

Finally, after ages of being left aside, I decided to look back into Tiamat's scheme for my Tyranid army. Wira was out of Hive Tyrants which was the unit I intended to use as the basis for the fleet colours. Might as well go small.

Warhammer 40K: Tyranid Termagants Part 5 - Paint Stripping

Over the last two weeks after finishing the first batch of Termies, I decided to redo the Termagants as I was not happy with the quality done in an attempt to recreate Hive Fleet Tiamat.

There were quite a few methods available online via YouTube and also suggestions in various forums.

I finally decided to work with a recommendation from a local wargaming forum (War Gamers Malaysia) and from a new shop that opened in the neighborhood (Wira Games Hobbies) to use Dettol. I almost went with brake fluids if not for the fact that brake fluids are much more hazardous than Dettol (and cheaper).

Some rules to remember if you are stripping with Dettol.
1. Work in a ventilated area unless you and the people around you can stand the Dettol fumes. (I was not bothered by it. My wife was)
2. Wear gloves. The paint is sort of "melted" and will stick on your hands. I had the unfortunate experience of wire brushing my hand for a while.
3. Most importantly, DO NOT WASH WITH WATER until you are done stripping them entirely. It takes a few hours soak to get the paint loose enough for you to brush it off. However, everything will be undone if you rinse it under the tap. A very important lesson learned here.

I had the unfortunate experience of not learning any of the above prior to working with it (well, number two was obvious actually) and had some "fun" fixing things up.

Surprisingly, Dettol does prove itself to be quite a good stripping solution without harming the minis beneath it. The mixture I used was 100% Dettol. The best part is that you can recycle the solution for use again at a later time.

Once most of the paint is removed, you can prime the miniature right away. My Termagants went through several rounds of Dettol in an attempt to remove everything, including my primer. As it turns out, it does very little at this point. Once you have the primer layer remaining, you can reapply the primer right away.

After the first 2-3 rounds of stripping

Termagants after reapplying the primer.

 Next Step:

- Painting

Warhammer 40K: Tyranid Termagants Part 4

While preparing for the Genestealers, I had a few termagants painted as a test subject for the possible colour scheme should I decide to start a Tyranid army for W40K. I'll probably go with possibly Hive Fleet Tiamat (Blue/Purple) as they were supposedly the scheme which the genestealers in most of the Space Hulk video games were from.



First Two Prototype



 Unit 1

This unit was painted based on a method I read up in Mini War Gaming's post. The carapace was glazed with Guilliman Blue after layered with Celestra Grey. The glaze does not seem to apply well as seen above. However, it does give an pattern to the carapace of the termagant. Main body is layered with Genestealer Purple.

Unit 2

Same as above with the glaze applied after layering with Macragge Blue instead of Celestra Grey.

Unit 3

This unit suffered from poor priming with Bosny's Flat White which resulted in loss of some facial details. The carapace is layered with Macragge Blue and the edges drybrushed with Calgar Blue. Exposed body parts are layered with Genestealer Purple. Gun is layered with Ushbati Bone and washed with Nuln Oil. This unit, as you will probably noticed, was painted in the same time and scheme with my very first genestealer.

Unit 4

Also another unit disfigured from poor priming. If you have a suggestion on an alternative whites to use other than Citadel's, do let me know. Like unit 4, this unit was painted together with genestealer 2 and 3. Layered with Xereus Purple before being washed with Carroburg Crimson. Carapace is then layered with Macragge Blue and drybrushed with Calgar Blue. Exposed parts are layered with Genestealer Purple. Gun, like before, was layered with Ushbati Bone. Forgot to wash it.

 

Warhammer 40K: Tyranid Termagants Part 3

I have yet to find the right colour paint style for my Blue/Purple colour scheme. Hence I decided to get myself another box of termagants basic set to try out.

While exploring the web, I came across a cool design by another user.
Introducing ServvsUmbrarum's Hive Fleet Defaeco

His method of primarily drybrushing got me to try it on my own.

Nowhere as good as his but certainly a very cool way of painting the minis.

Paint Used:
-

Next step:
- More Termagants

Warhammer 40K: Tyranid Termagants Part 2

Got the other two completed with the Hive Fleet Behemoth (Blue/Red) and Leviathan(Purple/White) colour scheme.

Both plates were done in the same matter as in my previous post.

Hive Fleet Behemoth
- Mephiston Red for the main body with Nuln Oil wash
- Armour plates layered with Abbadon Black followed by wet Macragge Blue for the lining
- Ceramite White for the gun with Nuln Oil wash

Hive Fleet Leviathan
- Ceramite White for the main body with Carroburg Crimson wash
- Armour plates layered with Genestealer Purple then washed with Carroburg Crimson wash then lined with Genestealer Purple
- Mephiston Red for the gun with Nuln Oil wash

I have decided that I made a mistake with the earlier attempt to create Hive Fleet Tiamat (Blue/Purple), so I decided to work with Red/Purple as seen above.
- Genestealer Purple for main body then washed with Guilliman Blue
- Armour plates layered with Mephiston Red then washed with Guilliman Blue
- Ceramite White with Nuln Oil wash for the gun

 

Hunting party ready for action!

 

Here's a quality comparison between both the earlier poorly primed model with the current one.

1st Leviathan. Notice the quality loss on the fangs

2nd Leviathan. Details are retained from good priming

Fang detail comparison with 1st Leviathan. This is how it should have been

Nest Step:

- Lacquering