Firestorm Armada: Rense System Navy WIP 4 - Surmountable problems

This project has proved more tricky than others recently.

My choice of colours/materials has led to unforeseen problems, and the sheer number of models in this project has proved daunting (6 frigates, 6 escorts, 4 destroyers, 1 Dreadnought = 17 models – the last project was 5!)

The Escorts. Not sure about the orange energy thing now.

Virtually finished Bulwarks

The beginnings of a freehand snake

The Slate blue brilliant watercolour a) soaked straight in to grey undercoat – it worked fine over interference purple and b) ‘sours’ any white that I try to paint onto it, leaving a dull pale blue. Not so good when I was planning lots of white lines.

As a result I’ve gone over the white lines with liquitex fluorescent purple – but even that isn’t as bright as I’d have liked. It’s almost been a case of ‘back to the drawing board’

Overhead view of a Bulwark frigate.
They're quite slim from that angle.

Anyway, even with those setbacks, I’ve been soldiering on. I corrected the grey undercoat/slate blue problem by switching it for Citadel Asurmen Blue wash (which I daresay I won’t be able to get any more of – might as well use it up.

This gave the effect I was looking for on the engines – a nice slate grey. I highlighted afterwards with a 0.7mm POSCA Metallic blue pen.

Another frigate with black/green/white motif

It was also useful for achieving the dull glow on the top of the gun nacelles on the Bulwark Frigates.

I decided the pale green looked a bit bland, so I have added a little bit of design to the undersides – at first with a Liquitex Green Gold – an olive green colour that, if applied lightly, becomes a dark greeny yellow – but the difference between that and the original Basil Green was negligible, so I over painted with Secret weapon washes’ ‘Baby Poop’ – another olive green (and not at all like the colour they show on their webpage).

I’m really hoping to have some finished models to show you all next time – so fingers crossed!

Fin detail on the frigates

The phoenix destroyers with a test 'rense' logo on the upper example

I continued the same lower body pattern across all four Phoenix destroyers

The power cascades light up on the dreadnought

Rear view. I still have to work on the engines.

Close up of power cascades. I need to brighten these - they've suffered from the watercolour basecoat and darkened.

The main bridge. I've had to bite the bullet and opt for
multiple coats of white on the bridge window areas.

Front fork and main weapon detail

Three-quarter side view of the dreadnought

View from the front

The engines are starting to get there

I'm saving all the fancy bits on this 'til last -
I'd like this one to be right

Overhead Phoenix - a classic crucifix.

The flight of the... [gets coat]