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Step-by-Step: The Daedalus - Lights, Camo, Action!

It’s time for the second, and final part of Daz’ step-by-step on the Daedalus Fortified Tethership found in the Icarus Battlefleet Set.

With most of the base work complete, all that’s left to do is add the finishing touches that add charm to your ships. Get ready to follow along as Daz adds his signature Enlightened camo, brightens up the lights, and weathers his ships to give them that well-worn look.

All paints used are P3 paint unless stated otherwise.


Camouflage

Step 1 - Unfortunately, there's no real cheat sheet when it comes to painting large camo. I start the process by painting very thin sketch lines showing the rough placement of the stripes. Once happy, I then increase the width of the stripes on either side of the sketch line until I'm happy. Then, I go over the stripes with three or four thin layers of basecoat until solid. I used Asheth Grey for the dark stripes and Beast Hide for the lighter stripes.

gLOWING gREEN Lights

Step 2 - Now that the whole of the miniature has been brought up to a similar level of completeness, it's time to hit the lights! All glowy green areas were given a basecoat of Losan Green.

Step 3 - Next, I added around 50% Sulphuric Yellow to the Losan Green for the first highlight and applied this to the centre and lower parts of the windows to simulate a glow.

Step 4 - Adding around 50% Menoth White Highlight to the previous mix, this next highlight was placed within the area marked out by the previous layer.

Step 5 - Placing a very small final highlight of pure Menoth White highlight on the windows and on the lower window frames, I simulated light reflecting from the surrounding metal.

Step 6 - Next, I applied a glaze of Vallejo Fluro Green to all of the windows and glowy bits. It is essential to not let this pool up or it will ruin all the hard work carried out in the previous steps.

Step 7 - As an addition to the glowing parts, I reapplied the final pure Menoth White Highlight.

Weathering

Step 8 - To begin with weathering I used a roughly torn-up piece of sponge to stipple unthinned Umbral Umber onto the areas of the hull I wanted to show damage/weathering.

Step 9 - Using a size 0 brush I applied a 50/50 mix of Underbelly Blue/Menoth White highlight to the bottom edges of all the chips. I also used this same mix to edge highlight every exposed sharp edge and rivet. Then, I went around the Daedalus adding tiny scratches, and I roughed up the camo with a slightly more watered down version of the same mix.


And here's the final result! I used the same mixes and approach on both the Daedalus and Icarus, and even though they were painted at different times they came out looking very similar.

If I was to offer any specific advice when painting these models it would be the following: Yes they're big. Yes, there's a lot going on, but with a bit of planning and taking on each element one after the other you'll have them finished in no time!


Some impressive painting on display from Daz once again, but by following the above steps you can also achieve this incredible look. How have you decided to paint your Daedalus or Icarus? Make sure to show us on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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