Paint scheme for a Sliscus force

The way I figure the Duke would have his troops isn't rag-tag bunch of pirate but a professional fighting and raiding force. They also need to be stylish in the image of the duke himself. I have figured that I want to do quite a complex theme this time around to test my painting skills. I want to have each model with a pattern to their armour similar to the patterns on the armour in Mass Effect. I am thinking of the foloowing scheme:

Primary Colour - Purple
This will be the primary colour for the infantry armour
Secondary Colour - Black
This will be the lesser colour on the armour for the patterns I want to do
Under-armour/ - Codex Grey
I figured a flat grey would be good to go under the armour to bring out the black and purple. Also I want this colour to be the primary colour for the vehicles. Having purple vehicles would look too much in my opinion
Detail Colour - Yellow
This is what I will use to do the secondary patterns on the armour, like the little detail lines and patterns. Also for the Wytches this will be their secondary colour.

I don't really have the idea of patterns in my head yet, if there was a blank DE template that would be super but so far the internet hasn't delivered. I do like the patterns in the N7 armour in ME2, they seem to me like they would be good to display a professional fighting space force. I would have an overall pattern on the armour of black with purple and grey underneath. The small tattoo-like patterns on the arms and shoulder pads would be yellow.



Something like this but of course less complex, I like the male version of number 3. I want one of the arms to have a similar pattern to this next image



I want to make it clear that I am not making a Mass Effect DE army or even trying to exactly copy the N7 armour style. These are examples of the look I am going for. I don't want to paint my DE with the armour one colour then alternating colours on the shoulder pads or whatever the way most models are painted. If any of you have the newest chaos codex, you know the model that has a chaos symbol over most of their body, that is what I want to do, patterns that don't follow the armour.

Howdy.

My thoughts based on what you have put forward.

The purple will have to be fairly bright, or have bright highlights to stand out against the grey fabric. Its not to say it won't work, but some thought to the colors need to be looked at it doesn't get lost between competing colors for the eyes attention.

I'm not sure about codex grey as the base color. I'll be honest and admit I don't even think I own the color. If I want a grey I usually mix 2 contrasting colors and use that instead, like blue and orange, red and green or yellow and purple. The resulting grey color is very subdued and won't compete with the primary colors.

The easiest way to get the chaos marine effect you are talking about is to make a template and then trace your pattern onto the armor. Unless you have exceptional freehand skills, it is a real pain to do and get it to look right.

A template is something that can be done very easily and reproduced to the same standard over and over again. I made templates for my Black Halo vehicles, traced the pattern with a pencil, leaving very faint marks for me to follow with my brush.

Now I don't want to discourage you from trying the freehand, but we're talking about an army to play with and not a golden demon contest, so my view is easy and reproducible is the key.

My templates were made from a GW box cardboard, then cut out once I liked it, traced on to paper, and cut out. The paper is nice because it folds and can follow odd shapes much easier than cardboard. I keep the cardboard in case I need to make more paper templates.

For the vehicles, I would add a little blue to the grey to give it a little depth.

I approve of the purple!

It took me 9 (!) months to settle on a colour scheme for the Sky Serpents and I'll never be happy with it.

The canon choice is orange and black. This is the colour scheme that Phil Kelly used on his own force and being the author and writer that developed Duke then that's the most canon you're going to get until (if) the official model comes out.

I won't go through the endless colour combinations and techniques I've thought of but it does include ideas of painting like marble, diamante, pearlescent paint etc.

For now I have settled on a brooding deep red with lots of freehand in an art nouveau style. I'm also looking at adding a snakeskin pattern to the Wych suits, also inspired by Mass Effect.

I did at one time play with the idea of making the army a ragtag unit with different squads hailing from different alliances. That's my view on how the Sky Serpents work. However I have gone for a single paint scheme and only the modelling will be different.

In my view, do what you think will look good. Go flashy though. It's Duke. And he's cool.

Sky Serpent wrote:

The canon choice is orange and black. This is the colour scheme that Phil Kelly used on his own force and being the author and writer that developed Duke then that's the most canon you're going to get until (if) the official model comes out.

What GW paints would you use to paint a scheme like this SS? I'm building a Duke list and experimenting with different schemes atm. Thanks.

I don't know what your level of painting is and what techniques you use/prefer. Below is what I would do.

Long version:
Macharius Solar Orange basecoat.
50/50 Gryphonne Sepia/Asurmen Blue wash.
Blazing Orange layer.
Blazing Orange highlights, adding Golden Yellow to each layer in thin coats.
Maybe add some white to the final, final highlights.
Very thinly watered down 50/50 Blazing Orange and Golden Yellow to bring it all together.

Short version:
Blazing Orange basecoat.
Gryphonne Sepia wash.
50/50 Blazing Orange/Golden Yellow highlight.

I think a gloss varnish finish would add an interesting alien manufactured armour look too.

I always start from a black undercoat myself but perhaps white would make it look all the more vibrant.

Sky Serpent wrote:

Short version:
Blazing Orange basecoat.
Gryphonne Sepia wash.
50/50 Blazing Orange/Golden Yellow highlight.

I think a gloss varnish finish would add an interesting alien manufactured armour look too.

I always start from a black undercoat myself but perhaps white would make it look all the more vibrant.

That sounds great, thanks a lot, my level of painting is reasonable. However, I can't see myself doing the long version for fifty plus models. I'll let you know when I give it a try. Have you got any photo's of your models done in that scheme? Thanks again.