Wacko's Gut Clan

Heyo! I started this Ogre army last year as part of an informal Tale of 4 Gamers with some mates, and it didn't take long before I fell in love with this army. I've been treating this as a way to really improve on my painting and modelling skills, as the larger model size and lower model counts allows me to spend more time on each. I'm pleased with what I've accomplished so far, but always looking for feedback and suggestions, so hit me up if you can think of anything!

Anyway, check out what I've got so far! (I'll get better photos soon, promise!)




The Mournfang Cavalry have magnets in their wrists so I can switch between Great Weapons/Ironfists or the standard for the command group. I'm doing the same for the next two MF I get, but with the musician.


This fella is magnetised so I can choose between using the Stornhorn or the Thundertusk. It took a while to choose a colour scheme that I'd be happy using for both, as a middle ground between the two monsters.



And this here is a turnable Turn Timer that I made from a bunch of spare bits. I always forget what turn it is, so now I have this, all I forget to do is actually turn it!


So far, the main points for improvements have been to do something more with the bases (middenheim tufts drybrushed with white for frosty grass), and put some highlights on the skin. I'm also planning to do some tattoos etc once I've got a pattern/colour I'm happy with, and paint a symbol of some sort on the standards.

If anyone has any suggestions for improvements that would be fantastic - and I could also do with some ideas for the tribe's name. Ta muchly!

Stuff looks great so far, I really love the turn counter, that's something I haven't seen (as in its truly a unique counter).

Is there anything in particular that you would like to improve?   There are tons of tutorials and videos all over this forum, just gotta look or ask (gnoblogs, halfling cookpot, ect...).  Just ask, we can point you in the right direction

Beautiful looking army to date and I like the colours you've used.

Magnetizing is smart since GW include ALMOST everything for two separate models half the time but you can't make both (of course) because there's always just enough bodies or something. You've got the best of your kits.

I like your turn device you've made there, great work!

The turn counters inspired!

Cheers fellas! The photo's aren't great, so its a little difficult to see, but I could do with some advice on highlighting the flesh a little more, and some ideas for tribal tattoos and painting some sort of clan symbol on the flags.

Currently working on an extra pair of Mournfang, plus cobbling together a Scraplauncher from a bunch of spare bits (including a dragon head and tail).

Here's a tip for your skin highlighting; thin your paints well with water or Lahmian Medium if you don't already do so.

I'm no master at blending but I generally go for a nice and solid basecoat, wash, basecoat colour as a thinned layer, a well thinned slightly lighter colour, then again for an even lighter colour.

After I do this, I often work my way back down through the layering colours, thinning them down well and tidying up the paint job. This 'tidying' stage actually creates some 'in-between' due to the mild transparency the thinned paints have, if done right.

^^That's good advice from Farmer.
Basically, though it's hard to tell via your pictures, it looks like you only have a base coat and a shade color in the recesses (either through a dark base and then a single layer or a lighter base coat darkened with a wash).  I would recommend using a 3 color method: your shadow(or undercoat) base layer, and then a highlight.  And if you want to get really fancy, you can do intermittent layers that mix any 2 of these paints for a smoother transition in the manner Farmer talked about above.

Next, you need to pick what highlighting method you will use: layering, blending, edge/line, dry rush...there are many ways, all get good effects after consistent practice.  But most important is having multiple levels of color

The advice already given by Farmer and Havoc is really sound. I actually cant see the models clearly enough to be too critical of them; they look fine to me!
The minimum 3 layers is the way to go; base, wash, layer (then layer, highlight if you want to get all fancy about it!  ).
Definitely water down those later layers, something I am crappy at but know its the way!

Honestly, the look sound to me. The only thing I would suggest, and don't get me wrong its just a suggestion, is I would try and undulate the surface of the bases a bit.
I am assuming they are like snow/ ice/ ash kind of thing? To me they don't shout out and compliment your painting.
If it was me I would add some small lumps or greenstuff, or more rocks, cork etc or something to break up the surface of the bases. Even some snow, dead grass, volcanic rock whatever. A good base can often make the model really pop and can also lead the eye away from any imperfections your not that happy about! 

Its just a suggestion though; your painting is really good and I cant see what's wrong with your guys thus far!

Please keep us posted!

G_H

Brilliant, cheers guys, I'll give this watering down lark a go and get back with the results (and some less rubbish pics). You're definitely right about the bases GH, I'll be grabbing some middenheim tufts soon hopefully.

I've currently just been doing this:
1 - Catachan flesh base
2 - Reikland Fleshshade wash
3 - Catachan flesh layer anywhere not in the recesses

I'll follow Farmer's advice and get some more lighter highlighting on the raised areas, after seeing what he's done with his orcs he's gotta be onto something!

Welp, I never got round to trying out the highlighting (it's still on my to-do list though!), but here's some improved army pics.




Also, have a couple of pics of something else I'm working on




I'm sure you can all guess what the first is meant to be, but can anyone maybe guess the second? And nope, they're not Maneaters!

I may steal that turn counter idea. Much better than my idea of an ogre ring card girl lol

I must get some magnets too

Beautiful army shots thus far and great looking conversions, whatever they're meant to be

4 more Ironguts to beef up the current unit to 10 models, plus a converted Hunter and Firebelly. Anyone guess what they're based off?








There's still work to be done on the Hunter and Firebelly, especially on the flames, but I don't have any yellow paint at the moment. I'd like to do something with the Firebellies shoulderpads, but maybe they're ok as they are. I'm open to suggestions.

Really cool conversions so far. I'm not particularly a fan of giant ram skulls on heads but it does work well here.

Cheers Farmer!

Big update today. Done some work on the flames. I'm sure it could be better, but I'm reasonably happy with it, so I don't want to touch it and make it worse



And here are the Yhetees I've spent FAAAAAR too long working on.







I'm still not that happy with the paintjob, I'm considering doing a lighter blue for their skin, but I'm happy with the sculpt itself, especially the bunny tails! 

This is what I'm working on next!