Painting

Chaos Warrior — black iron and ivory

Black armour, cool iron blades and warm ivory horns give the Chaos Warrior a stark material contrast. Short grey armour accents and selective silver cutting edges keep the dark plates distinct from the chainmail and trim.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 6

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean and prime the model
Remove support marks carefully around the axe edges and horn tips. Clean the model as required for its material, complete any necessary curing and dry it fully. Remove dust from the chainmail and beneath the arms. Apply Black Surface Primer in thin coats from several directions, including from below.
Expected result
Once dry, the primer covers the recesses without obscuring rings or rivets.
Points to watch
Do not add blade chips or grind away the rounded plinth steps.

Read the complete guide · 6

1. Prepare the model

Clean and prime the model
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove support marks carefully around the axe edges and horn tips. Clean the model as required for its material, complete any necessary curing and dry it fully. Remove dust from the chainmail and beneath the arms. Apply Black Surface Primer in thin coats from several directions, including from below.
Expected result
Once dry, the primer covers the recesses without obscuring rings or rivets.
Points to watch
Do not add blade chips or grind away the rounded plinth steps.

2. Apply the base colours

Paint each material in its base colour
Where to paint: Black armour and gauntlets
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17
Paint the armour and gauntlets with two thin coats of Abaddon Black. Use Leadbelcher for the blades, armour trim, round shoulder badge, shaft fittings, rivets and chainmail. Paint the horns, the ornament between them and the chest skull with Ushabti Bone, and the wrapped grips with Rhinox Hide. Cover the plinth top with Steel Legion Drab and its rim with Abaddon Black.
Expected result
Every material is covered, including the lower grips and armour beneath the axes.
Points to watch
Keep leather brown on the wrapping, not on the steel shafts or gauntlets.

3. Build the shadows

Deepen the recesses without dulling the metal
Where to paint: Axe blades, armour trim, fittings and chainmail
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Seraphim Sepiacitadel · 24-23
Lahmian Mediumcitadel · 27-02
Apply a little Nuln Oil between the chainmail rings and around the metal fittings. Keep the large blade faces mostly clean. Separately, mix Seraphim Sepia and Lahmian Medium equally; shade the horn roots, skull recesses and grip grooves with this mixture. Remove pools with a clean brush before they dry.
Expected result
The recesses are darker, while the blades still look like steel and the horns like ivory.
Points to watch
Do not wash the whole model with one colour.

4. Build the highlights

Bring out the black armour
Where to paint: Black armour and gauntlets
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Mix two parts Abaddon Black with one part Eshin Grey. Build thin highlights on the upper curves of the helmet, shoulders, chest and knees, leaving the recesses black. Gradually add more Eshin Grey and reduce the highlighted area. Finish with short Dawnstone accents on the sharpest upper edges and knuckles; use fewer bright accents on the lower legs.
Expected result
The armour still looks black; its upper curves and selected edges are clearly visible.
Points to watch
Do not trace every plate with an equally bright line.
Sharpen the steel highlights
Where to paint: Axe blades, armour trim, fittings and chainmail
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Restore Leadbelcher on any blade face dulled by the shade. Layer Ironbreaker towards the cutting edges, keeping a darker strip beside the raised fittings. Use Stormhost Silver for a thin cutting-edge highlight and a few rivet tops. Pick out the upper chainmail rings with Ironbreaker, leaving dark gaps between them. Highlight the upper edges of the armour trim and shoulder badge with Ironbreaker too.
Expected result
Both axes share the same metal finish, with the brightest highlights along their cutting edges.
Points to watch
Do not paint new cracks, chips or raised patterns on the smooth blades.

5. Paint the details

Build warm ivory highlights
Where to paint: Horns, crest ornament and chest skull
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
White Scarcitadel · 22-57
Restore Ushabti Bone over the raised horn surfaces, leaving the shaded roots visible. Gradually add Screaming Skull and paint narrower layers along the upper curves. Follow the existing horn grooves with a few fine strokes rather than adding new ones. Highlight the skull brow, cheekbones and teeth with Screaming Skull; reserve a little White Scar for the highest horn tips and brow. Paint the ornament between the horns with the same ivory layers.
Expected result
Warm roots lead into pale upper curves; the eye sockets and horn grooves stay dark.
Points to watch
Do not cover every horn surface in pure white.
Finish the grip wrapping
Where to paint: Brown wrapped axe grips
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Gorthor Browncitadel · 22-47
Mix Rhinox Hide and Gorthor Brown equally and highlight the raised wrapping. Add a little Ushabti Bone for short, finer marks on the upper edges. Leave the grooves dark. Repeat the same colours on both handles, including the short sections near the gauntlets.
Expected result
The wrapping is brown and matt, clearly distinct from the metal fittings.
Points to watch
Do not paint the gauntlet fingers brown.

6. Finish the model

Finish the simple plinth
Where to paint: Grey-brown plinth and black rim
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Mix Steel Legion Drab and Dawnstone equally for the plinth top. Apply thin layers, allowing a little of the warmer base colour to show near the boots. Add a small amount of Dawnstone along the existing upper edge. Tidy the rounded stepped rim with Abaddon Black. Do not add gravel or sculpted debris.
Expected result
The plinth has a grey-brown top and clean black rim, with its original outline intact.
Points to watch
Do not turn the shallow steps into painted piles of rubble.
Check and protect the finished colours
Where to paint: Black armour and gauntlets
Matt Varnishvallejo · 62.062
Satin Varnishvallejo · 62.063
Check both weapons and the undersides for missed spots. After the paint has dried fully, apply a thin coat of Matt Varnish to the armour, ivory, grips and plinth according to the product instructions. Use Satin Varnish sparingly on the steel blades and fittings to retain a gentle metallic sheen.
Expected result
The armour is matt and the steel gently reflective; no surfaces have been left unfinished.
Points to watch
Do not give the black armour the same gloss as the axe edges.

All paints and materials (18)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22

Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

Matt Varnishvallejo · 62.062

Satin Varnishvallejo · 62.063

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Seraphim Sepiacitadel · 24-23

Lahmian Mediumcitadel · 27-02

Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

White Scarcitadel · 22-57

Gorthor Browncitadel · 22-47

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Chaos Warrior — black iron and ivory

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 6

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Clean and prime the model
Remove support marks carefully around the axe edges and horn tips. Clean the model as required for its material, complete any necessary curing and dry it fully. Remove dust from the chainmail and beneath the arms. Apply Black Surface Primer in thin coats from several directions, including from below.
Expected result
Once dry, the primer covers the recesses without obscuring rings or rivets.
Points to watch
Do not add blade chips or grind away the rounded plinth steps.

Chaos Warrior — black iron and ivory

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean and prime the model

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean and prime the model

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Paint each material in its base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Deepen the recesses without dulling the metal

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Bring out the black armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Sharpen the steel highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Build warm ivory highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Finish the grip wrapping

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Finish the model

Finish the simple plinth

Expected result

Points to watch

Check and protect the finished colours

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Chaos Warrior — black iron and ivory

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Clean and prime the model

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Clean and prime the model

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Paint each material in its base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Deepen the recesses without dulling the metal

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Bring out the black armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Sharpen the steel highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Build warm ivory highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Finish the grip wrapping

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Finish the model

Finish the simple plinth

Expected result

Points to watch