Painting

Spartan — sea-green armour

Smooth sea-green armour contrasts with steel tracks and dark gun mechanisms. Local seam shadows, small brass details and a red optic keep the Spartan clean, with dust confined to ground-contact links.

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Colours on the model

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 7

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare and prime
Remove support scars without rounding barrel rims, track gaps or grille slots. Clean and fully cure the resin according to its instructions, then dry it. Apply thin Black Surface Primer from above, below and both sides; lift excess from vents before it dries. Keep eight side barrels, two roof barrels and four exhausts distinct.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

Read the complete guide · 7

1. Prepare the model

Prepare and prime
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove support scars without rounding barrel rims, track gaps or grille slots. Clean and fully cure the resin according to its instructions, then dry it. Apply thin Black Surface Primer from above, below and both sides; lift excess from vents before it dries. Keep eight side barrels, two roof barrels and four exhausts distinct.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

2. Apply the base colours

Smooth sea-green base
Where to paint: Sea-green armour
Kabalite Greencitadel · 22-21
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Incubi Darknesscitadel · 21-11
Start with two parts Kabalite Green and one part Dawnstone for a muted sea-green; test the dried mix against the reference and adjust the grey gradually. Add a little Incubi Darkness for the shadow base. Thin until brush ridges settle, then apply several light coats to hull panels, hatches, side armour and ramp with a broad soft brush. Dry each coat. Keep ramp ribs green and reserve black for recessed mechanisms.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.
Steel tracks and barrels
Where to paint: Steel tracks and weapons
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Darken Leadbelcher slightly with Abaddon Black. Paint track links, barrel shafts, muzzle rims and exhaust stacks in thin coats, following each link separately near green armour. Turn the model to reach the undersides of the guns. Keep holes dark and open rather than filling them with metal paint.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.
Separate black mechanisms
Where to paint: Black gun housings
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Paint the dark gun housings beside the side weapons and the interiors of top grilles with Abaddon Black. Trace each recess with the brush tip, leaving its green rim untouched. Keep metallic cylinders, barrel shafts and raised fittings distinct. Check the far-side housings as well as those facing the camera.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

3. Build the shadows

Shade only the seams
Where to paint: Sea-green armour
Incubi Darknesscitadel · 21-11
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Lahmian Mediumcitadel · 27-02
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Thin Incubi Darkness with Lahmian Medium and a trace of Abaddon Black. Draw it into green panel seams and around rivet bases. Use Nuln Oil separately under track hinges, around barrel collars and in steel joints. Wick away any pool immediately; broad plates and upper track faces must remain clean and smooth.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

4. Build the highlights

Blend the armour highlights
Where to paint: Sea-green armour
Kabalite Greencitadel · 22-21
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Lahmian Mediumcitadel · 27-02
Return to the tested Kabalite Green and Dawnstone mix without Incubi Darkness. Layer it over the lit areas of each plate, leaving the dark base beside seams. Add small amounts of Dawnstone for progressively narrower upper highlights. Soften visible steps with the original sea-green mix thinned with Lahmian Medium. Use the side of a fine brush for short edge accents, strongest at the upper front; avoid outlining every edge equally.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.
Refine steel and black
Where to paint: Steel tracks and weapons
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Restore Leadbelcher on upward-facing steel and leave joints dark. Add small Ironbreaker lines to muzzle rims, selected track edges and exhaust lips. Highlight black housings with a narrow Eshin Grey line and correct any excess with Abaddon Black. Upper tracks stay clean; avoid drybrushing silver across finished green panels.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

5. Paint the details

Brass and the red optic
Where to paint: Brass fittings and roof optic
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
White Scarcitadel · 22-57
Paint only the small warm-metal fittings shown beside the guns with Retributor Armour. Shade their bases with thin Rhinox Hide and highlight upper corners with a little Ironbreaker mixed into the gold. Inside the black roof optic rim, paint Mephiston Red, a smaller lower crescent of Evil Sunz Scarlet and one tiny White Scar reflection. Keep adjacent rivets and green panels free of red.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

6. Add effects and weathering

Dust the ground-contact links
Where to paint: Dust on lower links
Lahmian Mediumcitadel · 27-02
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17
Mix Steel Legion Drab with a little Rhinox Hide and thin with Lahmian Medium. Place a restrained dusty film on the lowest links, then a few broken earth-coloured marks with a nearly dry small brush. Fade the colour before the upper front bend; most steel should remain visible. Keep the hull, ramp and upper tracks free of dirt, corrosion and sponge chipping.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

7. Finish the model

Inspect and protect
Where to paint: Sea-green armour
Matt Varnishvallejo · 62.062
Ardcoatcitadel · 27-03
Inspect the underside of every gun, rear exhaust faces and recesses beneath track guards. Correct misses with the colours already used. After full drying, apply thin Matt Varnish without pooling in the grilles. Add a minute Ardcoat spot only to the red lens after the matte coat cures. Confirm smooth matte armour and dirt confined to lower tracks; add no new decals or scenery.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

All paints and materials (18)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Kabalite Greencitadel · 22-21

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

Incubi Darknesscitadel · 21-11

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Lahmian Mediumcitadel · 27-02

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Matt Varnishvallejo · 62.062

Ardcoatcitadel · 27-03

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

White Scarcitadel · 22-57

Steel Legion Drabcitadel · 21-17

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Spartan — sea-green armour

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

Painting stages

All stages

Stage 1 of 7

Prepare the model

Where to paintWhole model

For this stage

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Detailed instructions · 1

Prepare and prime
Remove support scars without rounding barrel rims, track gaps or grille slots. Clean and fully cure the resin according to its instructions, then dry it. Apply thin Black Surface Primer from above, below and both sides; lift excess from vents before it dries. Keep eight side barrels, two roof barrels and four exhausts distinct.
Expected result
The described surfaces remain distinct, with clean boundaries and no blocked relief.
Points to watch
Avoid pooling, texture on smooth armour and paint crossing the material boundary.

Spartan — sea-green armour

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare and prime

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare and prime

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Smooth sea-green base

Expected result

Points to watch

Steel tracks and barrels

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate black mechanisms

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Shade only the seams

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Blend the armour highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Refine steel and black

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details

Brass and the red optic

Expected result

Points to watch

6. Add effects and weathering

Dust the ground-contact links

Expected result

Points to watch

7. Finish the model

Inspect and protect

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

Spartan — sea-green armour

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare and prime

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare and prime

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

Smooth sea-green base

Expected result

Points to watch

Steel tracks and barrels

Expected result

Points to watch

Separate black mechanisms

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the shadows

Shade only the seams

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Build the highlights

Blend the armour highlights

Expected result

Points to watch

Refine steel and black

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Paint the details