IMEF Squad

[Auberon]

For no reason in particular, I decided to paint up some bones that weren't fantasy. 

 

First, I did a general search for military uniforms but I wasn't inspired by the modern stuff.  Then I did a search for historical uniforms, which had more potential but still wasn't exactly what I was looking for either.  In the end, I decided to make up my squad colors based off of the following line of reasoning: In the near future the battlefield has shifted from areas where chlorophyll and dirt predominate to urban areas and spaceship corridors.  Tech has advanced to the point where avoiding detection by wavelengths out of the visual spectrum (IR, x-ray, etc) is more important than being seen normally.  And maybe soldiers all have their own personal shields that negate the first few shots against them.  In short, it can be like the old made new, where squads wear the colors of their employer/nation rather than drab greens or browns.  I played around with a few ideas on the computer first, but in the end decided to use one member of the squad as a test and then do the remainder as a group paint.

 

 

First up, a nice warm color.  I didn't really take any in progress shots so here's the basically completed armor.  I skipped the chest plate because I was thinking that it might be something that stands out.  If not, it can easily be made to match the rest.

 

 

Next up, cloth.

 

 

[Dontfear]

I got one of these in my stocking. Been meaning to do something with it. I like the yellow.

[lexomatic]

What's the dark (brown?)wash you used over the yellow?

[Froggy the Great]

Yeah, that's a better yellow than I generally see achieved.

[Auberon]

Thanks guys.  The yellow is a simplified version of what I used on Trista... who now that I think of it may or may not be in my consolidated WIP.    Anyway, there are actually two colors in the shadows.  The lighter color is Vallejo GC Scrofulous Brown thinned to a wash and the darkest is VGC Smokey Ink, which is just in the crevices.

 

As promised, the cloth.  A deep red seemed a good choice.  The raised arm looks much more vibrant in the pics than it does in hand, but I may still tone it down a bit.  In the interest of simplicity I made his belt the same color, but decided the rectangle above the pouch should be armor.  All my paints will be coming back out for the rest of the squad so I'm not to worried about missing spots at the moment.

 

 

Next, leather.

[Auberon]

And leather.  I thought about black, but in the end decided to go natural.  A well executed black would have probably looked better, but my blacks are not yet well executed.

 

 

Now the last major item, gunmetal.

[Auberon]

As promised, gunmetal.  I haven't quite figured out what I'm going to do with the chestplate, but this more or less gives me a scheme for the whole unit.  If I still have any energy left by the end of it I may see about adding some sci-fi glow effects to the weapons, but that's a few days away.

 

Edited August 24, 2014 by Auberon

[Auberon]

Aaaand to call it a night, a squad pic as they don their yellow tactical armor.  Note that the only member of the squad without a special chest plate is the female.  I have it on good authority that she was issued sub-dermal implants composed of a Kevlar like substance and shock absorbing gel, so her vitals are still well protected.

 

[smokingwreckage]

She's special ops. She wears what she wants, standard issue be damned. Nice work on these!

[Sergeant_Crunch]

She's the sniper, not supposed to be in direct contact to begin with.

[Auberon]

I think there are two largely obvious reasons she could have been issued any type of weapon and still not get the armor.

[Dontfear]

Judging by the heft of the dudes around her they may have more impressive endowments. Though perhaps not so shapely.

[Auberon]

Back to the painting, I slathered the armor with my slightly more watery than I intended wash to start the shading and bring out the details.  After examining them a bit I decided to go ahead and block out the rest of the colors before I finished off the armor.  It helped me notice a couple of places that I missed as well as locate a few hard to reach areas.  I also found a few areas that are just large chunks of bonesium filling space.  For the moment my plan is just to make those areas match adjacent areas.

[Auberon]

Jumping back to this WIP, I got a little more work done today.  The yellow is now shaded and should just need some highlights tomorrow to finish it off.    Up close the lining is a little sloppier than I would like, but from three feet away it does bring out the details and the stray marks aren't so noticeable.

 

[Auberon]

Not a lot of time tonight, so I'm just inching along. I slapped some highlights on the yellow, though I'm not sure there is enough of a difference to warrant an update.

 

 

Hopefully tomorrow I'll have to time to take care of the red in one sitting.