Shopping list
The palette
Every colour in this recipe, named for the brand you picked. Each name is an approximate visual match based on our testing; results may vary. Copy the list to your phone before the hobby shop.
- Black primerChaos Black (spray)
- BlackAbaddon Black
- Dark greyEshin Grey
- Pale blue-greyFenrisian Grey
- BoneUshabti Bone
- Sepia washSeraphim Sepia
- Pale boneScreaming Skull
- Deep redKhorne Red
- RedMephiston Red
- WhiteWhite Scar
- Mid greyDawnstone
- SteelLeadbelcher
- Dark earthRhinox Hide
- KhakiBaneblade Brown
Watch
See it painted
Her videos first, then tutorials by other painters, credited to their creators. Videos load from YouTube only when you press play.
Painted this one? We only ever show minis The Pigmentum painted herself, never official photos. Show her yours in the comments on her YouTube channel.
Step by step
The recipe
Area by area, in painting order: base, shade, layer, highlight. Thin every paint a little with water (how to thin paint).
Watch her paint itEpisode 04 · Can You Paint a Warhammer Miniature Tabletop-Ready in Just 1 Hour?Her real attempt, mistakes left in. Opens on YouTube.Watch on YouTube →Black armour
- BaseBlackAbaddon Black
Tidy up the primer with a brush-on black so it is fully matt.
- HighlightDark greyEshin Grey
Edge highlight every plate.
- HighlightPale blue-greyFenrisian Grey
Tiny points on the corners only. A cool grey keeps black looking black.
Helmet and bone details
- BaseBoneUshabti Bone
Helmet and any bone panels. Two or three thin coats over black.
- ShadeSepia washSeraphim Sepia
Recesses only.
- HighlightPale boneScreaming Skull
Top of the helmet crest.
Gems and trim
- BaseDeep redKhorne Red
Gems on the chest and helmet.
- LayerRedMephiston Red
Lower half of each gem.
- HighlightWhiteWhite Scar
One dot in the top corner: the light reflection.
Weapon
- BaseDark greyEshin Grey
Gun body.
- HighlightMid greyDawnstone
Edges.
- BaseSteelLeadbelcher
Barrel tips.
Base
- BaseDark earthRhinox Hide
- LayerKhakiBaneblade Brown
Drybrush.
Tips
Quick or display
Two ways to paint it, depending on how long you want to spend.
Tabletop, fast
Get it on the table tonight
- Black primer does the armour. Spend your time on the helmet and gems: that is what people look at.
- Paint the bone before the black edge highlights so you can tidy over mistakes.
Display level
When you want people to stop and look
- Blend each gem from dark to bright, then paint a small curved reflection opposite the white dot.
- Use two edge highlights on the armour: dark grey broad, pale blue-grey very fine.
Other directions
Same model, your look
Your miniature, your rules. Two alternative schemes that use the same steps.
Blue craftworld style
Deep blue armour with light blue highlights and a yellow or white helmet stripe.Red and white
Bright red armour with white helmet and trim, black weapons. Bold and readable.Can't find a paint?
Swap it or mix it
Our own colour notes from independent testing. Every brand name is an approximate visual match based on our testing; results may vary, never an official equivalent. For AK and Scale75 we describe what to look for. Mix ratios are starting points: test on your palette first.
| Colour | Citadel | Vallejo | Army Painter | AK | Scale75 | Mix it yourself |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black primer | Chaos Black (spray) | Surface Primer Black | Colour Primer Matt Black | look for: black spray or brush-on primer | look for: black spray or brush-on primer | No mixing: any black primer made for plastic miniatures. Thin coats, 20-30 cm away. |
| Black | Abaddon Black | Black | Matt Black | look for: matt black | look for: matt black | Any matt black. In a pinch, dark blue + dark brown 1:1 makes a soft near-black that highlights more naturally. |
| Dark grey | Eshin Grey | German Grey (Model Color) | mix it | look for: dark neutral grey | look for: dark neutral grey | Black + white about 4:1. Add a speck of blue for a cooler armour grey. |
| Pale blue-grey | Fenrisian Grey | Wolf Grey | Wolf Grey | look for: pale blue-grey | look for: pale blue-grey | White + mid blue + a touch of grey (about 4:1:0.5). |
| Bone | Ushabti Bone | Bonewhite | Skeleton Bone | look for: mid bone | look for: mid bone | White + a little yellow + a touch of brown (about 6:1:0.5). |
| Sepia wash | Seraphim Sepia | Sepia Wash | Soft Tone | look for: light yellow-brown shade/wash | look for: light yellow-brown shade/wash | Mid brown + a little yellow, heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver. |
| Pale bone | Screaming Skull | Off-White (Model Color) | mix it | look for: pale warm off-white | look for: pale warm off-white | White + a small dot of your bone colour. |
| Deep red | Khorne Red | Gory Red | Dragon Red | look for: dark crimson | look for: dark crimson | Your red + a touch of black or dark brown (about 4:1). |
| Red | Mephiston Red | Bloody Red | Pure Red | look for: strong mid red | look for: strong mid red | Red with a touch of brown so it is not too pink. Over grey primer it needs 2-3 thin coats. |
| White | White Scar | Dead White | Matt White | look for: matt white | look for: matt white | Any matt white, including artist titanium white thinned with water. |
| Mid grey | Dawnstone | Stonewall Grey | Uniform Grey | look for: mid grey | look for: mid grey | Black + white about 1:1, then adjust. Test on the palette: it dries darker. |
| Steel | Leadbelcher | Gunmetal Metal | Gun Metal | look for: mid metallic steel | look for: mid metallic steel | Any silver + a little black (about 3:1). Mix metallics with metallics, not with normal paint, or they go chalky. |
| Dark earth | Rhinox Hide | Charred Brown | Oak Brown | look for: very dark brown | look for: very dark brown | Brown + black about 3:1. |
| Khaki | Baneblade Brown | Khaki | mix it | look for: light grey-brown khaki | look for: light grey-brown khaki | Your bone colour + dark earth about 2:1. |
Black primer
- Citadel
- Chaos Black (spray)
- Vallejo
- Surface Primer Black
- Army Painter
- Colour Primer Matt Black
- AK
- look for: black spray or brush-on primer
- Scale75
- look for: black spray or brush-on primer
- Mix
- No mixing: any black primer made for plastic miniatures. Thin coats, 20-30 cm away.
Black
- Citadel
- Abaddon Black
- Vallejo
- Black
- Army Painter
- Matt Black
- AK
- look for: matt black
- Scale75
- look for: matt black
- Mix
- Any matt black. In a pinch, dark blue + dark brown 1:1 makes a soft near-black that highlights more naturally.
Dark grey
- Citadel
- Eshin Grey
- Vallejo
- German Grey (Model Color)
- Army Painter
- mix it
- AK
- look for: dark neutral grey
- Scale75
- look for: dark neutral grey
- Mix
- Black + white about 4:1. Add a speck of blue for a cooler armour grey.
Pale blue-grey
- Citadel
- Fenrisian Grey
- Vallejo
- Wolf Grey
- Army Painter
- Wolf Grey
- AK
- look for: pale blue-grey
- Scale75
- look for: pale blue-grey
- Mix
- White + mid blue + a touch of grey (about 4:1:0.5).
Bone
- Citadel
- Ushabti Bone
- Vallejo
- Bonewhite
- Army Painter
- Skeleton Bone
- AK
- look for: mid bone
- Scale75
- look for: mid bone
- Mix
- White + a little yellow + a touch of brown (about 6:1:0.5).
Sepia wash
- Citadel
- Seraphim Sepia
- Vallejo
- Sepia Wash
- Army Painter
- Soft Tone
- AK
- look for: light yellow-brown shade/wash
- Scale75
- look for: light yellow-brown shade/wash
- Mix
- Mid brown + a little yellow, heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver.
Pale bone
- Citadel
- Screaming Skull
- Vallejo
- Off-White (Model Color)
- Army Painter
- mix it
- AK
- look for: pale warm off-white
- Scale75
- look for: pale warm off-white
- Mix
- White + a small dot of your bone colour.
Deep red
- Citadel
- Khorne Red
- Vallejo
- Gory Red
- Army Painter
- Dragon Red
- AK
- look for: dark crimson
- Scale75
- look for: dark crimson
- Mix
- Your red + a touch of black or dark brown (about 4:1).
Red
- Citadel
- Mephiston Red
- Vallejo
- Bloody Red
- Army Painter
- Pure Red
- AK
- look for: strong mid red
- Scale75
- look for: strong mid red
- Mix
- Red with a touch of brown so it is not too pink. Over grey primer it needs 2-3 thin coats.
White
- Citadel
- White Scar
- Vallejo
- Dead White
- Army Painter
- Matt White
- AK
- look for: matt white
- Scale75
- look for: matt white
- Mix
- Any matt white, including artist titanium white thinned with water.
Mid grey
- Citadel
- Dawnstone
- Vallejo
- Stonewall Grey
- Army Painter
- Uniform Grey
- AK
- look for: mid grey
- Scale75
- look for: mid grey
- Mix
- Black + white about 1:1, then adjust. Test on the palette: it dries darker.
Steel
- Citadel
- Leadbelcher
- Vallejo
- Gunmetal Metal
- Army Painter
- Gun Metal
- AK
- look for: mid metallic steel
- Scale75
- look for: mid metallic steel
- Mix
- Any silver + a little black (about 3:1). Mix metallics with metallics, not with normal paint, or they go chalky.
Dark earth
- Citadel
- Rhinox Hide
- Vallejo
- Charred Brown
- Army Painter
- Oak Brown
- AK
- look for: very dark brown
- Scale75
- look for: very dark brown
- Mix
- Brown + black about 3:1.
Khaki
- Citadel
- Baneblade Brown
- Vallejo
- Khaki
- Army Painter
- mix it
- AK
- look for: light grey-brown khaki
- Scale75
- look for: light grey-brown khaki
- Mix
- Your bone colour + dark earth about 2:1.
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Paint recipes, colour matches, mixing tips, and any 3D visualisations are original work based on independent research and testing. They are approximate only and not official recommendations.
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