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.
- Grey primerMechanicus Standard Grey (spray)
- Green skinWarboss Green
- Green washBiel-Tan Green
- Light green skinSkarsnik Green
- BlackAbaddon Black
- Dark greyEshin Grey
- WhiteWhite Scar
- SteelLeadbelcher
- Brown washAgrax Earthshade
- Rust orangeRyza Rust (dry)
- Leather brownMournfang Brown
- BoneUshabti Bone
- RedMephiston Red
- 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 →Skin
- BaseGreen skinWarboss Green
All exposed skin: arms, head, hands.
- ShadeGreen washBiel-Tan Green
Wash all the skin. Muscles pop straight away.
- LayerGreen skinWarboss Green
Optional: re-paint the tops of the muscles with the base green.
- HighlightLight green skinSkarsnik Green
Knuckles, brow, nose, top of the muscles.
Clothes and armour plates
- BaseBlackAbaddon Black
Trousers, vest and armour plates.
- HighlightDark greyEshin Grey
Edge the plates and the folds of the cloth.
Check pattern
- BaseWhiteWhite Scar
Optional: a black-and-white check on one plate. Paint a white square, then draw a grid in black. Wonky checks look more Orky, not less.
Metal and rust
- BaseSteelLeadbelcher
Gun, blades, studs.
- ShadeBrown washAgrax Earthshade
A brown wash makes it dirty.
- LayerRust orangeRyza Rust (dry)
Stipple rust into the low parts with an old brush.
Leather, teeth and eyes
- BaseLeather brownMournfang Brown
Belts, straps and the gun grip.
- BaseBoneUshabti Bone
Teeth and tusks.
- ShadeBrown washAgrax Earthshade
Wash leather and teeth together.
- BaseRedMephiston Red
Eyes: a dot of red, then a smaller dot of bright red.
Base
- BaseDark earthRhinox Hide
Scrap, sand or mud.
- 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
- Do skin with one base coat and one green wash. That is tabletop ready.
- Paint the clothes in any colour you like: Orks wear whatever they found.
Display level
When you want people to stop and look
- Mix a little skin colour into a red wash and glaze the knuckles, ears and nose for a warm, living look.
- Paint chips on the armour plates: a dark grey blob with a fine steel line along its lower edge.
Other directions
Same model, your look
Your miniature, your rules. Two alternative schemes that use the same steps.
Different clan colours
Same skin, swap the clothes: red and yellow flames for a speed-mad look, blue for a sneaky one, yellow with black hazard stripes for a mechanic look.Different skin
Cooler: shade with blue wash and highlight with pale blue-grey mixed into the green. Warmer: shade with brown wash and highlight with a yellow-green.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grey primer | Mechanicus Standard Grey (spray) | Surface Primer Grey | Colour Primer Uniform Grey | look for: mid grey spray or brush-on primer | look for: mid grey spray or brush-on primer | No mixing: any grey primer made for plastic miniatures. Grey shows detail best when you are learning. |
| Green skin | Warboss Green | Goblin Green | Greenskin | look for: mid cool green | look for: mid cool green | Green + a touch of blue + a touch of white. |
| Green wash | Biel-Tan Green | Green Wash | Green Tone | look for: dark green shade/wash | look for: dark green shade/wash | Dark green + a touch of black, heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver. |
| Light green skin | Skarsnik Green | mix it | mix it | look for: pale mint-leaning green | look for: pale mint-leaning green | Your green skin + white + a dot of yellow (about 2:1:0.2). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Brown wash | Agrax Earthshade | Umber Wash | Strong Tone | look for: warm dark brown shade/wash | look for: warm dark brown shade/wash | Dark brown paint + lots of water (1:6 to 1:10) + a drop of flow improver. |
| Rust orange | Ryza Rust (dry) | Hot Orange | Lava Orange | look for: orange-brown rust | look for: orange-brown rust | Orange + brown about 1:1, stippled on with an old brush. |
| Leather brown | Mournfang Brown | Leather Brown | Leather Brown | look for: mid leather brown | look for: mid leather brown | Red-brown: brown + a touch of red. |
| 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). |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Grey primer
- Citadel
- Mechanicus Standard Grey (spray)
- Vallejo
- Surface Primer Grey
- Army Painter
- Colour Primer Uniform Grey
- AK
- look for: mid grey spray or brush-on primer
- Scale75
- look for: mid grey spray or brush-on primer
- Mix
- No mixing: any grey primer made for plastic miniatures. Grey shows detail best when you are learning.
Green skin
- Citadel
- Warboss Green
- Vallejo
- Goblin Green
- Army Painter
- Greenskin
- AK
- look for: mid cool green
- Scale75
- look for: mid cool green
- Mix
- Green + a touch of blue + a touch of white.
Green wash
- Citadel
- Biel-Tan Green
- Vallejo
- Green Wash
- Army Painter
- Green Tone
- AK
- look for: dark green shade/wash
- Scale75
- look for: dark green shade/wash
- Mix
- Dark green + a touch of black, heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver.
Light green skin
- Citadel
- Skarsnik Green
- Vallejo
- mix it
- Army Painter
- mix it
- AK
- look for: pale mint-leaning green
- Scale75
- look for: pale mint-leaning green
- Mix
- Your green skin + white + a dot of yellow (about 2:1:0.2).
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.
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.
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.
Brown wash
- Citadel
- Agrax Earthshade
- Vallejo
- Umber Wash
- Army Painter
- Strong Tone
- AK
- look for: warm dark brown shade/wash
- Scale75
- look for: warm dark brown shade/wash
- Mix
- Dark brown paint + lots of water (1:6 to 1:10) + a drop of flow improver.
Rust orange
- Citadel
- Ryza Rust (dry)
- Vallejo
- Hot Orange
- Army Painter
- Lava Orange
- AK
- look for: orange-brown rust
- Scale75
- look for: orange-brown rust
- Mix
- Orange + brown about 1:1, stippled on with an old brush.
Leather brown
- Citadel
- Mournfang Brown
- Vallejo
- Leather Brown
- Army Painter
- Leather Brown
- AK
- look for: mid leather brown
- Scale75
- look for: mid leather brown
- Mix
- Red-brown: brown + a touch of red.
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).
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.
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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