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 Telemon chassis
Remove residue from the broad armour and clean the joints around both arms, then wash the chassis and dry it on its back. Coat it with Black Surface Primer from four quarters, using a final low pass between the legs and beneath the shoulder shields.
Expected result
The deep chassis is fully black beneath every shield, while the armour filigree and muzzle openings remain clean.
Points to watch
Do not treat the Telemon's large plates like a flat wall; avoid grainy overspray and heavy pooling at their lower edges.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the Telemon chassis
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Remove residue from the broad armour and clean the joints around both arms, then wash the chassis and dry it on its back. Coat it with Black Surface Primer from four quarters, using a final low pass between the legs and beneath the shoulder shields.
Expected result
The deep chassis is fully black beneath every shield, while the armour filigree and muzzle openings remain clean.
Points to watch
Do not treat the Telemon's large plates like a flat wall; avoid grainy overspray and heavy pooling at their lower edges.

2. Apply the base colours

Base coat
Where to paint: Gold armour and filigree
Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35
Build Retributor Armour in two thin coats, turning the model between coats so the filigree is covered from both sides.
Expected result
The armour is solid gold with no pale primer beside rivets or behind the knees.
Points to watch
Keep gold out of the black joints, gun openings and red shoulder recesses.
Base coat
Where to paint: Heavy weapons, black joints and back launcher
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Push Abaddon Black into the joint folds and openings, then sharpen the boundary where each black mechanism meets gold armour.
Expected result
All moving gaps are deep black and the silhouette of every gold plate is clear.
Points to watch
Do not black out rivets, gold trim or the flat armour between joints.
Base coat
Where to paint: Heavy weapons, black joints and back launcher
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Paint Leadbelcher along the metal parts from their mounting points toward the muzzles, rotating the model to reach the undersides.
Expected result
The barrels and pistons are continuous steel with black openings still visible.
Points to watch
Keep Leadbelcher off the gold weapon housings and out of the muzzle bores.

3. Build the shadows

Shade
Where to paint: Gold armour and filigree
Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24
Feed Reikland Fleshshade into one groove at a time, then wick it off every broad gold panel before it dries.
Expected result
Warm shadows outline the ornament while the large panels remain bright and clean.
Points to watch
Do not wash the whole chassis or leave brown tide marks on the shoulder domes.
Shade
Where to paint: Heavy weapons, black joints and back launcher
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Run Nuln Oil around each collar and hinge, keeping it in the seam instead of washing the entire barrel.
Expected result
Each moving part separates cleanly and the broad steel surfaces remain reflective.
Points to watch
Do not leave glossy black pools beneath the gun or inside the fist.

4. Build the highlights

Highlight
Where to paint: Gold armour and filigree
Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71
Layer Liberator Gold toward the upward-facing edges, leaving Retributor Armour visible across the middle of each plate.
Expected result
The huge frame catches light from above without losing its warm gold midtone.
Points to watch
Do not outline every recessed edge or turn the entire armour pale yellow.
Highlight
Where to paint: Heavy weapons, black joints and back launcher
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Use Eshin Grey as short broken strokes on the raised black details, following each hose rather than drawing across it.
Expected result
The black mechanics become readable but still look darker than every metal part.
Points to watch
Do not turn the joint bellows grey or outline every recess.
Final point highlight
Where to paint: Gold armour and filigree
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Touch Stormhost Silver only to the sharpest points, using broken marks rather than a continuous silver outline.
Expected result
Small cold glints define the scale and leave Liberator Gold as the main highlight.
Points to watch
Do not silver every rivet or the full edges of the shoulder plates.
Final point highlight
Where to paint: Heavy weapons, black joints and back launcher
Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75
Add Stormhost Silver as narrow glints facing upward, breaking the line at collars and panel joints.
Expected result
The weapon edges flash cleanly while Leadbelcher remains visible across their broad faces.
Points to watch
Do not ring the black muzzle openings in a thick silver circle.

5. Add effects and weathering

Base coat
Where to paint: Red shoulder panels, heraldry and eye lenses
Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03
Place Mephiston Red inside each sculpted recess with the side of the brush kept against the gold border.
Expected result
Every red insert is opaque and its gold frame remains a clean unbroken line.
Points to watch
Do not invent red markings on plain gold panels or flood the eye sockets.
Shade
Where to paint: Red shoulder panels, heraldry and eye lenses
Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15
Draw a narrow line of Agrax Earthshade along the lower edge, then remove any wash that climbs onto the centre of the red.
Expected result
The enamel has a grounded dark edge while its centre stays saturated.
Points to watch
Do not shade the whole red panel brown or stain the surrounding gold.
Highlight
Where to paint: Red shoulder panels, heraldry and eye lenses
Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05
Feather Evil Sunz Scarlet across the upper red planes; finish each eye with one small crescent facing the same direction.
Expected result
The panels read as glossy red enamel and the two eyes glow as a matched pair.
Points to watch
Do not cover the Agrax lower edge or make one eye brighter than the other.

All paints and materials (12)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Liberator Goldcitadel · 22-71

Reikland Fleshshadecitadel · 24-24

Retributor Armourcitadel · 21-35

Stormhost Silvercitadel · 22-75

Mephiston Redcitadel · 21-03

Agrax Earthshadecitadel · 24-15

Evil Sunz Scarletcitadel · 22-05

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

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Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

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 Telemon chassis
Remove residue from the broad armour and clean the joints around both arms, then wash the chassis and dry it on its back. Coat it with Black Surface Primer from four quarters, using a final low pass between the legs and beneath the shoulder shields.
Expected result
The deep chassis is fully black beneath every shield, while the armour filigree and muzzle openings remain clean.
Points to watch
Do not treat the Telemon's large plates like a flat wall; avoid grainy overspray and heavy pooling at their lower edges.

Adeptus Custodes auramite gold and red

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the Telemon chassis

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the Telemon chassis

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

3. Build the shadows

Shade

Expected result

Points to watch

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

Final point highlight

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Add effects and weathering

Base coat

Expected result

Points to watch

Shade

Expected result

Points to watch

Highlight

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 Telemon chassis

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the Telemon chassis

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

3. Build the shadows

Shade

Expected result

Points to watch

Shade