Painting

Sigmar in gold and crimson

Warm gold armour and crimson cloth give Sigmar a strong ceremonial palette. Ivory emblems, a cool steel hammer and brown hair keep the sculpted ornaments separate from the glowing armour.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.
Inspect the hammer corners and lion relief for support marks, removing them gently. Wash away residue if needed and let the deep armour seams dry completely. Apply a thin, even Vallejo Black Surface Primer coat without filling the facial features or emblems.
Expected result
The primer has dried and the lion manes and comet edges still read clearly.
Points to watch
Do not let primer build up around the fingers holding the haft.

Read the complete guide · 4

1. Prepare the model

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Inspect the hammer corners and lion relief for support marks, removing them gently. Wash away residue if needed and let the deep armour seams dry completely. Apply a thin, even Vallejo Black Surface Primer coat without filling the facial features or emblems.
Expected result
The primer has dried and the lion manes and comet edges still read clearly.
Points to watch
Do not let primer build up around the fingers holding the haft.

2. Apply the base colours

Give the armour a warm gold foundation.
Where to paint: Gold armour
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Lay Retributor Armour over each broad plate in thin coats, turning the miniature to reach beneath the shoulders. Leave a narrow black line at joints and around the sculpted ornaments.
Expected result
Gold is even across the armour but every plate boundary remains visible.
Points to watch
Keep metallic paint off the bare upper arms and face.
Establish a deep red contrast beneath the gold breastplate.
Where to paint: Crimson cloth
Khorne Redcitadel · 21-04
Cover the cloth with thin Khorne Red, following each vertical fold from belt to hem. Let black primer remain at the deepest fold roots.
Expected result
Red covers each flap while the long fold channels remain dark.
Points to watch
Do not bridge the open gap beside the right greave with thick paint.
Set a restrained skin foundation before warming the face.
Where to paint: Face and arms
Rakarth Fleshcitadel · 21-27
Place Rakarth Flesh inside the skin boundaries in two light passes. Follow the brow and nose without filling the eyes; leave a dark separation where skin meets gold.
Expected result
The skin is covered and the eyes, lips and fingers are still distinct.
Points to watch
Do not spread flesh colour onto the hairline or metal collar.
Separate hair and beard from the lighter face.
Where to paint: Hair and beard
Mournfang Browncitadel · 21-20
Brush Mournfang Brown along the sculpted locks, drawing strokes from the crown toward the tips. Leave the deepest cuts under the beard dark.
Expected result
The hair reads brown without becoming a flat cap over the face.
Points to watch
Do not drag brown across the forehead.
Give the hammer handle a firm brown grip distinct from its metal collars.
Where to paint: Hammer grip
Mournfang Browncitadel · 21-20
Follow the handle length with Mournfang Brown, working around the hand and each raised metal band. Keep the brown thin enough that the grip ridges remain visible.
Expected result
The handle has one continuous brown foundation with metal rings separate.
Points to watch
Do not paint the gripping fingers brown.
Keep the weapon head cool against the warm gold armour.
Where to paint: Hammer head
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Paint the hammer head with Leadbelcher along its flat forged planes; touch the bands individually. Keep dark recesses around the raised motifs and the pointed back spike.
Expected result
The weapon is metallic and its engraved planes remain readable.
Points to watch
Do not merge the silver head with the gold forearm guard.
Separate the winged shoulder emblem, lions and comets from the surrounding gold.
Where to paint: Ivory heraldry
Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53
Pick out the sculpted ornaments with thin Wraithbone, following wing feathers, lion manes and comet edges with the point. Keep a dark line between ivory and gold.
Expected result
The heraldry is pale and readable without losing its carved detail.
Points to watch
Do not cover the entire shoulder plate in ivory.

3. Build the shadows

Restore depth to the gold at the plate joints.
Where to paint: Gold armour
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Guide Agrax Earthshade into the narrow gold recesses with a pointed brush. Lift any pooling shade from the centre of the breastplate before it dries.
Expected result
The joints are deeper while the chest still carries clean warm gold.
Points to watch
Do not wash the face or ivory lion relief.

4. Build the highlights

Bring a restrained gleam to the most exposed gold edges.
Where to paint: Gold armour
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Draw short Liberator Gold lines on the sharp edges facing the light. Break the lines at plate joints; leave broader Retributor Armour areas untouched.
Expected result
A few bright points direct the eye upward without outlining every plate.
Points to watch
Do not turn all gold edges into equally bright stripes.
Show the long cloth folds with selective warm highlights.
Where to paint: Crimson cloth
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Pull thin Evil Sunz Scarlet along the raised folds from waist toward hem. Soften the lower end of each stroke and leave Khorne Red deep between folds.
Expected result
The red reads as hanging cloth with clear light and depth.
Points to watch
Avoid uniform bright lines down every fold.
Warm the face without flattening the brow or eyes.
Where to paint: Face and arms
Cadian Fleshtonecitadel · 22-36
Lay thin Cadian Fleshtone over the lit skin, blending its edge into the Rakarth foundation. Keep the eye sockets, beard line and underside of the arms darker.
Expected result
The face is warm and expressive while its small features remain distinct.
Points to watch
Do not paint over the beard strands.
Lift the highest wing feathers, lion manes and comet edges.
Where to paint: Ivory heraldry
Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32
Touch Ushabti Bone to the upper relief with a nearly dry fine brush, letting the Wraithbone base remain on the lower carved planes.
Expected result
The pale heraldry has crisp raised accents rather than a solid white patch.
Points to watch
Do not whiten the deep mouth lines of the lions.
Give the iron head a few sharp cuts of light.
Where to paint: Hammer head
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Draw short Ironbreaker marks on the lit head corners and spike, leaving the broad forged faces in darker Leadbelcher.
Expected result
The steel catches light at a few points without competing with the gold armour.
Points to watch
Do not trace every engraved line in silver.

All paints and materials (13)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71

Khorne Redcitadel · 21-04

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

Rakarth Fleshcitadel · 21-27

Cadian Fleshtonecitadel · 22-36

Mournfang Browncitadel · 21-20

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59

Wraithbonecitadel · 21-53

Ushabti Bonecitadel · 22-32

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Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 4

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.
Inspect the hammer corners and lion relief for support marks, removing them gently. Wash away residue if needed and let the deep armour seams dry completely. Apply a thin, even Vallejo Black Surface Primer coat without filling the facial features or emblems.
Expected result
The primer has dried and the lion manes and comet edges still read clearly.
Points to watch
Do not let primer build up around the fingers holding the haft.

Sigmar in gold and crimson

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Give the armour a warm gold foundation.

Expected result

Points to watch

Establish a deep red contrast beneath the gold breastplate.

Expected result

Points to watch

Set a restrained skin foundation before warming the face.

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate hair and beard from the lighter face.

Expected result

Points to watch

Give the hammer handle a firm brown grip distinct from its metal collars.

Expected result

Points to watch

Keep the weapon head cool against the warm gold armour.

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate the winged shoulder emblem, lions and comets from the surrounding gold.

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Restore depth to the gold at the plate joints.

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Bring a restrained gleam to the most exposed gold edges.

Expected result

Points to watch

Show the long cloth folds with selective warm highlights.

Expected result

Points to watch

Warm the face without flattening the brow or eyes.

Expected result

Points to watch

Lift the highest wing feathers, lion manes and comet edges.

Expected result

Points to watch

Give the iron head a few sharp cuts of light.

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Sigmar in gold and crimson

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Protect the small heraldic relief before laying down metallic paint.

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Give the armour a warm gold foundation.

Expected result

Points to watch

Establish a deep red contrast beneath the gold breastplate.

Expected result

Points to watch

Set a restrained skin foundation before warming the face.

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate hair and beard from the lighter face.

Expected result

Points to watch