Buggy Nids . . . . . . .

[mcfonz]

So a couple of weeks back I decided to go at the tyranids I had built up over time, buying small cheap lots of them from here and there - mainly 2nd hand and already built, but some sprues in there too. Over the last week or so I decided I was going to paint some and with a bit of internet searching found myself wanting a cross between a insect look and the alien colour scheme.

I've used Heresy Miniatures lurker heads on a lot of the grunts for this army. Something about them really made me want to switch them out with the normal nid heads. And I also wanted them to be a lot more combat orientated than shooty so the gargoyles had their arms switched out for spare stealer arms. The tyrant guard has new plastic arms and legs, the body came as part of a lot for a couple of quid from ebay. More conversions will feature later.

These are some of the initial results:

[Shamash-Bel]

They look really great, like they'd fit into any sci-fi setting easily.

[Constable Bertrand]

  the black/chocolate is a good colour hybrid, scary and realistic.

Thems some scary cockroaches!! Ew!

Cheers
Matt

[Hobby Services]

Nice work.  I may steal that color scheme for some projects myself.

[Onebigriver]

Nice work.  I may steal that color scheme for some projects myself.

Ditto. Love the skin tones & the highlights! 

[Daeothar]

Wow!

That is one of the coolest schemes I've ever seen on Nids. I always was a fan of more realistic schemes, but this one takes the cake. Like Hobby Services up there, I am filing this for future reference, because if (when?) I ever do up some 'Nids, yours will now be one of the strongest contenders for the paintscheme...

And the execution is pretty much spot on too. The addition of the stealer arms to the gargoyles is inspired; Makes me think of the flying bugs in Starship Troopers. The total result really looks like a seething mass of chitin crawling/running/leaping forwards.

Is it a time consuming scheme? The brown looks pretty well blended form the pictures...

[Elbows]

Yep, that works a treat!

[majorsmith]

Great colour scheme very scary!!!

[mcfonz]

Thanks for the praise folks, hopefully more to come soon and perhaps with some better photo's too.

Is it a time consuming scheme? The brown looks pretty well blended form the pictures...

The first one I did I didn't like so redid it. What I have found is that the first few layers at least, are best done relatively watered down, it allows the first layer to be a bit opaque. Once I have the system to paint it down, I can probably churn one out in around 30-40mins. The wings are painted in this way. The other areas are just three different shades, four if I am up to adding a bit of white to the bone for a final highlight.

This way the non flappy critters are faster to paint in general. I've spent more time on the winged versions and the tyrant guard as I feel they will be more standout on any table.

[monkeylite]

They look great. A bit too realistic, for some tastes, I imagine. Don't let your opponent have a rolled-up newspaper to hand.

[DivisMal]

Pretty good colors. Make my skin crawl.

[mcfonz]

Five gargoyles done and a quick scene set up with the others. Haven't finished basing the others yet, but the flight stands will remain as they are I think.

[FramFramson]

I think this is my all-time favourite 'nids colour scheme. Somehow plain and simple works for me better than all the outlandish colour schemes usually used.

[Daeothar]

Great beautyshots, those

They really bring out the fact that your scheme makes those Gargoyles work.

That one dude with his arms crossed doesn't seem too intimidated though...

[Commander Vyper]

Really nice work mate.