Painting

Moss-green skin and a deep teal cloak

Moss-green skin contrasts with a deep teal cloak and ochre cloth. Brown leather, warm ivory horns and small gold fittings frame the yellow eyes without competing with the face.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer
Remove support marks around the fingers, horn tips and blowpipe without rounding the sculpted edges. Wash a filament print with mild soapy water; clean and cure a resin print as its manufacturer specifies. Let it dry completely. Apply Vallejo Grey Surface Primer in thin coats, turning the figure to reach under the cloak and between the legs. Keep the mouth of the blowpipe and the scale recesses open. Let the primer dry.
Expected result
Every surface is primed and dry; fingers, horns and scale relief are still distinct.
Points to watch
Do not paint uncured resin or sand away the sculpted horn rings.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer
Where to paint: Whole model
Greyvallejo · 70.601
Remove support marks around the fingers, horn tips and blowpipe without rounding the sculpted edges. Wash a filament print with mild soapy water; clean and cure a resin print as its manufacturer specifies. Let it dry completely. Apply Vallejo Grey Surface Primer in thin coats, turning the figure to reach under the cloak and between the legs. Keep the mouth of the blowpipe and the scale recesses open. Let the primer dry.
Expected result
Every surface is primed and dry; fingers, horns and scale relief are still distinct.
Points to watch
Do not paint uncured resin or sand away the sculpted horn rings.

2. Apply the base colours

Cover the skin in moss green
Where to paint: Green skin and sculpted scales
Castellan Greencitadel · 21-14
Loren Forestcitadel · 22-27
Apply Castellan Green in two thin coats to all exposed skin. Layer Loren Forest over the broad upper surfaces, leaving the darker green under the jaw, arms, belt and cloak. Use the tip of the brush around the fingers and feet so no grey primer remains between the larger scales. Keep the eyes, horns, claws and equipment separate.
Expected result
Skin is fully green with dark undersides and clean material boundaries.
Points to watch
Do not paint a glove over the bare green hands or invent extra scales.

3. Build the highlights

Paint a deep teal cloak
Where to paint: Dark teal cloak
Stegadon Scale Greencitadel · 21-10
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Sotek Greencitadel · 22-19
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Cover the cloak with Stegadon Scale Green. Add a little Abaddon Black to shade its underside and deepest folds. Mix Sotek Green into the base for the raised shoulder folds and broad upper surfaces. A tiny amount of Ushabti Bone in this mix gives the final narrow highlights. Blend their lower edges into the teal and leave the cloak much darker than the face.
Expected result
The folds are readable but the cloak remains deep teal, not pale blue.
Points to watch
Avoid blue outlines around every fold and light patches on the underside.
Paint the ochre cloth
Where to paint: Ochre loincloth
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
XV-88citadel · 21-21
Tau Light Ochrecitadel · 22-42
Paint the cloth XV-88, then apply Tau Light Ochre over the front, leaving brown shadows beneath the belt and at the folded sides. Add Ushabti Bone gradually to lighten the central fold and a few parts of the lower edge. Use thin layers to keep the cloth surface smooth and leave the reverse darker.
Expected result
The cloth is warm ochre, clearly separate from the green legs and brown belt.
Points to watch
Do not turn the cloth into gold or add embroidery absent from the sculpt.
Separate brown leather from the wooden weapon
Where to paint: Brown leather and wooden blowpipe
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Mournfang Browncitadel · 21-20
Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17
Paint the leather and wooden shaft Rhinox Hide. Layer Mournfang Brown over the broad leather surfaces, then mix in a little Steel Legion Drab for restrained highlights on the strap edges and scabbard corners. On the blowpipe, apply the same lighter brown along the upper side in a few broad lengthwise strokes, without adding fine wood-grain lines. Keep the inside of the muzzle Abaddon Black and leave all rings and clasps for the metal step.
Expected result
Leather has soft brown highlights; wood has restrained lengthwise marks, and the muzzle stays dark.
Points to watch
Do not paint the whole blowpipe gold or extend leather onto the bare fingers.
Finish the gold fittings and steel clasps
Where to paint: Gold fittings and steel clasps
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Use Retributor Armour on the chest ring, weapon bands, hand guard and the raised strap fastener. Shade their joins sparingly with Reikland Fleshshade, restore the gold faces and add Liberator Gold to the upper edges. Paint the three lower scabbard clasps Leadbelcher, shade their recesses with Nuln Oil and touch their upper edges with Ironbreaker. Keep a fine dark boundary between metal and brown leather.
Expected result
Gold and steel remain distinct; every strap and opening retains a clean edge.
Points to watch
Do not turn the scabbard into metal or add buckles and gemstones.
Paint the horns and claws in warm ivory
Where to paint: Ivory horns and claws
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Base these details with Steel Legion Drab. Layer Ushabti Bone towards the horn tips and over the upper claw surfaces, leaving brown in the horn rings and at the roots. Add small Screaming Skull highlights to the tips. Use the same ivory lightly on the existing rounded lower lip scales, keeping their green surroundings clean; do not paint new teeth.
Expected result
The horn rings stay readable and the claws are pale, with darker roots.
Points to watch
Do not make the horns metallic or extend ivory over the whole jaw.
Bring the strongest green light to the face
Where to paint: Green skin and sculpted scales
Loren Forestcitadel · 22-27
Elysian Greencitadel · 22-30
Ogryn Camocitadel · 22-31
Mix Elysian Green into Loren Forest and build thin, smooth layers on the upward-facing skin. Add a little Ogryn Camo for the upper crest, cheek scales and a few knuckles. Keep the brightest accents near the eyes, then use weaker highlights on the legs and feet. Follow the existing scales with the brush, and soften broad colour transitions with a thin layer of the mid-green mix.
Expected result
The face is the focal point and every limb has a readable light-to-shadow transition.
Points to watch
Do not create fine speckles, new pores or a bright outline around every scale.

4. Paint the details

Paint the yellow eyes within their sculpted outlines
Where to paint: Golden-yellow eyes
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Averland Sunsetcitadel · 21-01
Yriel Yellowcitadel · 22-01
White Scarcitadel · 22-57
Paint the visible eye surfaces Averland Sunset, then brighten their lower halves with Yriel Yellow. Use thinned Rhinox Hide beneath the upper lids and Abaddon Black for the pupils, following the existing narrow eye shapes. Add a very small White Scar glint to each eye. Keep the surrounding lids green and avoid painting a larger eye over the face scales.
Expected result
The two yellow eyes have neat dark pupils and small matching glints.
Points to watch
Do not add white eyeballs or change the sculpted eyelid shapes.

5. Finish the model

Check every material and protect the finish
Where to paint: Green skin and sculpted scales
Matt Varnishvallejo · 62.062
Gloss Varnishvallejo · 62.064
Turn the figure and check under the cloak, behind the scabbard, between the fingers and around the rear feet. Correct any exposed primer or colour spill before varnishing. Once the paint is fully dry, apply thin Matt Varnish to the skin, cloth, bone, wood and leather as directed on the bottle. Avoid heavy matte coats over the metal. After drying, add a small amount of Gloss Varnish to the eyes only.
Expected result
No detail is left in primer, material boundaries are clean and only the eyes are glossy.
Points to watch
Do not add a scenic base or use varnish to hide unfinished paint.

All paints and materials (26)

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Castellan Greencitadel · 21-14

Loren Forestcitadel · 22-27

Elysian Greencitadel · 22-30

Ogryn Camocitadel · 22-31

Matt Varnishvallejo · 62.062

Gloss Varnishvallejo · 62.064

Stegadon Scale Greencitadel · 21-10

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Sotek Greencitadel · 22-19

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

XV-88citadel · 21-21

Tau Light Ochrecitadel · 22-42

Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22

Mournfang Browncitadel · 21-20

Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24

Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

Averland Sunsetcitadel · 21-01

Yriel Yellowcitadel · 22-01

White Scarcitadel · 22-57

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Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer
Remove support marks around the fingers, horn tips and blowpipe without rounding the sculpted edges. Wash a filament print with mild soapy water; clean and cure a resin print as its manufacturer specifies. Let it dry completely. Apply Vallejo Grey Surface Primer in thin coats, turning the figure to reach under the cloak and between the legs. Keep the mouth of the blowpipe and the scale recesses open. Let the primer dry.
Expected result
Every surface is primed and dry; fingers, horns and scale relief are still distinct.
Points to watch
Do not paint uncured resin or sand away the sculpted horn rings.

Moss-green skin and a deep teal cloak

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Cover the skin in moss green

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Paint a deep teal cloak

Expected result

Points to watch

Paint the ochre cloth

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate brown leather from the wooden weapon

Expected result

Points to watch

Finish the gold fittings and steel clasps

Expected result

Points to watch

Paint the horns and claws in warm ivory

Expected result

Points to watch

Bring the strongest green light to the face

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Paint the yellow eyes within their sculpted outlines

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Finish the model

Check every material and protect the finish

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Moss-green skin and a deep teal cloak

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean the sculpt and apply a thin primer

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Cover the skin in moss green

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Paint a deep teal cloak

Expected result

Points to watch

Paint the ochre cloth

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate brown leather from the wooden weapon

Expected result

Points to watch

Finish the gold fittings and steel clasps

Expected result

Points to watch

Paint the horns and claws in warm ivory

Expected result

Points to watch

Bring the strongest green light to the face

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details