Stalkers Unit - Starcraft TMG

Another unit finished, and another excuse to arrange some Xel’Naga ruins for a photo session.

For these Stalkers, I took inspiration from some Samwise Didier artwork

I loved bringing that influence into this unit through the purple armor and green gems, then finding a setting that made them feel at home.

The large shield pieces were the first parts I painted, and they stayed my favorites throughout the project. The recipe was fairly simple: a solid silver basecoat, a coat of 1step purple, a silver drybrush, and then added shadows. I’m particularly pleased with how the silver catches the curves and edges while leaving the purple visible across the broader surfaces. Those pieces became a highlight of both the painting process and the finished photos.

The gems took more experimentation. I wanted the placement of light and dark to suggest a convincing gem, and I don’t think I quite found the material or volume I had in mind. The gloss varnish gives them an energy-orb quality, though, and there are color transitions I’m happy with. For a future attempt, I’d like to work more deliberately on where the values sit, as well as how smoothly they transition.

Photography was another big part of this project. I paid closer attention to the placement and power of my off-camera flash, experimenting with its distance from the scene and different shooting angles. I also used both my 56mm and 23mm lenses more freely, letting each offer different possibilities for individual models and group compositions.

During editing, I was more careful to preserve detail in the blacks and avoid blowing out the whites. There’s still room to improve how clearly the models stand out against the terrain, especially where dark limbs overlap busy scenery, but I’m pleased with the atmosphere in this batch.

The first photo is my favorite because the terrain places the Stalker in a world, and the angle gives the basing room to contribute. A few of these shots have the cinematic, almost box-art feeling I was hoping for.

Miniatures: Archon Studio
Backdrops: Jon Hodgson Backdrops
Painting inspiration: Samwise Didier