My take on the 3rd Bear Guards of Clan Ghost Bear's Alpha Galaxy. I've really come to love the Ghost Bears after spending time with them in MechWarrior 2 and 5. And their paint scheme for their Alpha Galaxy is one of my favorites in the Battletech universe.
I got the idea for the snow texture on the base from this video by Painting Baron. Definitely recommend checking it out: https://youtu.be/9b4tKIedqjo?si=D_cmsAvdzziIG4l7
Grey Armor w/ Blue "Clouds" and Stars
When working on this step, be sure to space your "clouds" out a fair bit and vary them in size. You still want the underlying black to show through in between the clouds to help them stand out.
Don't be afraid to go back to previous colors while stippling, or to tidy up a bit using the base coat. Just keep working it until you're happy with the transitions and the results.
- Prime using Mechanicus Standard Grey
- Start with a base coat of Death Reaper
- Using a dry brush or a sponge, liberally stipple Dungeon Stone Grey in random areas across the mech where you wish to create your "clouds"
- Again, using a dry brush or a sponge, stipple Wizard Grey over top of the cloud outlines from the previous step, being careful to avoid the edges and focus slightly more towards the center
- Repeat the previous step, getting closer and closer to the center each time and stippling a much smaller area, using these paints in this order: The Fang , Macragge Blue , Alaitoc Blue , Teclis Blue , and Baharroth Blue
- Once you're finished with the clouds, shade the recesses using Black Templar
- Edge highlight all over using Incubi Darkness followed by Dark Reaper
- Perform a more selective edge highlight using Dawnstone
- Finish up the highlights by picking out the sharpest edges and corners using Administratum Grey
- Begin adding stars by painting dots of varying sizes in random locations across the model using Doom Death Black
- Apply a dot of Carcharodon Grey to the center of the star, being sure to leave some of the black showing around the edges
- Apply an even smaller dot of Trooper White to the very center of the star
- Finally, apply a very tiny amount of Bold Titanium White to the very center of the star
Cockpit Canopy Glass
I definitely recommend using a wet palette with this step to keep your paints wet. If you're having trouble with blending the transitions, using Lahmian Medium in place of water for thinning your paints might help them flow better and stay wet longer on the model.
- Base coat the canopy glass using a 1:1 mix of Gal Vorbak Red and Doom Death Black
- Shade the deepest recesses of the canopy using Black Templar
- Starting the top left corner and working your way down to just above the bottom right corner, apply a very thin coat of Gal Vorbak Red
- Repeat the previous step, staying nearer and nearer to the top left corner with each step using, in order: Khorne Red , Mephiston Red , Evil Sunz Scarlet l, and Fire Dragon Bright
- Using a thin coat of :Citadel/FireDragonBrighor, paint an L shape in the top left corner
- Repeat the previous step, this time making the L much smaller using Flash Gitz Yellow
- Apply a single dot of Bold Titanium White in the top left and bottom right corners
Joints and Vents
- Base coat using Dwarven Iron
- Apply one to two washes of Agrax Earthshade
- Shade the recesses using Black Templar
- Edge highlight using Leadbelcher
- Apply a more selective edge highlight using Runefang Steel
Missile Launcher
- Base coat using Dwarven Iron
- Apply a wash of Agrax Earthshade
- Shade the recesses using Black Templar
- Apply a wash of Seraphim Sepia
- Apply a second wash, this time avoiding the center of the launcher, using Druchii Violet
- Apply a final wash, this time keeping to the edges of the launcher, using Drakenhof Nightshade
- Apply a very light dry brush of Dwarven Iron to the very center of the launcher to lighten it up a bit
- Repeat the previous step, this time making sure that there is very little paint on your brush, using Leadbelcher followed by Runefang Steel
- Apply a small amount of Nuln Oil around each of the missles
- Base coat the missiles using Gal Vorbak Red
- Apply a layer of Khorne Red all over the missiles while being careful to avoid the base/recesses
- Apply a layer of Evil Sunz Scarlet to the tip of the missiles
- Apply a layer of Wild Rider Red to tip of the missiles
- Apply a thin layer of Fire Dragon Bright to the very tip of the missiles
- Apply a very tiny amount of Flash Gitz Yellow to the very tip of the missiles
I paint little plastic dudes.