Paint Recipes

Painting a Steel Legion Imperial Guardsman

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Paints Required:

Citadel:

  • Agrax Earthshade (Shade)
  • Baneblade Brown
  • Celestra Grey
  • Dawnstone
  • Evil Sunz Scarlet
  • Gorthor Brown
  • Leadbelcher
  • Mephiston Red
  • Rhinox Hide
  • Runefang Steel
  • Screaming Skull
  • Ushabti Bone
  • Zamesi Desert
  • Abaddon Black
  • Eshin grey

Trench Coat

  1. Basecoat the coat with Zamesi Desert.
  2. Wash the coat with Agrax Earthshade, ensuring it gets into the crevices while avoiding heavy pooling on flat surfaces.
  3. Layer the raised areas using a 50/50 mix of Zamesi Desert and Ushabti Bone, leaving the shaded recesses showing.
  4. Highlight the coat with a mix of 2 parts Ushabti Bone to 1 part Zamesi Desert, focusing on the raised folds.
  5. Highlight Ushabti Bone onto the brightest high points of the coat to transition away from the yellow tone.
  6. Apply a final fine edge highlight of Screaming Skull along the sharpest edges and folds.

Leather & Mask

  1. Basecoat the gloves, boots, gas mask, and belts with Rhinox Hide.
  2. Wash the leather areas with Agrax Earthshade.
  3. Highlight the raised leather folds and boot reflective points with Gorthor Brown.
  4. Apply a fine highlight to the sharpest edges and highest spots with Baneblade Brown.

Helmet, Casing & Sword Grip

  1. Basecoat the helmet, bolter casing, and sword grip with Abaddon Black.
  2. Apply an edge highlight to all black areas using Eshin Grey.
  3. Apply a final extreme edge highlight to the sharpest corners using Dawnstone.

Metallics & Sword

  1. Basecoat all silver metallic areas, including the sword blade and pistol details, with Leadbelcher.
  2. Wash the metallics with Agrax Earthshade, focusing on the mechanical crevices and the base of the sword blade.
  3. Edge highlight the sharpest metallic edges and blade with Runefang Steel.

Shoulder Insignia

  1. Basecoat the Steel Legion shoulder emblem background with Celestra Grey.
  2. Paint the central lightning bolt symbol with Mephiston Red.
  3. Apply a subtle wash of Agrax Earthshade around the outer edges of the logo to create depth and separation.
  4. Layer White onto the emblem background, leaving a thin line of shade around the red symbol.
  5. Highlight the lightning bolt symbol with Evil Sunz Scarlet.

Recipe Notes:

Since the whole model will get a wash of the same color, I recommend base coating the whole model before washing.

I used the old Agrax Earthshade recipe for this model. If I was painting it now I would use Battlemud Wash from Two thin coats as a substitute.

Painting a Word Bearers Space Marine

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Paints Required

  • Abteilung 502:
    • Starship Filth (ABT510 Oil Paint)
  • Citadel:
    • Basilicanum Grey (Contrast)
    • Corvus Black
    • Flesh Tearers Red (Contrast)
    • Grey Knights Steel
    • Leadbelcher
    • Runelord Brass
    • Waywatcher Green
    • Abaddon Black

Prime & Undercoat

  1. Basecoat the entire model using Citadel Leadbelcher.

Metallic Red Armor

  1. Lightly wash all the metallics with Basilicanum Grey. (Nuln Oil could be used as an alternative)
  2. Apply an even coat of Flesh Tearers Red over the metallic armor plates to create the deep metallic candy-red Word Bearers finish.
  3. Paint the shoulder pads and kneepads with Abaddon Black

Trim, Backpack & Metallics

  1. Basecoat the shoulder pad trims, backpack details, and armor joints with Leadbelcher.
  2. Edge highlight with Grey Knights Steel.

Bolter

  1. Basecoat the bolter casing with Corvus Black.
  2. Basecoat the bolter shells in the magazine with Runelord Brass.
  3. Apply Basilicanum Grey (or nuln oil) all over the metallic details

Eye Lenses

  1. Basecoat the helmet eye lenses with Grey Knights Steel to create a bright, reflective base.
  2. Apply Waywatcher Green directly over the metallic base to create a vivid glowing green lens effect.

Weathering & Oil Wash

  1. Gloss varnish the whole model
  2. Pinwash the model with Starship Filth oil paint mixed with Mineral Spirits, working it into all armor recesses, rivets, and mechanical joints.
  3. Allow the oil wash to dry slightly, then use a cotton swab or sponge lightly dampened with odorless mineral spirits to wipe the wash off high points, leaving gritty grimdark shading in the crevices.
  4. Matte Varnish the whole model
  5. Optional: With your brush or a sponge, apply a chipping effect to the armor with Leadbelcher

Recipe Notes:

If you are not comfortable using oil paints, a recess wash of nuln oil will achieve a similar effect to the oil wash.

Painting A Custodian Guard

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AK Interactive:

  • Streaking Grime (Enamel Effect)

Citadel:

  • Iron Warriors
  • Word Bearers Red

Scale75 (Metal Alchemy):

  • Elven Gold
  • Necro Gold
  • Thrash Metal

Tamiya:

  • Clear Blue (X-23)

Two Thin Coats:

  • Death Reaper

Vallejo:

  • German Camo Black Brown (70.822)

Prime & Undercoat

  1. Basecoat the entire model with black undercoat

Armor

  1. Basecoat all golden armor areas with Necro Gold.
  2. Zenithal spray (or drybrush) with Elven Gold.
  3. Basecoat the armor joints with Death Reaper
  4. Basecoat the Faceplate of the Helmet with Iron Warriors
  5. Apply Streaking Grime all over, allow it to dry slightly, then use a cotton swab or makeup sponge dampened with mineral spirits to wipe the enamel wash off the high points.
  6. Edge highlight the highest sharp corners, with Necro Gold. This can be applied via a light drybrush

Leather

  1. Basecoat all leather straps, and gloves with German Camo Black Brown.
  2. Apply Streaking Grime all over, allow it to dry slightly, then use a cotton swab or makeup sponge dampened with mineral spirits to wipe the enamel wash off the high points.

Weapon

  1. Basecoat the spear shaft and casing details with Death Reaper.
  2. Paint the spear blade, gun mechanism, and metallic casing elements with Iron Warriors.
  3. Apply Streaking Grime all over, allow it to dry slightly, then use a cotton swab or makeup sponge dampened with mineral spirits to wipe the enamel wash off the high points.
  4. Edge highlight the blade, power lines, and mechanical filigree with Iron Warriors.

Topknot & Armor Accents

  1. Basecoat with Word Bearers Red.
  2. Apply Streaking Grime all over, allow it to dry slightly, then use a cotton swab or makeup sponge dampened with mineral spirits to wipe the enamel wash off the high points.
  3. Let the Streaking Grime dry then wipe away the excess
  4. Optional: highlight the topknot with Word Bearers Red

Gems & Lenses (last)

  1. Basecoat all armor gems, weapon power cells, and helmet eye lenses with Thrash Metal to establish a bright reflective base.
  2. Apply Clear Blue over the reflective metallic basecoat, letting it pool slightly to create a glossy, glowing blue gem finish.

Recipe Notes:

Since the Entire model will be washed in Streaking Grime, I suggest applying all basecoats prior to the enamel wash. Once the wash has been wiped away, then paint the gems/lenses.

Painting an 8th Cadian Shocktrooper

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Paints Required:

Citadel:

  • Abaddon Black
  • Agrax Earthshade
  • Bugman’s Glow
  • Cadian Fleshtone
  • Castellan Green
  • Dawnstone
  • Eshin Grey
  • Kislev Flesh
  • Leadbelcher
  • Loren Forest
  • Nuln Oil
  • Reikland Fleshshade
  • Runefang Steel
  • Stormhost Silver
  • Ushabti Bone
  • Zandri Dust
  • Ulthuan Grey

Prime & Undercoat

  1. Basecoat the entire model using Citadel Zandri Dust Spray.

Fatigues

  1. Basecoat all cloth fatigues with two thin layers of Zandri Dust.
  2. Wash the Fatigues with Agrax Earthshade.
  3. Layer Zandri Dust, avoiding the shaded recesses.
  4. Edge highlight the upper ridges and sharpest fabric folds with Ushabti Bone.

Armor & Helmet

  1. Basecoat the helmet, shoulder guards, and chest armor plates with Castellan Green.
  2. Apply Agrax Earthshade into the armor panel lines.
  3. Layer Castellan Green back over the flat armor surfaces to clean up any pooling.
  4. Edge highlight all sharp armor plate borders and helmet rims with Loren Forest.

Leather, Boots & Weapon Casing

  1. Basecoat the lasgun casing, boots, belt, and webbing straps with Abaddon Black.
  2. Wash the black casing and leather areas with Nuln Oil.
  3. Apply a neat edge highlight to the casing edges, belt straps, and boot creases with Eshin Grey.
  4. Apply a final sharp highlight to extreme corners and edges using Dawnstone.

Weapon Metallics & Hardware

  1. Basecoat the gun barrel, receiver mechanism, bayonet lugs, and belt buckles with Leadbelcher.
  2. Wash all metallic elements thoroughly with Nuln Oil.
  3. Edge highlight the metallic edges, barrel tip, and buckles with Runefang Steel or Stormhost Silver.

Aquillas

  1. Basecoat the aquilla on the helmet, gun and canteen with Dawnstone
  2. Highlight the raised surfaces with Ulthuan Grey

Skin & Face

  1. Basecoat all exposed skin areas including hands and face with Bugman’s Glow.
  2. Wash the skin completely with Reikland Fleshshade to settle in the features.
  3. Layer Cadian Fleshtone onto the raised facial features, fingers, and nose.
  4. Highlight the highest points of the cheeks, brow, and knuckles with Kislev Flesh.
  5. Carefully paint the eyes with Ulthuan Grey
  6. Carefully dot the pupils with Abaddon Black

Recipe Notes:

Painting A Macedonian Phalangite

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Paints Required:

Citadel

  • Barak-Nar Burgundy
  • Cadian Fleshtone
  • Corax White
  • Kislev Flesh
  • Leadbelcher
  • Mephiston Red
  • Pallid Wych Flesh
  • Zandri Dust Spray (Primer)

Two Thin Coats (TTC)

  • Battleaxe Brass
  • Battle Mud Wash
  • Death Reaper
  • Flesh Wash
  • Scabbard Brown
  • Wasteland Brown

Prime & Undercoat

  1. Basecoat the entire model using Citadel Zandri Dust Spray.

Cloth and Leather

  1. Basecoat with Mephiston Red
  2. Wash with Battlemud Wash
  3. Layer with Mephiston Red, keeping the paint out of the recesses

Linothorax

  1. Basecoat the helmet, greaves, and sword hilt with Battleaxe Brass.
  2. Basecoat the main linothorax armor with Pallid Wych Flesh.
  3. Basecoat the trim of the armor with Death Reaper.
  4. Wash all the armor pieces with Battle Mud Wash.
  5. Layer the linothorax with Pallid Wych Flesh, keeping the paint out of the recesses.

Spear

  1. Basecoat the spear shaft with Wasteland Brown.
  2. Basecoat the metallic spearhead and butt-spike with Leadbelcher.
  3. Wash the entire spear with Battle Mud Wash.
  4. Layer Wasteland Brown back onto the shaft, keeping out of the recesses.

Shield

  1. Basecoat the front face of the shield with Corax White.
  2. Basecoat the back of the shield with Wasteland Brown.
  3. Apply water-slide transfers (for example, Macedonian transfers by Warlord Games).
  4. Basecoat the rim of the shield with Battleaxe Brass.
  5. Wash the rim and the back of the shield with Battle Mud Wash.

Skin & Eyes

  1. Basecoat all exposed skin with Cadian Fleshtone.
  2. Wash the skin with Flesh Wash.
  3. Layer with Cadian Fleshtone to restore the base color on raised areas.
  4. Highlight the raised facial features and skin details with Kislev Flesh.
  5. Carefully paint the eye recesses with Barak-Nar Burgundy.
  6. Carefully paint the eye sockets with Corax White.
  7. Using an extra-fine detail brush, dot the pupils with Death Reaper.

Recipe Notes:

This model was based with Soil of Sparta by Krautcover