Levarius’ Mythic Battles Pantheon

Onto the bigger beasties for a change. Here’s my Hydra.

It was painted mainly with airbrush paints, but by brush. I’ve taken this approach a lot recently as it provides an effective way of using a glazing type approach, but with less coats!

The base coats were done with Vallejo Model Air Olive Green and then I thinned down a bright green (such as moot green, but can’t recall) and then used that as a glaze too. The final layer saw the same paint but with some airbrush yellow mixed in.

The mouth and scars were done with Blood for the Blood God by Citadel

So I haven’t uploaded anything in a while, but after seeing that fantastic Community Spotlight project, thought i’d get uploading again!

Next up is Hephaistos, the only expansion set I got with the kickstarter outside of Pandora’s box.

As with everything else in this project, the basecoats are done with Contrast. Guilimans flesh and blood angels red being the key ones here. The basecoats were then layered over in a thin coats (yay Duncan!) that were more like glazes to slowly build up the flesh tones and the orangey glows on both his skin and tools.

Next is Helios

He’s my favourite God to play with his Gem Collector and Whip special rules so really enjoyed painting him. I tried to spend some more time on the highlights on him, with particular focus on the armour and the blue undergarments.

The Yellow was done with contrast Nazdreg and then built up with Yriel Yellow (GW) and Moon Dust (Army Painter)

I also got a new lightbox for Christmas and this is the first set of photos using it. Definitely an obvious improvement in photo quality with just my smartphone so far.

Next up, and continuing with the red cloaks, is Leonidas. Great model in game and really enjoyed painting his cloak.

Started with Blood Angels Red Contrast, then built up with layers of Evil Suns Scarlet with additional orange mixed in for each new layer.

This was a fun one, first go at doing large scale lava effects. Especially with the transition from lava to flesh.

As with Zeus, the skin and cloth were done with the contrast paints.

The lava was more a process. I started with a yellow glaze (using air paints), followed by an orange one. I then began to highlight with stages of red inks, before finally using 2 coats of contrast black templar for hardened lava.

The metallics were done with a basic silver followed with a Dark Tone wash from Army Painter.

Time for the man himself, Zeus.

On my continued contrast paint exploration, his robes were done with two, thinned, coats of Apothecary white. The gold was done in the same fashion as all the previous minis.

The blue of lighting was done with blue wash, and then was built up in layers of lighter blue drybrushes.

First of the Gods, and it’s Ares.

What a model to paint! Really loved it.

I was rather worried by his size (being a God model), but I find it surprising that he was easier to paint than the smaller models. I put that down to the fact that each area on the model is bigger so there’s more room for the paint brush and less chance of catching an unwanted area.

As with the Spartans, the cloak and skin were basecoated with Contrast Paints over a zenithal spray coat (Blood Angels Red and Gulliman Flesh). These gave time to three or 4 highlight layers on each. Which again, were easier because he’s so much bigger!

I went again for a gold armour effect on Contrast Nazdreg Yellow over a metallic basecoat, but added an layer of thinned Snakebite Leather to darken it up slightly/

Finished up Heracles. A great model to paint and as before the majority was done with Contrast Paints. Guilleman Flesh for the skin base layer and Skeleton Horde for the robes. The time saved meant extra highlights could be applied, which is something I normally skip.

Really digging the whole brown model look, without the usual array of vibrant colours, meant it was easier to combine colours and make them sit well next to each other.

First hero completed is Achilles.

I went for the same gold technique as on the Spartans, using a silver metallic basecoat and then a coat of Nazdreg Yellow contrast.

The blue robes are 2 coats of Aethermatic Blue Contrast.

While i’m not painting solely with contrast, I’m learning and experimenting with ways on how they can be incorporated to speed up painting, saving time for more stages of highlights that I would have skipped previously.

Next up are the Spartans. The skin was done using the Guilliman Flesh contrast and I loved it some much it’s now my go to skin paint. The spartans have had some extra highlights added to improve the quality of the skin, but that contrast paint is great without.

The cloaks were done using a Vallejo Red Air paint, using a brush, and is becoming another go to technique for this painting project. The models are all being primed zenithal and then using super thinned paints (or regular air paints) to apply over the top. It creates some great detail and doesn’t waste the zenithal approach.

I’ve also found my now preferred method of gold armour, which a metallic base coat covered with Nazdreg Yellow contrast. The gold armour seen of these models is entirely this process, no other steps added.

One more thing i’m really enjoying is the fact these are all one off units and/or models. There’s no need for the write down/remember and replicate an army wide colour scheme. Once they’re done, they’re done!

Ignoring the project title image, which is of things to come, I present the first unit finished for the game. The Infernal Warriors, which are classed as a troop.

I wanted to try and some contrast paints and started by using Blood Angels Red on the skin. This gave an `ok’ effect, but I then spent the time saved by using contrast to get to a basic (or battle ready) stage and applied some extra red and orange highlights. The bone coloured sections were done with the Skeleton Horde Contrast paint.

Let me know you’re thoughts…