WIP: Virtue for the 2015 NOVA Narrative

NOVA 2015 is fast approaching, so it is high time I got to work painting the exciting new Virtue model created for the NOVA Narrative.  Thanks Mike!

Cleaning the model did not go well, as I uncovered a gaping air pocket in the human's head as I scraped off mold lines.  Unfortunately, the resulting hole obliterated the model's right eye, which is beyond my sculpting skills to repair, so I am just going to proceed and pretend it is not there (and take pictures from the left side).

I am going to use an additive layering technique for this model, which is something I have not tried since I was a kid.  We will see whether my application of the technique has improved at all over time.

I started the model off with the basic palate of blue and brown undercoats and will build from here.  I want the human to represent, literally, earth (his warm palate will blend with the earth tones planned for the base) while the Virtue warrior will provide a cold contrast of blue and silver metallics to signify the other-worldliness of the Virtue.

Here's the model with the undercoat.

Primer: P3 spray white
Virtue: P3 Coal Black/water/flow enhancer 4:2:2
Human: P3 Umbral Umber/water/flow enhancer 6:3:1



Updated picture: 6 August, basecoat

All paints diluted 50% with water.
Virtue armor plates: P3 Pig Iron
Human uniform fabric: P3 Thornwood Green
Human armor plates: P3 Cryx Bane Base
Human pouches and straps: P3 Cryx Bane Highlight

Updated picture 13 August, highlights and finish

Virtue-
Armor highlight 1: Reaper Honed Steel
Armor highlight 2: Vallejo Model Color Silver
Armor finish: Very dilute glaze of P3 Coal Black with additional coats in shaded areas.  Went back and hit select plates with silver over the glaze to add some variety and movement to the plates.

Human-
Uniform highlight: P3 Gun Corps Brown
Armor highlight: P3 Traitor Green
Pouch and Straps highlight: P3 Trollblood Highlight
Flesh: P3 Midlund Flesh with Citadel Leviathan Purple wash
Hair: Citadel Chestnut Wash Ink

The base is a mess of Secret Weapon pigments fixed with mineral spirit.  Violet pigment on the bottom and in the cracks; my own mix of dark green pigment on the slate tiles; yellow, clay, and bright sand pigment on the pillars.

This may be as far as I get with this one.  If I have time I will touch up the base and add some icons to the Human's armor, but I'm probably going to call this done and move on to another looooong neglected project.


Updated update...I had to fix that base...