Stained Glass Windows - Step-by-Step

I received several emails and messages in regards to the stained glass window I did last week for the command island.
So here's a step-by-step on how to do those stained glass windows.

For this I designed an Imperial Propaganda theme "Vade Retro Xenos" - "Begone Xenos!" depicting an Imperial Champion killing an Ork and showing the chopped head.
The window will be positioned at the rear end of my ATHENA airship, and provide light to the hangar, as well as it is to motivate the crew while working in the hangar (well, that's the fluff at least).
So here's the pencil freehand, with some additional symbols like the XIX division logo, a fleur-de-lil, templars cross ect.

Next I copied the image with a fine black pen onto a sheet of transparent paper.

Then I flipped the transparent paper over to its backside - this is where all the paining happens.

For stained glass one paints from front to back. Which means you must start with the highlights and shadows, as well as any details, and then do the main color.

So here I started with the red, using Blazing Orange for the highlights and Red Gore for the Shadows. Using it on all the background window tiles as well as the actual red items.

When flipped back to the front it looks like this.

Then the remaining red items are filled with Blood Red.

And from front you get the first impression on how this works out.

Next was green. Goblin Green for the highlights and Dark Green Ink for the shadows.

Filled with Green (I use my own mixture for Ork hide) it looks like this.

Next was Gold.

For this I used Sunburst Yellow for the highlights and Bubonic Brown for the shadows.

Filled with Golden Yellow it looks like a nice gold mix.

For the blue items I started with Ice Blue for the highlights and Midnight Blue for the shadows.

Enchanted Blue completes these items.

Then I continued this way with the details.

Finally I applied a layer of Chaos Black around the windows itself. And this completes the actual window work.

To mount the window I completed a part of the rear structure that will hold the window.

Since I'm not yet sure about the final paint scheme of the ATHENA itself, I limited the work to the actual window frame.

Then I glued the transparent paper from the backside to the frame.

To give it a more glassy apearance (and to cover some of the glue spills I produced) I gave the windows a glossy finish with 'Ard Coat.

Mounted on the ATHENA it will look like this :)

Well, I hope you find this little step-by-step useful and it helps you to create your own stained windows in your next project.

Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (35)

Last night I finally closed most of the still uncovered sections of the ATHENA's right side. For this I used again the very nice .25mm plasticard. It is almost as manipulatable as a sheet of paper. Really nice.

Of course I also had to do a lot of riveting :)

Then I decided to change my previous procedure for the left side. While I left the areas of the tank, torpedo launcher, and bomb shaft open last time, I decided I would cover them completely this time and mount the itmes on top. But to save plasticard I used smaller pieces in areas that will be covered by the launcher and tank.

As you can see, the drop deck will cover some of the inaccuracies that I have in the skin.

Well, since I talked so much about paint schemes and asked for your suggestions, I did get some feedback.

For example Meph at WIP provided me with these two very nice suggestions:
Meph 1:

Meph 2:

And another very cool suggestion came from Mortis at WIP

:)

Well there is still time. I have so many things still left to do that nothing is set in stone when it comes to the paint scheme.

You want to try yourself?

Here's the "blank" ATHENA, fire away, give it a try.

Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (34)

Last night the main deck of the ATHENA underwent another major overhaul.
I wanted to reposition the aircraft lift to the rear, where it makes more sense and aircraft can then take off to the forward end of the ATHENA - against the wind.

So I cut the lift section (some say it looks like a pool - but in the final display it will carry an aircraft, so everyone will see what it is) out of the forward deck section and opened the space in the rear.

This is how it looks in place, together with the command island.

Here's a shot into the "guts" of the ATHENA - this is the left side, that still has to be done completely.

Lift and forward deck together with the Island in place.

Just for fun with the THANTALOS

Frontal view.

And a shot from the "good" side :)

In the meantime I conducted a very successfull image search on the net (most results came via "Inquisition") and collected a lot of images that I intend to use on the ATHENA - not all, but at least some...

Here's what I have for the HEAVEN section (mostly heroes and Inquisitors):

And this is for the HELL section:

I think this will give me plenty of options, but if you come across any good ones, don't hesitate to point me to them :)
Cheers

Klaus

ATHENA - Steampunk Airship (33)

Sorry, but I've got side-tracked again :)

Over the last few days I've been working on some "secret stuff" again - "Gee, Klaus is participating in another contest!?!" some of you may say, but I won't comment this time.

Anyhow, part of the work was also building a little light box.

It is relatively crude, quickly build out of cardboard - one could also say "tank tape and chicken wire" - but it serves the purpose. It's not big enough for a ZEUS, Kazuchaaah, or the ATHENA, but for infantry and normal armour it's just right.

I still have to work on the lights a bit

as the result is still a bit too dark, and I think I need to position the model further to the rear - not enough light in the foreground...

Well, I will now continue with the ATHENA, as there is still PLENTY to do. So here are some more status shots (some I have already shown)





As you see there is still a lot of skin to complete on the one side, while the other still needs all the stuff. The torpedo launcher, the buojancy tank, and the bombing shaft.

After that I will see what else the main deck needs - also where I will postition a "Repelling Patry" - some more AA weapons, the actual side engines and rotors, another crane, and, and, and....

But even the current uncomplete status gives a nice impression of how this baby could look in the end.

Loaded with a Thantalos

Or enemies view :)


So this brings me to the final part of todays post: Painting.

Thanks for all of your feedback and tips. Admiral Drax, your posts were very helpfull (http://admiraldrax.blogspot.com/2009/04/106-camoflage-theory.html and http://admiraldrax.blogspot.com/2009/02/093-leman-russ-camouflage.html) and actually gave me the final push NOT to use a camouflage pattern at all.

In the end, it is like with the ZEUS: this baby is way too big to hide behind any camouflage.

Nevertheless, I'm not gonna paint her in bright pink either *lol*

Form the various comments, images, and links provided here, on WIP, and on Warseer, I decided to use a basic "cloud" pattern as background:

Onto which I will try to paint a "Heaven & Hell" topic. So there will be a lot of illustrations out of the 40K mythology and the spaces between them covered with skulls again - basically "Hell" will be a dark grey backround with lighter grey skulls, and "Heaven" will be a light background with darker skulls....at least that's the current theory.

And now I ask for your help :)
I'm not very familiar with 40K mythology *shame on me*, so please point me to any mythology images, posts, links, ect.

Anything you think I could use to cover the ATHENA's skin.

Thanks and I really look forward to your input.

Cheers

Klaus