Fear the Crab

It took me several months to get to this point, but that’s only considering the time from the last update until this past weekend. In actuality, it takes less than one or two hours of “paint time” to get to this point, and much of that time is spent waiting for layers to dry.

I used the Citadel line of metallic paints. I don’t really have a preference for a particular brand, but I began the hobby with these as it is the same company that provides the models, and I don’t feel any particular urge to change.

I started with a basecoat of metal, something to provide coverage and a foundation for further layers.

Once the basecoat dries, I “washed” it with a dark black ink. The wash adds a darker shade and pools into the recesses, giving depth to the model. Next were layers of lighter and lighter metals, which bring back the color to a brighter shade and further heightens depth. I layered these colors with the idea of touching areas away from where the previous wash settled. Finally, I dry-brushed raised edges with a highlight of bright silver. Highlights touch areas that would be closest to a light source, to give the idea that the model is illuminated from above.

The same techniques were applied to the gold areas, with the finished result shown above.

Now that a majority of the work was completed, time can be spent on the little details. We’ll see how long this takes.