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

Prepare the sixth sword pose
Remove dust from the twist of the torso and the back of the sword, then wash and dry the piece. Prime with Black Surface Primer while rotating the model through its turn, checking the rear hip and planted foot after each pass.
Expected result
The primer follows the full turn of the figure, leaving no pale patch behind the hip or sword.
Points to watch
Do not flatten the turning silhouette with one heavy front-facing spray.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the sixth sword pose
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove dust from the twist of the torso and the back of the sword, then wash and dry the piece. Prime with Black Surface Primer while rotating the model through its turn, checking the rear hip and planted foot after each pass.
Expected result
The primer follows the full turn of the figure, leaving no pale patch behind the hip or sword.
Points to watch
Do not flatten the turning silhouette with one heavy front-facing spray.

2. Apply the base colours

Base coat
Where to paint: Gold armour and shield
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Cover the large plates from helmet to greaves with Retributor Armour, then fill the tall shield separately. On the extended arm, paint the fingers and guard blocks around the sword's base.
Expected result
Gold is even across shield, chest and extended arm, with no unpainted corners around the low blade.
Points to watch
Keep gold off the steel sword, black shoulder gap and red panels on the legs.
Base coat
Where to paint: Helmet plume and red tabard
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Paint the plume locks with Mephiston Red, then fill the cloth below the waist and the greave panels. Near the sword, use a fine point so the lower steel edge stays clean.
Expected result
Red is solid above the helmet, below the belt and across the lower-leg panels.
Points to watch
Do not join the tabard to the greave panels with a stray stroke or cover their gold frames.
Base coat
Where to paint: Black armour joints and sword grip
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Restore Abaddon Black in each joint. Beneath the low blade, rebuild a fine dark boundary along the waist so the weapon stays separate from the red cloth.
Expected result
A thin dark line separates the low sword from the body, and the joints remain narrow and controlled.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the line beneath the blade or cover the gold fingers on the shield.
Base coat
Where to paint: Sword blade and exposed metal details
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Apply Leadbelcher from the guard towards the left-hand point with strokes along the blade. Tilt the figure to reach the lower edge above the red cloth.
Expected result
The sword is metallic along its full length and keeps a straight silhouette above the knees.
Points to watch
Keep metal off the guard and do not leave primer beneath the point.

3. Build the shadows

Shade
Where to paint: Gold armour and shield
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Guide Reikland Fleshshade down the armour joins. Use an almost dry tip around the sword hand, then shade the shield's inner step in one controlled pass.
Expected result
The extended wrist is clearly articulated, and the broad shield face remains free of stains.
Points to watch
Do not let shade run from the guard onto the blade or pool in the shield's lower corner.

4. Build the highlights

Highlight
Where to paint: Gold armour and shield
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Blend Liberator Gold over the upper armour curves. Add a narrow light to the shield's near vertical edge and pick out only the raised knuckles and top of the guard on the sword arm.
Expected result
The light leads from the helmet along the arm towards the low sword without lifting every plate equally.
Points to watch
Do not brighten the far shield edge or outline the lower greaves.
Highlight
Where to paint: Helmet plume and red tabard
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Place Evil Sunz Scarlet on selected plume tips. Draw a short top-down light over the tabard and each greave panel, leaving deep Mephiston Red beside the gold.
Expected result
The red accents support the low sword's direction, with the plume remaining the brightest red focus.
Points to watch
Do not brighten the lower tabard ends or mirror the two leg-panel highlights exactly.
Final point highlight
Where to paint: Sword blade and exposed metal details
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Run a fine broken Stormhost Silver stroke along the upper edge. Add one short bright accent to the forward bevel in the same direction as the blade.
Expected result
The point reads sharp and bright while the lower half of the sword stays distinctly darker.
Points to watch
Do not repeat the long highlight below or spread silver across the flat of the blade.

5. Finish the model

Base coat
Where to paint: Ground texture and rim of the base
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Paint Abaddon Black between the legs, then cover the front edge below the sword and the rear sector behind the cloak. Finish with an even coat around the vertical rim.
Expected result
The base stays matte and even in the narrow opening beneath the blade.
Points to watch
Do not touch the silver sword with the brush tip or leave a grey arc beside the rear foot.

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

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

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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

Prepare the sixth sword pose
Remove dust from the twist of the torso and the back of the sword, then wash and dry the piece. Prime with Black Surface Primer while rotating the model through its turn, checking the rear hip and planted foot after each pass.
Expected result
The primer follows the full turn of the figure, leaving no pale patch behind the hip or sword.
Points to watch
Do not flatten the turning silhouette with one heavy front-facing spray.

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the sixth sword pose

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the sixth sword pose

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Shade

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Final point highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Finish the model

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the sixth sword pose

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the sixth sword pose

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Shade

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Highlight

Expected result

Points to watch