Painting

K-2SO — weathered security-droid black

Weathered black casing is modelled with soft grey light around K-2SO's head and shoulders. Dark steel joints, faded ochre bands and small bright eyes provide detail without turning the droid silver.

◉BrushDojoOfficial guide

← Back to guides

Colours on the model

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 slender droid
Check the thin fingers and rear aerials before removing seam lines. Wash K-2SO gently in soapy water, rinse and let it dry completely. Apply light coats of Black Surface Primer while turning the model to reach the shoulder rings and spaces behind the knees.
Expected result
The primer covers the recessed joints without closing the gaps between the fingers.
Points to watch
Do not bend the fingers or use a thick primer coat to hide rough patches.

Read the complete guide · 5

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the slender droid
Where to paint: Whole model
Blackvallejo · 70.602
Check the thin fingers and rear aerials before removing seam lines. Wash K-2SO gently in soapy water, rinse and let it dry completely. Apply light coats of Black Surface Primer while turning the model to reach the shoulder rings and spaces behind the knees.
Expected result
The primer covers the recessed joints without closing the gaps between the fingers.
Points to watch
Do not bend the fingers or use a thick primer coat to hide rough patches.

2. Apply the base colours

An even black foundation
Where to paint: Black casing
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Paint the outer casing with two thin coats of Abaddon Black. Check the back, inner thighs and the undersides of the forearms as well as the front. Keep paint out of the engraved panel seams so the later grey highlights have a crisp dark boundary.
Expected result
The casing is evenly black with no exposed primer patches or filled seams.
Points to watch
Do not mistake a rough patch of primer for intentional weathering.
Dark steel machinery
Where to paint: Steel joints
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14
Paint the exposed mechanisms with Leadbelcher darkened with a little Abaddon Black. Use Nuln Oil in the circular joints and around the finger pivots. Leave the recessed neck grille and spaces between the rods black rather than filling them with silver.
Expected result
The steel is darker in the joints and clearly separate from the painted casing.
Points to watch
Do not paint the whole hands silver; keep the black finger and hand plates distinct.

3. Build the highlights

Soft light on black armour
Where to paint: Black casing
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
Mix Eshin Grey into Abaddon Black and build thin translucent highlights towards the upper-left light. Keep each new layer inside the previous one. Add a little Dawnstone for a few short accents on the forehead and shoulder edges; use a darker mix on the long thigh and shin panels.
Expected result
The round head and cylindrical limbs have smooth gradients but still look black.
Points to watch
Do not turn the entire droid grey or draw bright stripes down every limb.
Short metallic glints
Where to paint: Steel joints
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59
Add small Ironbreaker highlights to the upper edges of the joint rings and the exposed finger pivots. Run one restrained reflection along each visible lower-leg rod, using Leadbelcher where it turns away from the light. Touch the aerial tips lightly without thickening them.
Expected result
The mechanisms catch sharper reflections than the black armour.
Points to watch
Do not outline every ring all the way around with bright silver.

4. Paint the details

Faded ochre bands
Where to paint: Ochre markings
Karak Stonecitadel · 22-35
Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22
Fire Dragon Brightcitadel · 22-04
Mix Fire Dragon Bright with Rhinox Hide to make a muted rusty orange. Paint only the narrow shoulder bands and chest marker. Add a little Karak Stone to the mix for their upper edges, leaving the surrounding shoulder mechanisms dark steel.
Expected result
The ochre adds small warm accents without turning the shoulders brass-coloured.
Points to watch
Do not spread orange over the joint rings or the broad black shoulder caps.
A flat shoulder insignia
Where to paint: Ochre markings
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51
For the small Imperial emblem, use a suitably sized decal rather than trying to paint every spoke by hand. Apply it over a local gloss coat and press it flat against the curve, following the decal-setting product instructions. Once dry, seal the carrier film and soften the emblem with a very thin Eshin Grey and Abaddon Black glaze. Finish with matte varnish so the film edge disappears.
Expected result
The emblem sits flush on the black panel and looks slightly worn.
Points to watch
Do not add a raised badge, cast shadow or a thick painted border.
Small, bright eyes
Where to paint: Pale eyes
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49
White Scarcitadel · 22-57
Paint each lens Dawnstone, then add White Scar towards its centre. Keep a thin dark rim around the eyes and clean up any overspill with Abaddon Black. A tiny spot of gloss on the dry lenses is enough; leave the rest of the head satin-matte.
Expected result
Both eyes are distinct within their dark sockets.
Points to watch
Do not paint white glow across the cheeks or enlarge the sculpted lenses.

5. Add effects and weathering

Restrained scuffs
Where to paint: Black casing
Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25
Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28
Karak Stonecitadel · 22-35
With most of the paint removed from the brush, add a few tiny Leadbelcher scuffs on exposed edges. Glaze very dilute Karak Stone near the feet, keeping the upper body cleaner. Reduce any oversized marks with Abaddon Black; broad black panels should remain mostly uninterrupted.
Expected result
A few worn edges suggest use without covering the droid in silver speckles.
Points to watch
Do not texture the smooth head with random scratches or thick stippling.

All paints and materials (11)

Blackvallejo · 70.602

Abaddon Blackcitadel · 21-25

Eshin Greycitadel · 22-51

Dawnstonecitadel · 22-49

Leadbelchercitadel · 21-28

Karak Stonecitadel · 22-35

Nuln Oilcitadel · 24-14

Ironbreakercitadel · 22-59

Rhinox Hidecitadel · 21-22

Fire Dragon Brightcitadel · 22-04

White Scarcitadel · 22-57

Community

Comments …

Loading comments…

K-2SO — weathered security-droid black

Weathered black casing is modelled with soft grey light around K-2SO's head and shoulders. Dark steel joints, faded ochre bands and small bright eyes provide detail without turning the droid silver.

◉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 slender droid
Check the thin fingers and rear aerials before removing seam lines. Wash K-2SO gently in soapy water, rinse and let it dry completely. Apply light coats of Black Surface Primer while turning the model to reach the shoulder rings and spaces behind the knees.
Expected result
The primer covers the recessed joints without closing the gaps between the fingers.
Points to watch
Do not bend the fingers or use a thick primer coat to hide rough patches.

K-2SO — weathered security-droid black

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the slender droid

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the slender droid

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

An even black foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Dark steel machinery

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Soft light on black armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Short metallic glints

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Faded ochre bands

Expected result

Points to watch

A flat shoulder insignia

Expected result

Points to watch

Small, bright eyes

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Add effects and weathering

Restrained scuffs

Expected result

Points to watch

Comments …

K-2SO — weathered security-droid black

Colours on the model

Painting stages

Prepare the model

For this stage

Prepare the slender droid

Expected result

Points to watch

1. Prepare the model

Prepare the slender droid

Expected result

Points to watch

2. Apply the base colours

An even black foundation

Expected result

Points to watch

Dark steel machinery

Expected result

Points to watch

3. Build the highlights

Soft light on black armour

Expected result

Points to watch

Short metallic glints

Expected result

Points to watch

4. Paint the details

Faded ochre bands

Expected result

Points to watch

A flat shoulder insignia

Expected result

Points to watch

Small, bright eyes

Expected result

Points to watch

5. Add effects and weathering

Restrained scuffs

Expected result