Voting closes this Thursday for our staff painting contest so take a look at this UCM fleet!

Take a look at this UCM fleet painted by one of our plucking Commanders. A fairly faithful adaption on the studio themed UCM fleet,  Operation Forward Onto Dawn looks fantastic and its painter was kind enough to give us a painting rundown.

Operation Forward Onto Dawn

The UCM aren’t a vibrant bunch. Yet, that isn’t always a bad thing. When discipline and unification are your best chance of staying alive in a galaxy filled with Scourge and Bioficers, presenting a united front is for the best. Closely resembling our TTCombat studio painted miniatures, this commander has done a great job recreating the scheme with subtle differences. I’m a big fan of the small bright blue panels you’ll notice scattered around the fleet. Below is a breakdown of the scheme.

Priming

Prime the Model in Black: Start by applying a black primer to the entire model. This will provide a solid base for all the other layers and help enhance the final contrasts.

Basecoats

Cover the top of the model in Shadowling Grey: Use Shadowling Grey to cover the upper surfaces of your model. This will give a dark, shadowy look to the top, perfect for creating depth. More central top in Ospedale Grey: Apply Ospedale Grey in the middle areas of the upper surfaces. This colour should blend smoothly into the Shadowling Grey and act as a mid-tone. Final highlights in Anchor Blue Grey: Lightly highlight the most prominent areas of the top with Anchor Blue Grey. This will give a soft, bluish highlight that contrasts with the darker shades below.

Panels

Blue Panels in Overcast Blue: Paint the blue panels in Overcast Blue. Be precise with this, making sure to only cover the specific areas designated for blue. White Panels in Frosted Edge: Next, paint the white panels with Frosted Edge. Use a clean brush to apply this color carefully, avoiding spills onto other areas.

Steel Parts

Steel Parts in Folded Steel: For any metallic parts (such as gun barrels or other machinery), paint them with Folded Steel to create a realistic metallic effect.

Sealing

Gloss Coat to Seal the Model for Future Stages: Apply a gloss varnish to seal your paint job. This will provide a smooth surface and protect the base layers before adding any further effects or washes.

Panel Lining

Panel Line in Black Wash: Use a black wash to bring out the details of the panels. Apply it in the recessed areas to create contrast and depth. Wipe off any excess to keep it from staining the raised surfaces.

Matt Varnish

Matt Varnish the Model: Once the wash has dried, apply a matte varnish to give your model a non-reflective finish.

Touch-Ups

Touch Up Panels in Selected Colors: After the matte varnish is applied, go back and do any necessary touch-ups, reapplying colors to any areas that need more definition or coverage. Pick out Lights in Frosted Edge: Highlight the light sources (like cockpit lights or engine lights) with Frosted Edge. Use a fine brush to carefully paint these details.

Missiles and Special Features

Paint Missiles in Red Rum then Viscera Red: Start by painting the missiles in Red Rum, followed by a highlight of Viscera Red. This two-step process will create a rich, deep red effect. Paint Engine Glow in EAA Blue, Light Azure Blue, and Frosted Edge: For the engine glow, use EAA Blue as the base colour, and then lightly add Light Azure Blue toward the centre of the glow. Finish by highlighting the very edges with Frosted Edge to create a glowing effect.

Final Touches

Once all the colors and effects have dried, give your model one last inspection. Make any small corrections or refinements as necessary to ensure a neat finish. By following this process, your Dropfleet UCM Fleet will have a professional and clean paint job with detailed highlights, shading, and a polished, well-defined look!

Our staff tournament is coming towards an end now and Robin will be preparing some battle reports for us! In the meantime, don’t forget to vote on our Facebook page for the best painted fleet.