From TOTAL NOOB to Golden Demon WINNER in two weeks?!?

Documenting the impossible journey.
Instagram: metal.af.mi...
Patreon link: / metal_af_miniatures

[@davidholmes1993]

So the title was just 100% clickbait then?

[@metalaf1136]

it's more of a satire of youtube video titles, coming from someone who makes literally one youtube video a year. 90% of the people watching the video came from my instagram, and they are aware that I have been doing this kind of work for years

[@RachelHerd]

Well it worked lol.. to be honest I’m glad it did.. subbed

[@spilbobaggins]

Yeah I was like "Wait I thought Ben Kantor painted that piece?" lol

[@valentinmelik6432]

Yup

[@allanala-outinen-no9dh]

That’s all I had to read, thank you!

[@sporesurf]

I find it insane how someone can not only paint such a complex piece but also sculpt it! Congratz!

[@gdmunn83]

Congratulations, this was my favourite piece from golden demon

[@user-mm9vu8id1b]

For me, it stands out from everything else. It's capturing the atmosphere and action of a video game trailer.

[@nathanial91]

So happy to have helped in even the slightest to the creation of your diorama, helping you get your hands on the miniatures 😁 a show stealer of a diorama

[@metalaf1136]

thanks again!

[@markkennedy3425]

One of my favorite entries from Golden Demon, and SO many cool details, some that I didn’t even initially notice, like the spinning barrel effect. And the fact there was so much sculpting involved too is CRAZY. So cool 🔥🔥🔥

[@metalaf1136]

thanks, and yeah, thats one of the reasons I wanted to provide the close up shots... a lot of people only saw the big wide GW photo, which for dioramas doesn't really show too much

[@markkennedy3425]

@@metalaf1136 yeah dioramas always need multiple angles to show all the details. Seriously awesome stuff 🔥🔥🔥

[@sub39h]

Your model is all kinds of awesome and perfectly captures the dark, cramped Space Hulk environment that i think we all see in our mind’s eye when we think of the setting. Your 3D modelling skills are totally unreal too - thanks so much for sharing some of your workflow. I could hope to achieve your level of skill but I find it fascinating.

[@Mdogg2005]

I saw the Space Hulk piece in person at Adepticon and it was by far and away the coolest thing in those display cases. Nice job, dude. That is a work of art!

[@hdehelly]

That entry was metal af… congrats on the GD and hopefully the “controversies” do not keep you and other talented artists to bring such awesome visuals to life

[@themegagromp]

This model stood out so much compaired to others. Incredible job

[@apathtrampledbydeer8446]

That is a crazy beautiful piece of art you've created!

[@mikkelkirketerp4884]

That Necromunda Nomads piece is stunning!! Would love to make (or own) something like that for my nomads gang!!

[@marc-andrec1610]

Your entry could have won in my opinion. It encapsulates what warhammer 40k is, and the lighting is amazingly well done. Very interesting to hear how it got made.

[@Jaydonald_DG]

I was honestly shocked the Space Hulk piece wasn't the gold but Diorama was just stacked this year. I wish you and Alexandre both could have gotten it. This piece of yours model blew my mind. The style is almost incomprehensible, such INTENSE colour composition and mood and overall vibe - everywhere you look is beautifully rendered. It really does feel like a cinematic moment in a video game brought to life. One of the best pieces I think I have ever seen. Well done mate and cant wait to see more from you.

[@metalaf1136]

wow, thanks for that. I'm glad it resonated with you.

[@FallicFolly]

your piece was the best entree at golden demon by far my favorite

[@liberatumplox625]

Loving your work. It takes me back to the good old days and reminds me of Mike McVey's dioramas.

[@Mikester88]

One of the best pieces of the comp. So good! Composition and painting is amazing but for me the way you captured the real setting of space hulk is the best part! Looking forward to see what you do in the future, even if its not specifically for a demon

[@hitscanner]

Found this video by chance. I saw Trovarion’s review of the golden demon winners video - this piece stood out to me. An absolute hammer blow of a masterpiece. Gloriously painted.

[@DS_painting]

Great video and amazing entries! Really liked your explanation of the different inspirations you took for the diorama. Congrats to your win and I hope you'll still decide to enter more GDs in the future!

[@WoM]

Amazing piece!

[@georgeduncan4528]

Can't believe I got recommended this. Ur entry was actually insane and I stared at it for 10 minutes finding all the details. Amazing to learn how you made the blood effects. Class.

[@4tooitous]

This piece definitely jumped out of the case. Love it!

[@charlierussell3136]

Absolutely fantastic breakdown. Love how u went through the 3D process aswell.

[@Jauphrey]

I appreciate the clarification of the click bait in the first few seconds of the video. 😂 I was like...is someone trying to claim they painted Ben Kantor's stuff?!

[@JohanEinevik]

Excellent video! Nice to follow along on your process and to hear your thoughts.

[@chaplainlemartes4198]

Absolutley brilliant mate, keep it up.

[@BESTIAL-CRUCIFIER]

Have to agree the standard now is wacky. I used to enter young bloods as a well, young blood, in the mid 2000s. I did okay at the regional level but could not afford to fly to the national competitions to participate further. As an adult, I find the standard unapproachably high. What you have done here is so advanced I can't imagine where to start, let alone hoping to be able to execute the work to such a high level. While I definitely appreciate the level of artistry involved, as it requires immense ability, it is a standard of creation that fewer than 99% of regular gamers and painters will begin to remotely approach, and that transcends far beyond the stock miniatures that you can buy at the store.

[@metalaf1136]

Yeah, I totally get that sentiment. you should 100% be able to paint a stock miniature and enter it, and not be overshadowed in your category by super custom stuff or intricate dioramas. That's why I'm personally advocating for several categories (unit, at a minimum) to be stock bases only, to essentially box all the crazy entries into the diorama category, which by definition is a category for people who want to do something non-stock.

[@jamalhussain9162]

Congratulations, I was blown away when I first saw 'pics of it.

[@SamsButterscotch]

Awesome video, I really love you going over your process!

[@TheBigDirty716]

Awesome work of art and fun video listening to you walk us through this. Congratulations!!

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Your entry is superb. The level of painting is indeed very high and while I feel I am a good painter I am by no means a GD contender. What I mean is this level is just beyond what I am willing to subject myself to in terms of time and effort . You have my admiration for the commitment.

[@metalaf1136]

haha, thanks. It is indeed torture at certain points

[@oltharantoniopulvirenti5910]

I'm in this video, and that's my fave entry too for this year, amazing!❤❤❤

[@metalaf1136]

haha, thanks for the inspiration!

[@stepan.tichyy]

Your pieces are always recognizeable and a great addition, do the orc one! The art is perfect! And congrats on your silver. Joined the patreon. Keep up the good work!

[@corkey2077]

GW did not do this justice with their photo, it's insanely good

[@edwindaughenbaugh2939]

Specifically, I would like to know more about your sculpting process, and what your journey of learning how to sculp looked like.

[@metalaf1136]

That prob doesnt fit into my one video per year model, but Id do it if enough people asked.

[@klug5916]

I finished painting the whole team of Space Hulk terminators. For the second time because I painted them for a friend a few years ago. It took me weeks, and I just wanted high quality, not even thinking about a real entry in any competition, just painting them for my collection. They are incredibly beautiful but too packed of details. So it's taking an enormours amount of time, even if they look gorgeous in the end, because of the amazing sculpts. So I've mixed feelings with them.

[@metalaf1136]

Yeah, some of them definitely have too much small detail. The overall flavor is really great though.

[@klug5916]

@@metalaf1136 Like I wrote, I was crazy enough to paint them all twice, that just show my appreciation for this force. But I also do appreciate the simplier miniatures of the past aera, that I know from my childhood. Anyway, you did a fantastic job and breaking down everything in this video is extremely interesting!

[@edwindaughenbaugh2939]

Thanks for sharing, I'd love to see more content from you.

[@srqminipainter]

Love that space hulk piece. So dramatic!

[@eriqone9245]

Love the insight into your process and research

[@xDetroitMetalx]

Wow, I can't believe you did this in 2 weeks.

[@yostaustin]

Also this thing was amazing to look at. Great work.

[@TeaAndMinis]

Stunning work and congratulations on the GD win. Mind me asking what the name of that time tracking app is that you briefly showed is?

[@metalaf1136]

Thanks! It's called "Toggl Track" in the iOS app store

[@leonatus221]

From noob too GD in 2 Minutes

[@CaptainComatose]

4:37 these are Terminators from the Space Marine Heroes series 2.

[@metalaf1136]

ah very cool. regardless, they're the flavor kings

[@yostaustin]

Where would you recommend me getting started learning 3d design for things like the diorama background ? Like KZbin or programs to use / what to study ??

[@metalaf1136]

I use zBrush, which I learned from their own provided tutorials as well as Michael Pavlovich's youtube. However, I already had a background in 3D modeling (I work in the entertainment industry in post production). So, you might want to start with Blender (it's a free app, and has a lot of broad applications, versus zBrush which is more specialized, and also has an expensive and predatory subscription model).

[@yostaustin]

@@metalaf1136 sounds good. Thank you. I wanted to use it for terrain and larger type buildings ect.

[@rossiuk2009]

Love this Ben, totally awesome. What was Games workshop's perspective around 3D printing?

[@metalaf1136]

kind of depends on the context... in terms of printing miniatures for gameplay, they hate it since it cuts into their profits and destroys their business model. But in terms of custom one-off custom sculpts for GD, seems to be ok.

[@Legal-Ade]

I loved this entry, it was probably my favorite of the con. However, I don’t think you addressed the controversy of this years entry’s at all. Nobody cares about stock bases, those have been out of the door for years. The issues with entries this year were the AI developed and inkjet printed background on the single miniature catagory winner, and the use of 3d sculpting and printing taking over every category which makes the competition more about sculpting and concept then actual painting. Everyone painting GW miniatures puts everyone on an even plane to start, then the painting technique can show the differences in skill. In my opinion, 3d sculpted and printed models should be kept in the open catagoty.

[@metalaf1136]

I think what I was trying to get at wasn't the literal controversy, but the sentiment behind the controversy, which is that some people don't want any non-GW elements in the competition, because they feel that it's exclusionary.

[@johnfarscape]

My biggest issue with Golden Demon, is not actually with the rules for the competition, but with 3d printing, and how it doesn't represent the rules for actually playing the game in stores, or at Warhammer world, I made wheels and a new suspension system for my friend, who wanted to convert all his Imperial guard chimaera's into wheeled vehicles, for a city police themed army, but he wasn't allowed to play with it at Warhammer world, due to being 3s printed parts, but it would have been fine, if he had made them out of green stuff and plasticard !!!! Another person wasn't allowed to play with their imperial knight, as it had a 3d printed head, which was even more ridiculous, as he had brought the head, from Taro Modelmaker/James Taro after seeing the exact one featured in an official Warhammer community post, saying about how amazing it was, you just cant logically praise and advertise something one minuet and ban it the next, it puts a lot of us off from 3d printing anything, or even customising anything, in case we cant prove we didn't 3d print it, they need to just accept the fact, that designing and building something in 3d is a valid form of customisation. . I'm pretty good with 3d design, but just don't want to risk getting banned from competitions, or even thrown out of a store over it, its been an issue with someone that replaced their Chaos Knight Khornate Rampagers Chainsword, with a Chainaxe, and the same with their Khornate Wardogs Chainglaives, and got their whole army banned from a tournament. One second GW are saying, be creative, make the models your own, customise, the next its, if it doesn't look like the box art its illegal, its just frustrating.

[@metalaf1136]

It must be super frustrating to be blocked from doing the hobby the way you want to. Unfortunately, GW is kind of a corporate juggernaut, and they have calculated that in order to protect their profit margin, they have to aggressively fight against 3d printing as a means of mass production. I think the way they see it is that if someone as a lone-wolf sculptor wants to make a one-off custom miniature or custom bit, that's the equivalent of someone sculpting it out of putty, and thus it's ok. However, if that person then broadcasts the STL across the internet, and everyone starts producing the mini en masse, that looks more like unlicensed industrial scale miniature production of their IP, which directly cuts into their sales. So, it sucks, but I get it. The pros of participating in a game system with a rich IP, well designed miniatures, and millions of players across the globe is that you have to deal with the cons of playing by GW's corporate profit protecting rules and hijinks.

[@ironxYT]

Best piece at GD imo

[@fermionjj4654]

Please look up 'question intonation tendency' and 'upward inflection'. Your work is great. Love that Space Hulk piece.

[@metalaf1136]

Thanks. Also, that's how southern Californians speak.

[@RandomGamer1984]

I can usually tell your pieces due to the fact of your crazy lighting. I have know idea how you understand light so good. Outstanding job. My issue with Golden Demon is everything is starting to look the same, mostly the style. I felt like yours and maybe 3 others didn’t use stipple glazing.

[@metalaf1136]

well, at least they will consider different styles now. if you go back as little as 4-5 years ago, it's hard to find any winners that aren't "eavy metal+" style. Its tough though, to try to be a painting competition that works for everyone, from wargamers to people that are strictly miniature artists

[@RandomGamer1984]

@@metalaf1136 that’s true.

[@user-sw3nf7dt1t]

Nice video, thanks!

[@itsio7188]

How do you stack or make resin like that? In reference to the goblet of splashing blood. I cannot find anything on these things. Or same concept of waves/wakes going up and over? Also, amazing works, obviously.

[@metalaf1136]

Thanks... the liquid effects are 3D printed clear resin.

[@itsio7188]

@@metalaf1136 ooooooooooh.... damn

[@Heavenknight_Infinite]

it is so hard to paint shade thing and small detail. it drive my brain crazy unless im missing. airbrush is the best paint tools?

[@metalaf1136]

It's mainly painted with size 0, 1, and 4 brushes, although airbrush was used just a tiny bit at the beginning.

[@dicnar]

Hi. May i ask what software do you use for color analize? looks pretty hefty.

[@metalaf1136]

its actually a free online tool... color.adobe.com

[@dicnar]

@@metalaf1136 Oh it's an Adobe one ? I fell stupid now cause i use AEffect all the time at work :P Thanks!

[@fangoffenris31]

insane!

[@bombjohn4468]

What programs do you use to sculpt

[@metalaf1136]

Mostly zBrush, with some minor assistance from Blender

[@MG-pf5xm]

I just think that "single miniature" and "unit" should be on their original bases, they almost all look like dioramas at this point 🤔

[@metalaf1136]

its not a bad idea conceptually, but if you look back to entries in the period where this rule was in effect, a lot of people built up massively vertical scenic bases on top of the small gaming base, which in effect created legal dioramas, and circumvented the rule.

[@zimagic]

​@@metalaf1136 There are easy fixes if they do go that route, say height & width restrictions on the finished piece Vs the stock base size & stock model's usual height. For every category, you could even have scenic & non-scenic (or limited scenic) prizes/categories. This diaorama is simply insane, but I understand how some of the public see the disconnect between what GW sells, what they permit in officially playing their game, their IP and what they allow in their own premium painting competition.

[@GoblinsLoft]

Last year (or the one before?) people complained that the winner's model (that skink) was too "stock" This year? People are grumbling the winners are too heavily converted?

[@metalaf1136]

well, if people dont have stuff to complain about, its no fun, haha

[@fischerondracek9983]

I think ultimately this is a phenomenal piece no doubt I wish I could do this good at paint but the lieutenant or captain not sure whom he is but I just don’t think it adds up that he would be yelling at the other terminator whose already dead in the diarama let me know if that makes sense

[@metalaf1136]

He's supposed to be more of screaming while he watches his m8 get wrecked, but maybe it didnt come across to 100% of viewers that way

[@CaptainCoolpants101]

I personally love seeing the super custom sculpts and that. But it is kinda lame how the gaming scene limits you to not using 3rd party pieces and parts, but here, you completely make everything from scratch, probably didn't even paint it using GW paints either lol. These entries could potentially have zero to do with GW at allll, except the ip itself.

[@metalaf1136]

Yeah, believe me, if there were another painting competition in the US with as much hype as Golden Demon, but didn't have IP restrictions, I would be putting all my focus on that competition.

[@porcu12345]

A green lit genestealer coming through the door behind the captain would have elevated the story of the piece

[@lemsdarkapprentice2535]

Your space hulk entry was by far the best at Adepticon + should have won. The slayer sword winner was nowhere near worthy of the name; yours was so much more inventive + atmospheric + had so much more skill involved. I think you were robbed [el'sda2].

[@metalaf1136]

thanks, love a spicy hot take!

[@ozskeeter]

wish one could block tubers who insist on click bait headlines ... removed from my algorithm recommendations

[@metalaf1136]

please also remember to thumbs down the video

[@ozskeeter]

@@metalaf1136 hehe ;)

[@BeefyGreek]

This is genuinely one of the best dioramas I’ve ever seen, but cmon don’t blatantly lie in the title….

[@sunnymammajamma6455]

Hot take or not. You are really speaking from a Privileged viewpoint. Agree, unit categories should be single based mini’s. Single miniatures should be based on plinths with minimal diorama background. Let the dioramas be restricted to its own category. For you to say if this was implemented again, that only the same painters would win, is highly privileged. A spectacular paint job will have its own merits compared to something elaborate and distracting fantastical place setting/concept.

[@metalaf1136]

I'm genuinely trying hard to understand what privilege I have that other people entering Golden Demon do not have. Let me know.

[@jeremymorse2087]

Absolutely amazing piece but what gives with the title? By what metric do you class yourself as a Noob? Just trust to people wanting to watch your videos because of the quality of content rather then using BS titles.

[@JollyRoger286]

All for click bait to get some view but okay... "Satire title" as you call it. Bye

[@theezekarion164]

Ur a liar out the gate. But why?

[@metalaf1136]

KZbin titles are a clickbait cesspool. As someone who puts out only one video a year for a specific purpose, and who is definitely not.a youtuber, I think its funny to feature a spotlight on my farce of a clickbait title in the first three seconds rather than have someone realize 2/3 of the way through the video that its 2/3 of a lie, like everything else on youtube. Ironically, its a more honest exchange.

[@lovecontemplation8607]

Hate it. Only GW models they sell should be allowed in the competition. Ps. Ur work is still insanely good. Just meant the competition.