Painting

Aeldari Wraithlord — warm ivory and crimson

Smooth warm ivory shells are broken by symmetrical crimson insets on the Wraithlord. Local panel shadows, swept highlights and quieter mechanical joints preserve the long limbs and clean gaps between the dorsal vanes.

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Colours on the model

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

Aeldari Wraithlord — warm ivory and crimson

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord
Check the long limbs and weapon for seams, wash the model and let water drain from the shoulder vanes. Apply Grey Surface Primer in long vertical passes, turning the Wraithlord so both sides of each slim limb remain evenly covered.
Expected result
The pale ground is smooth from head to feet, and all narrow joints and vane edges remain distinct.
Points to watch
Do not create a rough band on the long limbs or leave bare strips behind the shoulder vanes.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord
Where to paint: Whole model
Greyvallejo · 70.601
Check the long limbs and weapon for seams, wash the model and let water drain from the shoulder vanes. Apply Grey Surface Primer in long vertical passes, turning the Wraithlord so both sides of each slim limb remain evenly covered.
Expected result
The pale ground is smooth from head to feet, and all narrow joints and vane edges remain distinct.
Points to watch
Do not create a rough band on the long limbs or leave bare strips behind the shoulder vanes.

2. Apply the base colours

Ivory shell
Where to paint: Ivory armour plates and back vanes
Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53
Build Wraithbone with thin, crossing strokes so the long head and shin panels dry smooth. Paint each dorsal vane separately from root to tip and keep the dark gaps between them open.
Expected result
The ivory is opaque and even across the long planes, with all vane gaps and joint openings still distinct.
Points to watch
Do not round the sharp vane tips with heavy paint or fill the visor recess.
Crimson insets
Where to paint: Crimson armour panels
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Leave a hairline of Abaddon Black at the bottom of each inset, then layer Mephiston Red upward in two passes. Work on one limb at a time so the red pattern remains symmetrical without inventing extra panels.
Expected result
Every crimson inset is saturated, individually bounded and darker at its lower edge.
Points to watch
Do not turn the ivory rims, fingers or blank vane surfaces red.

3. Build the shadows

Panel separation
Where to paint: Ivory armour plates and back vanes
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Place Agrax Earthshade into the seams with the point of the brush. At the knee and shoulder sockets, wick away any stain that spreads onto the rounded ivory faces.
Expected result
The construction reads clearly from head to feet, while the ivory remains warm rather than dirty brown.
Points to watch
Do not wash the broad head, thigh or shin panels all over.

4. Build the highlights

Swept highlights
Where to paint: Ivory armour plates and back vanes
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Feather Ushabti Bone into the upper half of each shell, following the long vertical pull of the sculpt. Reserve Screaming Skull for the head rim, fingertips, leading knee and alternating vane tips.
Expected result
The tall silhouette feels luminous, but the repeated vanes vary gently instead of forming six identical white stripes.
Points to watch
Do not place the brightest ivory on every lower edge or around the entire foot outline.
Polished panel light
Where to paint: Crimson armour panels
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Mix a pinhead of Screaming Skull into the red already on the palette and place a short curved reflection on each large panel. Use pure Screaming Skull only for a tiny dot on the stones.
Expected result
The red panels look polished and curved, while the stones read as smaller, brighter details.
Points to watch
Do not outline the complete red panels with pale ivory.
Cold focal accents
Where to paint: Dark joints, claws, cables, sword and visor
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Turquoise 70.966vallejo · 70.966
Brush Leadbelcher along both blade faces and pull Stormhost Silver down the forward edge into the point. Glaze turquoise into the centre of the black visor, leaving a dark rim and a brighter lower crescent.
Expected result
The sword reads as cold steel and the visor becomes the face's single blue focal light.
Points to watch
Do not add turquoise glow to nearby ivory or silver every edge of the sword equally.

5. Paint the details

Mechanical articulation
Where to paint: Dark joints, claws, cables, sword and visor
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Corvus Blackcitadel · 21-44
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Set the deepest gaps to Abaddon Black, then pick out the upper faces of the ribs with Corvus Black. Add one Eshin Grey touch to each visible knuckle so the long clawed hand remains readable.
Expected result
The limbs look articulated rather than hollow, and each claw finger separates from its neighbour.
Points to watch
Do not broaden the grey onto the ivory forearm shells or fill the spaces between fingers.

All paints and materials (12)

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

Corvus Blackcitadel · 21-44

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Turquoise 70.966vallejo · 70.966

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Aeldari Wraithlord — warm ivory and crimson

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 5

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Greyvallejo · 70.601

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord
Check the long limbs and weapon for seams, wash the model and let water drain from the shoulder vanes. Apply Grey Surface Primer in long vertical passes, turning the Wraithlord so both sides of each slim limb remain evenly covered.
Expected result
The pale ground is smooth from head to feet, and all narrow joints and vane edges remain distinct.
Points to watch
Do not create a rough band on the long limbs or leave bare strips behind the shoulder vanes.

Aeldari Wraithlord — warm ivory and crimson

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Ivory shell

Expected result

Points to watch

Crimson insets

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Panel separation

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Swept highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Polished panel light

Expected result

Points to watch

Cold focal accents

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Mechanical articulation

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Aeldari Wraithlord — warm ivory and crimson

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the alternate Wraithlord

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Ivory shell

Expected result

Points to watch

Crimson insets

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Panel separation

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Swept highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Polished panel light

Expected result

Points to watch

Cold focal accents

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Mechanical articulation

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …