Rezolution: CSO Teams head to finish

Last time, I did all the blue highlighting, by brush stroke [CLICK]. It's time consuming but the effect is worth it for small skirmish units where every model has some individual character. Then the holidays got very busy, and I always find it difficult to get the model's past the halfway point - they don't look that great, and what to hit next requires some thoughts, so they stalled for a few months as I felt the scheme was a bit bland. Finally, I just decided to go ahead and paint the guns and faces and see if there was enough to catch the eye for a satisfying model - glad I did!

With a bit of building up, all the faces popped really well, full of character as well as expressions that said a lot about who they are and what they're doing...

...rushing, concentrating, and 'talking on the phone'...

...leading - "Let's go, people!", running and shooting, inching forward into danger...

...another leader, "Get Some!" and "Oh s--t!!" clearly seeing a monster...

Next up, what to do about those huge assault rifles?  The ARs are over-sized and definitely take up eye space, so I wanted to give them some sort of contrast. Below, basic black, light grey, and off-white.

 

I had trouble deciding and posted a bit on Fb. I did get a few comments, and in the end I went with a contrast color for the weapon but based on the 'fluff'.  

I figure beat cops don't usually carry ARs since it it too aggressive.  So these weapons are taken from the holding locker shared with the Peacekeepers.  That force uses a grey color scheme, so these weapons went with grey. 

The hand protectors I made orange which is a color-wheel opposite from the blue [and also a sorta 70s vibe]. Was having problems with the Vallejo orange...took it apart and a large dried plug was found.

The orange was a bit thin, but the layering of it onto the grey looked good!

...gave the weapons a quick covering of Nuln Oil, also.

Along the way, was inspired to work on the optics. They look terrible up close, but the red one is dark red, Polish Crimson, then a white spot. The yellow has a touch of brown and a white spot.

Quite pleased with the results!

Had some trouble with the eyes, which I had to do a couple of times to get the white dots adequate.

some more detail work on optics...

and computer gadgets, the medic's cross, Technicians hand computer...

Got motivated to do most of the work on Marshal Renton, who really came up nicely over halfway through. He looks older and more weathered painted than in bare metal! This is block painted, dry brushed, and a few details picked out and brought up. I went with a white shirt to brighten him a bit, plus he seems like a guy who takes off his tie and throws on a field jacket and gets away from his desk at the drop of a [Stetson] hat!

The 5-pointed star was a bit of a PITA, and took several attempts using a tiny brush and yellow, then black. The hiking shoes were pretty easy, as was the "CSO" on his back.

At just a few more inches away, he is looking good.

Very pleased with how the CSO force is coming out, so will get them across the finish soon!

Rezolution: CSO Teams Halfway

Work on CSO for "Rezolution: A Dark Tomorrow" [CLICK] continues...

When last worked on, these 12 models has been primed, dry-brushed, then base coated [CLICK]. Today, my intention is to practice highlighting to make them really pop on the table, despite a pretty muted color scheme of black and blue.

Took my primed Marshals, aka "not Bladerunners" and the medibot, and put a base coat on them, using the two Citadel paints pictured: Ivanden Darksun & Base Corax White. These foundation / base paints have been very useful, as they have a lot more pigment in them so color onto a fig quickly, even if the primer wasn't perfect.

Results below - easy to see how well these paints work. There, I said something positive about GW, but don't hold your breath for the next time...!

Now, to continue working on the blue highlights for the other 8 models...

using the paints pictured, I built up some high highlights - I want them to pop a bit.

In this instance, I went for a wet and blended technique, using the paint's cap - in a lot of ways, I prefer the cap to the latest squeeze-bottle fad, e.g. Vallejo....

...put in a few drops, then mix with a paperclip...

...this created two samples, below. One is highlighted with the AP Royal Cloak the other with a sky blue by Polly-S, but the label has long since worn away.

You can see how much the one on the right "pops".  Is it too bold?  Maybe for historicals, but not for sci-fi figs, I think!  A little over the top is no problem in fiction...artistic license and all that.

Below, the nine assembled, primed, dry-brushed, base-coated blue, then highlighted CSO troopers. Two "leaders" likely sergeants, four "troopers" and three specialists, the Medic, Technician, and Engineer.

At a more "game table distance" they seem to have what is needed for them to stand out, even if up close they are a bit unrealistic.  But they're game pieces, ultimately, so game distance is good for them.

Rezolution: w'More Resolution!

CSO Is Looking for a Few Bulky Men!

Those flagged for steroids or genetic enhancements WILL be considered, and prioritized!

When last work was done on this Rezolution project [CLICK] all ten of these figs were cleaned, assembled and waiting for primer.  Even in metal, their many details are visible, as well as their bulk and the dynamic poses available in the set.

I mainly see them as a 6 man Team with 4 specialists that can rotate in depending on mission. I have another 10 regular officers that I acquired later [mint metal] but I'm uncertain how large I want this force to be.  Most likely I'll at least make another Team of six, so two teams total each of which may also have a Marshal. 

Took a while, but they were primed black first fine weather I got [took a couple months] and then I gave them a wash of thinned vallejo black paint to cover the places that the spray missed.  There are still a few places to touch up...

...but have to say, these guys look great!  Large presence on the table walking...

...dashing...

...or just on routine patrol.  Also, the facial features and styling is a little less realistic which makes them a bit more fun.  No substitute for my InxCountry figs, but Rezolution is a lot darker and a lot less serious than the real world.

The painting methodology:

1) Dry brush the black battle rattle and weapons, then 

2) Block paint the blue uniform and flesh.  Reverse of how I usually do it...

3) Pick out the fine details and highlights.

Overall, seems like it will be easier to dry brush the highlights [lots of black web gear] that have been sculpted physically higher, then block paint the blue uniforms underneath.  They will be a lot brighter, so the contrast should pop to the eye.

First dry brush highlight on the black was a dark grey. This was a bit lighter than I thought, and the second was a medium to light grey.  Comparison of the dark [right] and the lighter second highlight [drybrush] on the left.  Left definitely pops!

About halfway through, easy to pick out the figs that have been drybrushed.

Fantastic how the sculpting and details pop out with this method!

These guys are running under fire!

These guys are on routine patrol.

My specialists, the Engineer, Technician, and Medic.

Up close, they look a bit rougher than they do at 2-3', which is understandable.

Next up, I need a wash or something to blend the grey dry brush highlights in a bit better.  I'm uncertain what is best... but I have three choices:

The Black Ink was too strong - it diminished the highlights too much.  Nuln Oil didn't do very much at all. The clear winner was Devlan Mud Wash.  It smoothed out the highlights without making them disappear.

Below, two pics in illuminated...

...and natural light, of three Devlan Mud washed CSO fellows, and one that has no wash at all.  I think it's just right - blended and toned down a bit, but still highlighted.

Another pic of a guy with the Devlan Mud wash [left] and no wash [right]:

Next, to paint the blue uniform, pants and shirt, that is 'under' the black gear. I have a Prussian Blue, a Medium Blue, a lighter blue, and Ultramarine by Vallejo. Hopefully, each is a bit lighter than the other.

Below is the Prussian Blue block painted.  Definitely strong enough as a base coat.

The next blue, block painted over the Prussian Blue.

Then, with the highlights of sculpting painted in the final blue.

I then did some touch-ups in an even light blue, almost a sky blue but not quite. [the Ultramarine by Vallejo was similar to the third blue, didn't highlight anything].

Finally, I did a coat of Nuln Oil to blend things a bit - using Nuln Oil to blend brighter tones seems to work, while the Devlan Mud was better on dark highlights.

I think the result is satisfactory.  There are some minor things to fix, mostly due to brush errors.  But I like that they look 'BLUE!' and not some dark shade, or black. The uniform's blue on the CSO Starter Set box [click] has too much purple tone in it for my liking.  I wanted a very BLUE Thin Blue Line.  Black and other dark tones is  needed for the bad guys, who are, as of this post, gaining strength every day!

I hope this quick summary of the painting method is helpful for anyone painting up some "Thin Blue Line" types.  More coming soon as I knock these 9 figs out!