Painting

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Warm auramite gold and red cloth give the Custodes their ceremonial contrast. Dark weapon frames, cool steel blades and selective bright gold reflections keep the armour, fittings and working parts distinct.

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

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Colours on the model

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

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prime the first sword bearer
Remove the last support marks from the sword and plume, rinse the miniature and dry it fully. Fog on Black Surface Primer in very light passes; rotate the figure rather than holding the spray on the thin blade or the detail between the legs.
Expected result
A smooth black key coat surrounds the sword hand and reaches the inner legs without swallowing the micro-scale ornament.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the blade edge or fill the gap beneath the sword arm.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Prime the first sword bearer
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove the last support marks from the sword and plume, rinse the miniature and dry it fully. Fog on Black Surface Primer in very light passes; rotate the figure rather than holding the spray on the thin blade or the detail between the legs.
Expected result
A smooth black key coat surrounds the sword hand and reaches the inner legs without swallowing the micro-scale ornament.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the blade edge or fill the gap beneath the sword arm.

2. Apply the base colours

Establish a solid gold silhouette
Where to paint: Gold armour, shoulder plates and shield
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Thin Retributor Armour until it leaves the brush smoothly, then apply two light coats across the armour. Work from the torso toward the limbs and finish with the shield, keeping the red plume and black joints untouched.
Expected result
Gold coverage is continuous and the armour relief is still visible at tabletop distance.
Points to watch
Do not chase full coverage with one thick coat or fill the gap between shield and body.
Separate the head and joints from the gold armour
Where to paint: Red plume and cloth with black joints and sword grip
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Paint the plume and cloth with Mephiston Red, following their outer silhouette instead of trying to pick every tiny groove. Reinforce the joints and sword grip with Abaddon Black so they form clean breaks between the gold parts.
Expected result
The red head accent and black joint lines remain distinct without fragmenting the tiny figure.
Points to watch
Do not paint narrow red stripes that cannot be seen at this scale or widen the black gaps onto gold plates.
Frame the gold figure with a bright blade and quiet base
Where to paint: Sword blade, exposed steel and the dark ground
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Cover the blade with Leadbelcher, pulling the stroke from the hand toward the tip. Paint the ground Dawnstone and the rim Abaddon Black, turning the base by its edge so the small figure is not handled.
Expected result
The blade is a single clean silver shape and the dark rim forms an even circle.
Points to watch
Do not let metallic paint run onto the sword hand or drag grey texture up the boots.

3. Build the shadows

Give the small gold figure depth and a clear focus
Where to paint: Gold armour, shoulder plates and shield
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Feed Reikland Fleshshade into the armour joints and beneath the shield rim. Restore the raised plates with Liberator Gold, leaving the warm shade visible. Add three or four Stormhost Silver points to the helmet, sword-side shoulder and leading knee.
Expected result
The figure reads as gold rather than yellow, with a brighter face and sword side.
Points to watch
Do not wash the whole miniature at once or dot every armour stud with silver.

4. Build the highlights

Keep the plume visible above the helmet
Where to paint: Red plume and cloth with black joints and sword grip
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Place Agrax Earthshade beneath the plume and in the lowest cloth fold. Draw one narrow Evil Sunz Scarlet line along the upper plume silhouette. Touch Eshin Grey to the two most exposed black joint corners and stop there.
Expected result
The plume is readable as a red crest and the joints stay darker than both cloth and armour.
Points to watch
Do not stripe every plume groove or turn the black joints grey.

5. Paint the details

Sharpen the blade and settle the feet
Where to paint: Sword blade, exposed steel and the dark ground
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Run Nuln Oil along the lower blade edge and around the hilt, then place one Stormhost Silver line on the upper edge and tip. Work a little Agrax Earthshade into the ground beside both feet so the gold figure no longer appears to float.
Expected result
The sword has a clear light and dark edge, and both feet cast a visible contact shadow.
Points to watch
Do not paint a second reflection line on this tiny blade or flood the base around the ankles.

All paints and materials (13)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24

Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

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Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prime the first sword bearer
Remove the last support marks from the sword and plume, rinse the miniature and dry it fully. Fog on Black Surface Primer in very light passes; rotate the figure rather than holding the spray on the thin blade or the detail between the legs.
Expected result
A smooth black key coat surrounds the sword hand and reaches the inner legs without swallowing the micro-scale ornament.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the blade edge or fill the gap beneath the sword arm.

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prime the first sword bearer

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prime the first sword bearer

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Establish a solid gold silhouette

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate the head and joints from the gold armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Frame the gold figure with a bright blade and quiet base

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Give the small gold figure depth and a clear focus

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Keep the plume visible above the helmet

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Sharpen the blade and settle the feet

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prime the first sword bearer

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prime the first sword bearer

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Establish a solid gold silhouette

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate the head and joints from the gold armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Frame the gold figure with a bright blade and quiet base

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Give the small gold figure depth and a clear focus

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Keep the plume visible above the helmet

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Sharpen the blade and settle the feet

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …