Alpha Legion Color Scheme

Well after what seems like ages of trying to figure out what color scheme I wanted to do I think I have finally figured it out.  As I was writing my last post about color schemes and picking a Horus Heresy Army I posted this picture, which I love, and realized I wanted to figure out a color scheme as close to this as possible, while giving it a bit of my own flair.  So, what do I love about this scheme?  I love the metallic blue paired with grey/silver.

So, as I was perusing blogs I came across a post (unfortunately I can't remember whose or I would link it here) where they talked about spraying a glaze onto a model instead of brushing.  This allowed a relatively even coat and you could make it darker or lighter depending on how many coats you did.  Well, I decided to try it out with a bright metallic base with a badab black wash and got the following after two passes.  

I really like the color scheme of this model.  You can tell that it is metallic blue and the glaze makes real shadows as the light hits it from different directions.  As an added bonus it is relatively quick and I feel that it looks different from a typical Ultramarines blue.  I really like the white helmets and I can't really figure out why except for the contrast.  I also like the grey detailing but I'm still trying to figure out what the spot color should be.  What do you think, orange or green?

On the model above you can see that after washing the original metallic color with black I went back and line highlighted with the metallic color.  I decided not to do this on the final models mainly because I don't like the look.  I really enjoyed the finished look of the blue model above and how it contrasts with the line highlighted grey detailing.

So, that leaves me with a color scheme mostly decided upon (besides a spot color) and I can now get to work on my Legion Reconnaissance Squad.  I have loved this squad since Forgeworld first put them out and hope I can do it justice.  I'm also going to try doing some battle damage with drybrushed silver and so we'll see how that goes.  This is my last post of the week which means I'll be going to 2 or 3 posts a week from now on.  In the next post I hope to have some really good updates on the legion tactical squad for your comments and criticism!  Until next time.

Alpha Legion Test Models

So I've been using the Dark Vengeance Dark Angels to try out the airbrush and figure out what scheme I like the most for Alpha Legion if that's what I decide to go for with my Forgeworld Horus Heresy stuff.  This is the first time I've ever panted without a base and I must say that it is really fun, much easier, and makes me feel way more legit because it's what I see on other people's blogs.  One of the hardest things to figure out about painting Alpha Legion is what color to paint them!  Pictures I've seen put them in dark blue, light blue, all shades of green, and even purple like the cover of the Legion book.

"Metallic Look"

These are three of the looks that I have been trying out.  Unfortunately I actually like them all I think but I have to pick just one right?  So, if anyone ever sees this I'd love to get your take on what you think is coolest or most accurate.  Another consideration is time.  Line highlighting sort of sucks and maybe the new airbrush will help me speed that up.  Not only that, but airbrush line highlighting will make the color modulation a lot better and a lot cleaner.

I posted these pictures on a facebook group and one person said they like the metallic one the best.  At first it wasn't my favorite but I'm actually starting to lean towards it.  It looks pretty cool, different, and changes based on how you look at it sort of like the Alpha Legion.  Anyway, we'll see which one I end up using if I don't go with Iron Warriors or Imperial Fists instead.

Blue

Greenish Blue