Painting

Aeldari Retaliators — midnight blue and warm ivory

Blue-black armour plates contrast with warm ivory helmet and weapon casings. Short reflection bands follow the long crest and limbs, leaving deep joins intact and the pale equipment clean.

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

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Colours on the model

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

Aeldari Retaliators — midnight blue and warm ivory

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the Retaliator leader
Clean mould lines from the long blade and crest, wash the figure and dry the narrow armour gaps. Lay on Black Surface Primer in controlled side passes, then inspect the weapon hand and the far leg for missed resin.
Expected result
A smooth black base follows the slender silhouette and leaves the blade, crest and armour seams sharp.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the blade or bridge the small openings around the arms.

Read the complete guide · 4

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the Retaliator leader
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Clean mould lines from the long blade and crest, wash the figure and dry the narrow armour gaps. Lay on Black Surface Primer in controlled side passes, then inspect the weapon hand and the far leg for missed resin.
Expected result
A smooth black base follows the slender silhouette and leaves the blade, crest and armour seams sharp.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the blade or bridge the small openings around the arms.

2. Apply the base colours

Base colour
Where to paint: Midnight-blue armour and backpack
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Corvus Blackcitadel · 21-44
Turquoise 70.966vallejo · 70.966
Start with Abaddon Black in the seams. Mix a small amount of Turquoise 70.966 into Corvus Black and spread that blue-black over the plate centres, following the long direction of the crest and limbs.
Expected result
The armour reads blue under the light but returns to near-black at every joint and lower edge.
Points to watch
Do not use pure turquoise as a broad coat or leave the back of the crest plain black.
Base colour
Where to paint: Ivory faceplate and rifle casings
Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Build Wraithbone over the helmet and the full length of both casings, rotating the model to reach their lower faces. Place Agrax Earthshade only in panel joins, under stock ridges and around exposed mechanics.
Expected result
Both rifles are finished from muzzle to stock, and the faceplate shares their warm ivory without brown staining.
Points to watch
Do not leave a black rear cap or ivory over the barrels, grips and trigger mechanisms.

3. Build the highlights

Shape and highlight
Where to paint: Midnight-blue armour and backpack
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Turquoise 70.966vallejo · 70.966
Add a little Turquoise 70.966 to Eshin Grey and paint short reflection bands across the chosen planes. Narrow each band towards its ends and leave a visible blue-black gap before the edge.
Expected result
The crest and shoulders carry the strongest cold light; the legs echo it with shorter, dimmer bands.
Points to watch
Do not outline the whole figure in cyan or paint identical bars on every plate.
Shape and highlight
Where to paint: Ivory faceplate and rifle casings
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Glaze Screaming Skull over the upper faceplate, then place narrower strokes along the top of each rifle. Keep the lower rifle and stock warm so the helmet remains the focal ivory shape.
Expected result
The face is brighter than either weapon, while both long casings retain a clear upper light plane.
Points to watch
Do not cover the brown panel lining or brighten the rifle undersides.
Focal detail
Where to paint: Spirit stones, helmet eyes and rifle optics
Turquoise 70.966vallejo · 70.966
Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Set the stones Mephiston Red and add a tiny Screaming Skull reflection to their upper edge. Draw Turquoise 70.966 through both eyes, then place a shorter turquoise dash inside each rifle optic.
Expected result
The red stones punctuate the armour, while eyes and rifle optics form a controlled cyan triangle around the head.
Points to watch
Do not let the cyan marks touch the ivory rims or make the rifle optics brighter than the eyes.

4. Paint the details

Material detail
Where to paint: Black joints and exposed rifle mechanics
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Corvus Blackcitadel · 21-44
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Keep the joints and grips Abaddon Black, lifting only their upper ribs with Corvus Black. Paint each full barrel Leadbelcher and touch Stormhost Silver to the muzzle rim and the topmost fittings.
Expected result
Matte black fabric, black grips and cold metal barrels remain three visibly different materials.
Points to watch
Do not stop the metal halfway along a barrel or silver the black trigger guards.

All paints and materials (11)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Corvus Blackcitadel · 21-44

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Turquoise 70.966vallejo · 70.966

Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Screaming Skullcitadel · 22-33

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

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Aeldari Retaliators — midnight blue and warm ivory

Blue-black armour plates contrast with warm ivory helmet and weapon casings. Short reflection bands follow the long crest and limbs, leaving deep joins intact and the pale equipment clean.

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare the Retaliator leader
Clean mould lines from the long blade and crest, wash the figure and dry the narrow armour gaps. Lay on Black Surface Primer in controlled side passes, then inspect the weapon hand and the far leg for missed resin.
Expected result
A smooth black base follows the slender silhouette and leaves the blade, crest and armour seams sharp.
Points to watch
Do not thicken the blade or bridge the small openings around the arms.

Aeldari Retaliators — midnight blue and warm ivory

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the Retaliator leader

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the Retaliator leader

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Focal detail

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Material detail

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Aeldari Retaliators — midnight blue and warm ivory

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the Retaliator leader

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the Retaliator leader

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

Base colour

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Shape and highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

Focal detail

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Material detail

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …