Hosptialler - An argument for part-assembly painting

After just scraping under the line and getting my Centurion Assault Squad done by the end of February, I decided to change tack with March and do a character, rather than a unit and something that wasn't Sapce Marines.

However, because all I had left primed were Adepta Sororitas, the only option was my Hospitaller (not that it is a consolation prize because, upon realising it was next, it found myself eager to begin on it).

Already primed with Chaos Black, I decided to start with a drybrush of Dark Reaper. However, not owning Dark Reaper, I endeavoured to make my own, using equal parts Abaddon Black and Caledor Sky along with a bit of Celestra Grey. The result turned out well, although after applying, it didn't seem to do the job I wanted from it.

However, I did something and so I decided to press ahead, applying the army's primary colours of Mephiston Red and Celestra Grey, while also applying Stirland Mud to the edge of the base.



So, with the main colours of the mini blocked in, I moved onto to all of the others, applying the base before the shade and then finally the layers (including an edge highlight of my home brew Dark Reaper).

The Full list of paints were:
Black - Abaddon Black (B), Dark Reaper* (Made with Abaddon Black, Caledor Sky and Celestra Grey) (H), Fenrisian Grey (H)
Scarlet - Mephiston Red (B), Carroburg Crimson (S), Evil Sunz Scarlet (H), Wild Rider Red (H) (Khorne Red was used for wounds/blood)
White - Celestra Grey (B), Drakenhof Nightshade (S), Ulthuan Grey (H), White Scar (H)
Metal - Leadbelcher (B), Nuln Oil (S), Ironbreaker (H), Runefang Steel (H)
Aged Brass/Gold - Retributor Armour (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Liberator Gold (H), Runefang Steel (H)
Brass - Runelord Brass (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Sycorax Bronze (H), Runefang Steel (H)
Parchment - Rakarth Flesh (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Pallid Wych Flesh (H), White Scar (H)
Brown - Mournfang Brown (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Deathclaw Brown (H)
Blue - Thousand Sons Blue (B), Nuln Oil (S), Ahriman Blue* (Made with Macragge Blue, Abaddon Black, Mephiston Red and Caledor Sky) (H), White Scar (H)
Hospitaller Skin - Kislev Flesh (B), Reikland Fleshshade (S), Kislev Flesh (H), Flayed One Flesh (H)
Wounded Sister Skin - Rakarth Flesh (B), Reikland Fleshshade (S), Pallid Wych Flesh (H), Kislev Flesh (H)
Yellow - Averland Sunset (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Yriel Yellow (H), Screaming Skull (H)
Rocks - Standard Mechanicus Grey (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Dawnstone (H), Ulthuan Grey (H)
Dirt - Catachan Fleshtone (B), Agrax Earthshade (S), Dryad Bark (H), Cadian Fleshtone (H)
Base - Steel Legion Drab (B), Stirland Mud (T), Agrax Earthshade (S), Dryad Bark (H), Cadian Fleshtone (H)




The final layer paints I applied were the Evil Sunz Scarlet/Wild Rider Red and Ulthuan Grey/ White Scar combos to layer all the fabric on these characters. In fact up until the application of these, I felt the mini wasn't looming great. Thankfully, their addition really raised the bar (well, I certainly think so).

So, with the Hospitaller finished, where could I improve? Well, if I learned anything about this project, it's that sub-assembly painting is not the worst idea in the world. Having glued the model, I found it difficult to reach certain, still visible parts of it. I was only helped when parts inexplicably fell off (obviously, not enough glue was used), which also sold me on painting before gluing.

Also, I learned that mixing variants of colours I need is an artwork that I maybe do not have the skills for at the moment and that either I buy what I need or (more realistically) I don't follow the recommendations the Citadel app offers so stringently.

Finally, I've come to realise that I'm still not strong on faces and that more practice is necessary. However, I'm glad I continue to try and rectify my mistakes rather than just accept them.

All in all though, that's another Sister of Battle done. Next, I delve to another part of the 41st millennium and paint my Tau Invocation of the Elements, which has been sitting around waiting to be painted (although isn't the oldest mini in the queue).

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