Painting

Turquoise scales and weathered bronze

Turquoise scales, worn bronze armour and dark leather build a clear contrast of materials. Cream horns, amber eyes and a few bright facial accents give the Saurian a focused finish.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 7

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean and prime the Saurian
Inspect the horns, teeth and scale edges for support marks or mould lines; remove them without rounding the detail. Clean the model as appropriate for its material, rinse if washed, and let it dry completely. Brush on thin coats of Black Surface Primer, turning the figure to reach beneath the shoulder pads and between the legs.
Expected result
An even black coat covers every surface without filling the grooves.
Points to watch
Do not bend the horns or leave thick primer around the teeth.

Read the complete guide · 7

1. Prepare the model

Clean and prime the Saurian
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Inspect the horns, teeth and scale edges for support marks or mould lines; remove them without rounding the detail. Clean the model as appropriate for its material, rinse if washed, and let it dry completely. Brush on thin coats of Black Surface Primer, turning the figure to reach beneath the shoulder pads and between the legs.
Expected result
An even black coat covers every surface without filling the grooves.
Points to watch
Do not bend the horns or leave thick primer around the teeth.

2. Apply the base colours

A dark teal foundation
Where to paint: Turquoise scales
Stegadon Scale Greencitadel · 21-10
Cover the scales with Stegadon Scale Green in thin coats until the black primer no longer shows through. Work around the armour, leather straps and pale horn areas.
Expected result
The teal is opaque, including the underside of the tail.
Points to watch
Keep the scale grooves clear of paint build-up.
Warm bronze armour
Where to paint: Bronze armour and fittings
Balthasar Goldcitadel · 21-29
Apply Balthasar Gold to the metal, using two thin coats if needed. Follow the sculpted boundaries carefully: the straps beneath the fittings remain leather.
Expected result
The metal has a continuous warm sheen without thick flakes.
Points to watch
Do not turn the leather wraps or horns into metal.
Dark leather kit
Where to paint: Leather straps and panels
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Paint the leather with Rhinox Hide. Use the point of the brush to reach between each buckle and its strap, keeping the metal clean.
Expected result
Every strap is dark brown and clearly separate from its fittings.
Points to watch
Do not miss the narrow ankle wraps or colour the exposed scales brown.
An earthy base for horns and claws
Where to paint: Horns, teeth and claws
Zandri Dustcitadel · 21-16
Paint these hard, pale details with Zandri Dust. Turn the miniature to cover the back of each horn and the sides of the claws, leaving the dark gaps between the teeth.
Expected result
The pale details are fully covered and still individually defined.
Points to watch
Keep Zandri Dust off the turquoise scales.

3. Build the shadows

Cool shadows between the scales
Where to paint: Turquoise scales
Drakenhof Nightshadecitadel · 24-17
Guide Drakenhof Nightshade into the scale grooves. Deepen the shaded belly and inner limbs with a second controlled pass once the first is dry. Lift any pools before they leave tide marks.
Expected result
Cool dark grooves separate the scales without hiding their relief.
Points to watch
Do not flood the entire miniature or stain the ivory.
Depth beneath the bronze trim
Where to paint: Bronze armour and fittings
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Apply Agrax Earthshade beneath the raised trim and around fittings. Feather a little over the lower half of each shoulder plate so the broad bronze surfaces are darker below than above.
Expected result
The trim stands out and the plates have a clear light-to-dark transition.
Points to watch
Do not let shade dry as a thick ring on the flat metal.
Shade overlapping leather
Where to paint: Leather straps and panels
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Run a small amount of Agrax Earthshade into the folds and under overlapping straps. Leave the broad leather faces free of pools.
Expected result
Straps remain distinct where they cross.
Points to watch
Do not bury the buckle outlines in shade.
Brown roots for the horns
Where to paint: Horns, teeth and claws
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Shade the roots with Agrax Earthshade, drawing it a short way along the horn growth lines. Keep the tips much lighter and remove any large drop trapped between teeth.
Expected result
The roots are darker, with a soft transition towards the tips.
Points to watch
Avoid an all-over brown wash that dirties every pale surface.

4. Build the highlights

Bring back the turquoise
Where to paint: Turquoise scales
Sotek Greencitadel · 22-19
Layer Sotek Green onto the raised scales, keeping the blue shadows visible between them. Cover more of each scale on the head and front thigh; use smaller, quieter patches beneath the arms and towards the tail.
Expected result
The face and front leg stand out without losing the deep recesses.
Points to watch
Do not give every scale an identical bright outline.
Restore the warm metal
Where to paint: Bronze armour and fittings
Balthasar Goldcitadel · 21-29
Restore Balthasar Gold over the lit portions of the metal. Build several thin layers near the upper rims, reducing the coverage towards the shaded lower edges.
Expected result
Warm bronze shines through above the brown shadows.
Points to watch
Keep the darker border directly below each raised rim.
Reddish-brown leather
Where to paint: Leather straps and panels
Doombull Browncitadel · 22-45
Apply thin layers of Doombull Brown to the raised leather. Leave Rhinox Hide visible at the edges beneath the buckles and in the deepest folds, so the straps still look thick and flexible.
Expected result
The leather is warm and matte, darker in folds than on raised faces.
Points to watch
Do not cover all of the dark brown foundation.
Soft highlights on the scales
Where to paint: Turquoise scales
Sotek Greencitadel · 22-19
Temple Guard Bluecitadel · 22-20
Mix Sotek Green with Temple Guard Blue, starting at roughly equal parts. Thin it to a translucent glaze and build the light-facing half of the larger scales. Add more Temple Guard Blue as you reduce the painted area; keep the brightest transitions on the face.
Expected result
Each lit scale has a smooth transition rather than a flat turquoise spot.
Points to watch
Do not lighten the underside to the same value as the head.
Sharp, selective bronze highlights
Where to paint: Bronze armour and fittings
Sycorax Bronzecitadel · 22-64
Pick out the light-facing edges with Sycorax Bronze. Break the lines at shaded corners and keep the shoulder rims brighter than the fittings near the feet.
Expected result
The rims look metallic without outlining every edge equally.
Points to watch
Keep these highlights off the leather.
Cream-coloured horns and claws
Where to paint: Horns, teeth and claws
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Layer Ushabti Bone along the horns towards their tips, letting the darker roots show through. Use the same colour on the outer faces of teeth and upper curves of claws. Follow existing horn ridges rather than painting a new dense texture.
Expected result
The ivory is clean and creamy, with brown still visible at the roots.
Points to watch
Do not fill the spaces between teeth.
Worn leather edges
Where to paint: Leather straps and panels
Doombull Browncitadel · 22-45
Tuskgor Furcitadel · 22-46
Mix Doombull Brown with a little Tuskgor Fur and trace the upper edges of the leather. Add a few short touches of Tuskgor Fur where straps rub against buckles. Leave most of each strap smooth.
Expected result
The leather has soft edge wear rather than a bright metal-like outline.
Points to watch
Avoid covering every leather surface with scratches.
A few bright facial accents
Where to paint: Turquoise scales
Baharroth Bluecitadel · 22-79
Use Baharroth Blue for tiny, broken highlights on the brow and upper muzzle. Add only a few weaker touches on the forward knuckles. From normal viewing distance, the face should catch the eye first.
Expected result
The head is the clear focal point; the lower body remains quieter.
Points to watch
Do not add bright dots to every scale.
Small metallic glints
Where to paint: Bronze armour and fittings
Sycorax Bronzecitadel · 22-64
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Add a little Stormhost Silver to Sycorax Bronze. Place tiny glints on just the sharpest upper corners, keeping the broad surfaces bronze.
Expected result
A few sharp reflections finish the metal without bleaching it.
Points to watch
Do not repaint the rims silver.
Clean ivory tips
Where to paint: Horns, teeth and claws
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Use Screaming Skull sparingly at the horn and claw tips. Add a short highlight to the front teeth without joining them into one pale strip.
Expected result
The tips are brighter than the shafts and the teeth remain separate.
Points to watch
Avoid thick chalky paint on the small tips.

5. Paint the details

Small amber eyes
Where to paint: Amber eyes
Averland Sunsetcitadel · 21-01
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Carefully colour the visible eye surfaces with Averland Sunset. Once dry, add a short vertical pupil with Abaddon Black. Keep a dark border under the heavy brow; do not enlarge the eye beyond the sculpt.
Expected result
Both eyes are readable but remain small and recessed.
Points to watch
No painted glow or oversized cartoon eyes.

6. Add effects and weathering

Restrained wear on the shoulder armour
Where to paint: Bronze armour and fittings
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Sycorax Bronzecitadel · 22-64
Add a few small irregular marks with Rhinox Hide where the shoulder plates could be knocked in play. Put a tiny Sycorax Bronze accent beneath only the largest marks. Keep the existing engraved lines clear.
Expected result
The armour looks used, while most of its surface stays clean.
Points to watch
Do not imitate every speck in the enlarged concept or create dense micro-scratches.

7. Finish the model

Check the finish from every side
Where to paint: Turquoise scales
Stegadon Scale Greencitadel · 21-10
Balthasar Goldcitadel · 21-29
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Turn the dry figure under a soft light. Correct any stray colour at the scale, leather, bronze and ivory boundaries with the matching paint, rebuilding a highlight only where needed. Check the back of the legs, lower tail and both hands for missed primer.
Expected result
All visible surfaces are finished, boundaries are neat and the face remains the focal point.
Points to watch
Do not add a base or extra markings that are absent from this sculpt and scheme.

All paints and materials (18)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Stegadon Scale Greencitadel · 21-10

Drakenhof Nightshadecitadel · 24-17

Sotek Greencitadel · 22-19

Temple Guard Bluecitadel · 22-20

Baharroth Bluecitadel · 22-79

Balthasar Goldcitadel · 21-29

Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Sycorax Bronzecitadel · 22-64

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Doombull Browncitadel · 22-45

Tuskgor Furcitadel · 22-46

Zandri Dustcitadel · 21-16

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

Averland Sunsetcitadel · 21-01

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

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Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 7

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean and prime the Saurian
Inspect the horns, teeth and scale edges for support marks or mould lines; remove them without rounding the detail. Clean the model as appropriate for its material, rinse if washed, and let it dry completely. Brush on thin coats of Black Surface Primer, turning the figure to reach beneath the shoulder pads and between the legs.
Expected result
An even black coat covers every surface without filling the grooves.
Points to watch
Do not bend the horns or leave thick primer around the teeth.

Turquoise scales and weathered bronze

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean and prime the Saurian

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean and prime the Saurian

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

A dark teal foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Warm bronze armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Dark leather kit

Expected result

Points to watch

An earthy base for horns and claws

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Cool shadows between the scales

Expected result

Points to watch

Depth beneath the bronze trim

Expected result

Points to watch

Shade overlapping leather

Expected result

Points to watch

Brown roots for the horns

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Bring back the turquoise

Expected result

Points to watch

Restore the warm metal

Expected result

Points to watch

Reddish-brown leather

Expected result

Points to watch

Soft highlights on the scales

Expected result

Points to watch

Sharp, selective bronze highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Cream-coloured horns and claws

Expected result

Points to watch

Worn leather edges

Expected result

Points to watch

A few bright facial accents

Expected result

Points to watch

Small metallic glints

Expected result

Points to watch

Clean ivory tips

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Small amber eyes

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Add effects and weathering

Restrained wear on the shoulder armour

Expected result

Points to watch

7. Finish the model

Check the finish from every side

Expected result