Diamond pattern on Harleys?

[mrmanstory]

Hey all, I may have made the impulse decision at nexus to pick up some harlequin models with hardly an idea of how I'm gonna paint them. Wondering if anyone has tips on doing the diamond pattern for them. Kinda want to have it on some special units or everyone if I'm not lazy lol

[Jack Shrapnel]

I believe that I've seen a tutorial for this online, although I'm honestly not remembering where... it's something about using parallel lines to start with a pencil, then cross hatch through those with a pencil again using parallel lines, then filling in the sections.

But honestly I only have a vague recollection of it... I know Kaelon has been able to do this to great effect on his harlies, so he's the guy to ask!

[question]

That's pretty much how you do it if free-handing. As I don't trust myself for accuracy, I have diamond-cut stencils. I got mine at Nexus. Not sure if they are standard stock but you can probably order them there as well.

[kaelon]

I use stencils from fallout hobbies. You can do them by hand and if you do your a braver person then most

[voodoo]

I did the pencil method for when I did a checker pattern on the back of Mortarion's robe section, but I'd imagine diamonds would be equally easy on tiny models like Shannon had made mention above. Plus the upside of pencil is... erasing until it's right and you can paint right over it.

I'd recommend a mechanical lead holder (different from a pencil) Pentel P207 .7mm (or a .5mm lead in another lead holder) lead with a 2H lead inside so it's a bit harder and won't leave little graphite crumbs all over from a softer lead like an HB or 2B+ would.

Just my 2 cents, but I typically start all complex freehand with a pencil sketch underneath.

[sean]

My 2 cents is that trying to do diamonds on tiny skinny elf legs is horrible, and I gave up. If you want to do it on the vehicles, then stencils and an airbrush are definitely the way to go.

[Trickster Raven]

I find working in rows is helpful. You build a row around rhe top of the leg, then the bottom of one row provides the tip tip thr next.