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.

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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 6

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prime the shield Custodian
Clean the shield rim and the tight hand-to-grip junction, rinse the miniature and dry it with the shield facing down. Prime the hidden arm and shield back with Black Surface Primer first, then turn the model for the visible armour.
Expected result
Black primer is continuous behind the shield and around the grip, with the shield ornament left crisp.
Points to watch
Do not assume the shield hides unfinished areas or flood its shallow decoration.

Read the complete guide · 6

1. Prepare the model

Prime the shield Custodian
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Clean the shield rim and the tight hand-to-grip junction, rinse the miniature and dry it with the shield facing down. Prime the hidden arm and shield back with Black Surface Primer first, then turn the model for the visible armour.
Expected result
Black primer is continuous behind the shield and around the grip, with the shield ornament left crisp.
Points to watch
Do not assume the shield hides unfinished areas or flood its shallow decoration.

2. Apply the base colours

Auramite foundation
Where to paint: Gold armour and tower shield
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Thin Retributor Armour until brush marks level out, then cover the armour plate by plate. Turn the figure to reach beneath the shoulder rims, behind the shield hand and along the shield's narrow sidewalls.
Expected result
Gold coverage is even around the whole figure, including the shield edges and the backs of the greaves.
Points to watch
Keep the sword blade, black undersuit and red cloth free of gold.
Red cloth
Where to paint: Helmet plume and red tabard
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Paint Mephiston Red into the plume one lock at a time, then draw the same colour down each cloth panel with strokes following its length. Leave the deepest separations dark.
Expected result
The plume and hanging cloth are fully red, with their sculpted divisions still visible.
Points to watch
Keep red out of the helmet, belt discs and black joint gaps.

3. Build the shadows

Warm depth
Where to paint: Gold armour and tower shield
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Place Reikland Fleshshade into each join with the point of the brush. On the shield, follow only the inner groove and lift any stain from the broad face while it is wet.
Expected result
The armour sections separate clearly, while the shield remains a clean luminous gold plane.
Points to watch
Do not flood the shield or leave brown rings on the pauldrons.

4. Build the highlights

Commanding light
Where to paint: Gold armour and tower shield
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Blend Liberator Gold over the upper third of each curved plate and along the shield's lit border. Reserve Stormhost Silver for the helmet brow, two knuckles and the top shield corner.
Expected result
The helmet and shield lead the eye; lower armour stays warmer and less reflective.
Points to watch
Do not trace the full shield perimeter in silver.
Cloth movement
Where to paint: Helmet plume and red tabard
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Pull Evil Sunz Scarlet along the outer half of selected plume locks. On the cloth, widen the highlight over each outward fold and taper it before the fold drops into shadow.
Expected result
The plume has a clear sweep and the cloth hangs in readable folds without turning orange.
Points to watch
Do not highlight every groove or cover the dark red between locks.

5. Paint the details

Sword steel
Where to paint: Sword and black armour joints
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Lay Leadbelcher from the guard towards the tip, shade the junction at the fist with Nuln Oil, then draw one narrow Stormhost Silver line along the forward cutting edge.
Expected result
The blade reads as a separate cold steel object with a dark root and one sharp edge.
Points to watch
Do not silver the gold fist or the rectangular plate behind the blade.
Flexible joints
Where to paint: Sword and black armour joints
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Set each joint gap with Abaddon Black, then touch Eshin Grey to the uppermost rib without widening the grey onto the armour.
Expected result
The limbs separate cleanly at the joints while the undersuit remains predominantly black.
Points to watch
Do not turn the broad inner-thigh armour or shield handle grey.

6. Finish the model

Base finish
Where to paint: Ground texture and rim of the base
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Cover the top with Abaddon Black, then soften its centre with a very thin Dawnstone scumble. Repaint the vertical rim solid black after the grey has dried.
Expected result
The base supports the figure with a subdued grey centre and an unbroken black rim.
Points to watch
Do not dust the gold boots or leave grey marks on the rim.

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

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

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Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

◉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

Prime the shield Custodian
Clean the shield rim and the tight hand-to-grip junction, rinse the miniature and dry it with the shield facing down. Prime the hidden arm and shield back with Black Surface Primer first, then turn the model for the visible armour.
Expected result
Black primer is continuous behind the shield and around the grip, with the shield ornament left crisp.
Points to watch
Do not assume the shield hides unfinished areas or flood its shallow decoration.

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prime the shield Custodian

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prime the shield Custodian

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Auramite foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Red cloth

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Warm depth

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Commanding light

Expected result

Points to watch

Cloth movement

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Sword steel

Expected result

Points to watch

Flexible joints

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Finish the model

Base finish

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 shield Custodian

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prime the shield Custodian

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Auramite foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Red cloth

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Warm depth

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Commanding light

Expected result

Points to watch

Cloth movement

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Sword steel

Expected result

Points to watch

Flexible joints

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Finish the model