Painting

Ultramarines Infernus — scorched grimdark

Worn dark blue armour, aged gold and scorched weapon metal give the Infernus a campaign-hardened finish. Controlled damage and quiet cold rubble support the stronger warm accents rather than covering every plate with equal wear.

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Colours on the model

Letters identify paints. The same letter can appear in several places.

Ultramarines Infernus — scorched grimdark

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 6

Preparation

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.
Remove mould lines and dust before painting. If the unpainted model is greasy, wash it gently with warm soapy water, rinse and let every recess dry completely. Vallejo Black Surface Primer 70.602 is bottled primer: apply a thin, even coat with a soft brush, drawing excess out of recesses. Let it dry before adding another thin coat only where needed. Let the primer cure according to its label before painting. If the model already has sound, even primer, clean off dust and skip re-priming.
Expected result
The primer is matte and continuous, with the eye sockets, grille, heat-shield holes and armour joints still sharply open.
Points to watch
Do not prime damp surfaces or let primer pool in lenses, vents or weapon holes. This bottle is not an aerosol can.

Read the complete guide · 6

1. Preparation

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove mould lines and dust before painting. If the unpainted model is greasy, wash it gently with warm soapy water, rinse and let every recess dry completely. Vallejo Black Surface Primer 70.602 is bottled primer: apply a thin, even coat with a soft brush, drawing excess out of recesses. Let it dry before adding another thin coat only where needed. Let the primer cure according to its label before painting. If the model already has sound, even primer, clean off dust and skip re-priming.
Expected result
The primer is matte and continuous, with the eye sockets, grille, heat-shield holes and armour joints still sharply open.
Points to watch
Do not prime damp surfaces or let primer pool in lenses, vents or weapon holes. This bottle is not an aerosol can.

2. Blue armour

Build deep blue armour whose light follows the pose instead of outlining every edge equally.
Where to paint: Blue armour plates
Kantor Bluecitadel · 21-07
Altdorf Guard Bluecitadel · 22-15
Calgar Bluecitadel · 22-16
Fenrisian Greycitadel · 22-68
Cover the black primer with two thin coats of Kantor Blue. Blend Altdorf Guard Blue across the upward-facing halves of each plate, then use Calgar Blue on the helmet brow, shoulder crowns, knuckles, knees and the forward boot. Finish with a few Fenrisian Grey touches where those planes catch the strongest light.
Expected result
The armour reads as one dark blue suit, while the face, near shoulder and forward leg form a clear triangle of light.
Points to watch
Keep the ribbed joints black and leave the gold rims, white shoulder mark and pyreblaster untouched.

3. Black, gold and heraldry

Separate the weapon's black casing from the dark armour without turning it grey.
Where to paint: Black weapon casing, grips and rubber joints
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Paint the gun casing, grips, ribbed armour joints and both flexible breathing hoses beside the helmet with a thin coat of Abaddon Black. Correct any stray blue or metallic paint. Leave the rigid metal pipe and fittings below the gun for the steel step. Use Eshin Grey for short, fine highlights on upper casing corners and the tops of rubber ribs. Keep the hoses visibly black, with dark gaps between ribs; let each coat dry before the next.
Expected result
The weapon remains visibly black, but its top rail, receiver and lower guard can be read as separate hard forms.
Points to watch
Do not trace every panel line in grey or cover the steel fasteners and heat shield.
Give the chapter ornament warm, worn metal that remains readable against the blue armour.
Where to paint: Gold aquila, shoulder rims and brass fuel canister
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Paint the chest aquila and shoulder rims with Retributor Armour. Guide Reikland Fleshshade into feather gaps and beneath the rims, then let it dry. Restore raised gold with Retributor Armour and add narrow Liberator Gold highlights to upper edges. Paint the large fuel canister beneath the gun and its bands with the same base; tint the broad canister with thin Reikland Fleshshade coats, drying each, for a warmer aged brass finish. Keep the bands distinct with a narrow dark seam and highlight only their upper edges. This gold-and-shade mix approximates the warm bronze in the reference.
Expected result
Feathers and fittings are separated by warm shadow, with narrow bright accents only on their upper faces.
Points to watch
Keep gold off the blue collar and black hoses, and stay within the sculpted shoulder rims.
Keep the chapter mark bright enough to balance the weapon without making it look freshly printed.
Where to paint: White omega on the left shoulder
Fenrisian Greycitadel · 22-68
Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53
On a raised omega, build thin Wraithbone coats until the mark is opaque, drying each coat. If the shoulder is plain, sketch a small centred omega before filling it; do not assume the mark is sculpted. Shade only the lower edge with a very thin Fenrisian Grey glaze. Restore the upper curve with Wraithbone, the lighter paint here. This is a warm off-white finish. Add only a few tiny interruptions at the lower tips for wear.
Expected result
The omega is centred, opaque and legible, with restrained wear that does not break its identity.
Points to watch
Do not enlarge the symbol to the gold rim or scatter random white scratches across the blue pad.

4. Eye lenses

Make the eyes the smallest, sharpest warm focal point on the face.
Where to paint: Eye lenses
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53
Fill each lens with Mephiston Red, leaving a hairline of black at the socket edge. Add Evil Sunz Scarlet to the inner lower half, then place a pinprick of Wraithbone at the opposite upper corner.
Expected result
Both lenses are equal in width, stay inside their sockets and catch light from the same direction.
Points to watch
Do not widen the red onto the blue brow or add a large white dot that hides the scarlet transition.

5. Steel, heat stain and wear

Show repeated firing through a continuous heat stain while keeping the perforations and metal edges crisp.
Where to paint: Heat shield, muzzle and exposed steel fittings
Kantor Bluecitadel · 21-07
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Paint the exposed gun fittings and perforated heat shield with Leadbelcher. Guide Nuln Oil into holes and joins, then let it dry. Keep both ribbed hoses beside the helmet black: they belong to the rubber step. On the heat shield, layer thin Liberator Gold toward the receiver, then tint it with transparent Reikland Fleshshade for a warm brass base. Toward the muzzle, overlap very thin Reikland Fleshshade and Kantor Blue glazes to suggest muted violet and blue heat staining. Dry each glaze before the next and keep the metallic base visible. Pick out only a few sharp edges with Ironbreaker. This is a painted approximation of heat-stained brass, not glowing metal.
Expected result
The steel remains reflective beneath a soft cool-to-warm stain; holes stay dark and open, and unheated fittings stay steel.
Points to watch
Do not paint separate colour bands, fill the perforations, or carry the heat stain onto the matte black receiver.
Tie the polished colour work into the scorched campaign finish with damage placed by contact and heat.
Where to paint: Armour chips and muzzle soot
Kantor Bluecitadel · 21-07
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Place small Kantor Blue and Eshin Grey chips on shoulder corners, forearm edges, knee guards and boot toes. Leave most broad panels smooth. Put a tiny Leadbelcher centre inside only a few deeper chips. Feather very thin Abaddon Black around the muzzle for soot. For dusty lower boots, apply a restrained transparent Reikland Fleshshade glaze; let each pass dry and keep the blue highlights visible.
Expected result
Wear clusters on exposed edges, steel appears only inside deeper chips, and the soot fades before it hides the blue highlights.
Points to watch
Do not cover every plate with the same speckle pattern or turn the entire weapon and base uniformly black.

6. Rubble base

Create a cold ruined street that supports the dark blue figure without competing with the heated weapon.
Where to paint: Grey rubble and black base rim
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Administratum Greycitadel · 22-50
Cover the rubble and broken slab with Eshin Grey. Add a thin Reikland Fleshshade tint in selected gaps for warm dusty earth, and let it dry. Wipe most Dawnstone off the brush onto a paper towel, then lightly sweep the bristles across raised stones and the slab. Touch Administratum Grey only to a few sharp front-facing edges. Preserve the slab and the separate stones; paint must not fill their relief. Clean the outer rim with two thin coats of Abaddon Black.
Expected result
The rubble has three clear cool-grey values, the front slab is legible, and the rim forms an unbroken matte black circle.
Points to watch
Do not brighten every stone equally or obscure the slab beneath texture paste. Keep the black rim clean.

All paints and materials (18)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Kantor Bluecitadel · 21-07

Altdorf Guard Bluecitadel · 22-15

Calgar Bluecitadel · 22-16

Fenrisian Greycitadel · 22-68

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24

Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

Administratum Greycitadel · 22-50

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Ultramarines Infernus — scorched grimdark

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Colours on the model

Letters identify paints. The same letter can appear in several places.

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 6

Preparation

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.
Remove mould lines and dust before painting. If the unpainted model is greasy, wash it gently with warm soapy water, rinse and let every recess dry completely. Vallejo Black Surface Primer 70.602 is bottled primer: apply a thin, even coat with a soft brush, drawing excess out of recesses. Let it dry before adding another thin coat only where needed. Let the primer cure according to its label before painting. If the model already has sound, even primer, clean off dust and skip re-priming.
Expected result
The primer is matte and continuous, with the eye sockets, grille, heat-shield holes and armour joints still sharply open.
Points to watch
Do not prime damp surfaces or let primer pool in lenses, vents or weapon holes. This bottle is not an aerosol can.

Ultramarines Infernus — scorched grimdark

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Preparation

For this stage

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Preparation

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Blue armour

Build deep blue armour whose light follows the pose instead of outlining every edge equally.

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Black, gold and heraldry

Separate the weapon's black casing from the dark armour without turning it grey.

Expected result

Points to watch

Give the chapter ornament warm, worn metal that remains readable against the blue armour.

Expected result

Points to watch

Keep the chapter mark bright enough to balance the weapon without making it look freshly printed.

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Eye lenses

Make the eyes the smallest, sharpest warm focal point on the face.

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Steel, heat stain and wear

Show repeated firing through a continuous heat stain while keeping the perforations and metal edges crisp.

Expected result

Points to watch

Tie the polished colour work into the scorched campaign finish with damage placed by contact and heat.

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Rubble base

Create a cold ruined street that supports the dark blue figure without competing with the heated weapon.

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Ultramarines Infernus — scorched grimdark

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Preparation

For this stage

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Preparation

Remove dust and skin oils, then give every later colour a thin, even black foundation.

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Blue armour

Build deep blue armour whose light follows the pose instead of outlining every edge equally.

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Black, gold and heraldry

Separate the weapon's black casing from the dark armour without turning it grey.

Expected result

Points to watch

Give the chapter ornament warm, worn metal that remains readable against the blue armour.

Expected result

Points to watch

Keep the chapter mark bright enough to balance the weapon without making it look freshly printed.

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Eye lenses

Make the eyes the smallest, sharpest warm focal point on the face.

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Steel, heat stain and wear

Show repeated firing through a continuous heat stain while keeping the perforations and metal edges crisp.

Expected result

Points to watch

Tie the polished colour work into the scorched campaign finish with damage placed by contact and heat.

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Rubble base