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)
Mid blueMacragge Blue
Blue washDrakenhof Nightshade
Light blueCalgar Blue
Pale blue-greyFenrisian Grey
GoldRetributor Armour
Flesh washReikland Fleshshade
Pale goldLiberator Gold
BlackAbaddon Black
Dark greyEshin Grey
Mid greyDawnstone
SteelLeadbelcher
Black washNuln Oil
RedMephiston Red
Bright redEvil Sunz Scarlet
WhiteWhite Scar
Dark earthRhinox Hide
BoneUshabti Bone

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.

The Pigmentum · Episode 04 Can You Paint a Warhammer Miniature Tabletop-Ready in Just 1 Hour?Episode notes

Let's Paint: An Ultramarines IntercessorTutorial by WhatThe40k · watch on YouTube

How To Paint A Battle Ready Ultramarine IntercessorTutorial by Origin Painting · watch on YouTube

How to Highlight Miniatures How Do You Use a Wash on Miniatures?How Do You Thin Paint for Miniatures?

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 →

Armour

Base
Mid blueMacragge Blue

Two thin coats over grey primer. Thin it like milk; patchy first coats are normal.
Shade
Blue washDrakenhof Nightshade

Only in the recesses and panel lines, not all over, or the blue goes dull. Black wash also works.
Layer
Light blueCalgar Blue

Optional: tidy up any wash that pooled on flat panels by re-painting the middle of each panel with mid blue, then a thin line of light blue along the top edges.
Highlight
Pale blue-greyFenrisian Grey

Tiny dots on the sharpest corners only: helmet top, knee pads, shoulder rims.

Shoulder rims and trim

Base
GoldRetributor Armour

Shoulder pad rims and chest eagle. Steady your hand on the table.
Shade
Flesh washReikland Fleshshade

A warm wash makes gold look richer than a black one.
Highlight
Pale goldLiberator Gold

Thin line on the outer edge of each rim.

Gun casing

Base
BlackAbaddon Black

The gun body and pouches.
Highlight
Dark greyEshin Grey

Edge highlight the corners. Black is never highlighted with pure white on a tabletop model.
Highlight
Mid greyDawnstone

Optional second, finer highlight.

Gun metal

Base
SteelLeadbelcher

Muzzle, ammo feed and any exposed joints.
Shade
Black washNuln Oil

Wash straight over the metal.

Eye lenses

Base
RedMephiston Red

Fill the lens.
Highlight
Bright redEvil Sunz Scarlet

A small dot in the bottom corner of each lens.
Highlight
WhiteWhite Scar

Tiniest dot of white in the same corner if you are feeling brave.

Base

Base
Dark earthRhinox Hide

Texture paint or sand, then dark earth.
Layer
BoneUshabti Bone

Drybrush lightly. Paint the rim black for a neat finish.

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

Prime blue instead of grey and skip straight to the shade. Spray primers in strong blue exist from several brands.
Shade with a wash over everything, then re-cover only the big flat panels with the base blue. Two steps, looks like four.

Display level

When you want people to stop and look

Paint the armour panels with a smooth blend from deep blue at the bottom to light blue at the top before the edge highlights.
Glaze very thin blue wash into the transitions to smooth them.

Other directions

Same model, your look

Your miniature, your rules. Two alternative schemes that use the same steps.

Your own chapter

The same steps work for any one-colour armour. Swap the blue trio for red (deep red, red, bright red) or green (cadian green, loren green, bone highlight).

Contrast-paint shortcut

Over a white or bone primer, one coat of a blue one-coat paint (often sold as Contrast, Speedpaint or Xpress) does base and shade in a single step.

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.
Mid blue	Macragge Blue	Ultramarine Blue	Ultramarine Blue	look for: strong mid blue	look for: strong mid blue	Pure blue + white about 4:1 with a tiny dot of black to knock it back.
Blue wash	Drakenhof Nightshade	Blue Wash	Blue Tone	look for: dark blue shade/wash	look for: dark blue shade/wash	Dark blue + a touch of black, heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver.
Light blue	Calgar Blue	Magic Blue	Crystal Blue	look for: bright mid-light blue	look for: bright mid-light blue	Your mid blue + white about 2:1.
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).
Gold	Retributor Armour	Polished Gold	Greedy Gold	look for: warm rich gold	look for: warm rich gold	Any gold. Too pale? Glaze it with a brown or flesh wash to warm it up.
Flesh wash	Reikland Fleshshade	Flesh Wash	Flesh Wash	look for: warm red-brown shade/wash	look for: warm red-brown shade/wash	Red-brown (brown + a little red) heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver.
Pale gold	Liberator Gold	Glorious Gold	mix it	look for: light bright gold	look for: light bright gold	Your gold + silver about 2:1.
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.
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.
Black wash	Nuln Oil	Black Wash	Dark Tone	look for: black or dark-grey shade/wash	look for: black or dark-grey shade/wash	Black paint + lots of water (1:6 to 1:10) + one drop of flow improver or a tiny drop of dish soap so it runs into recesses.
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.
Bright red	Evil Sunz Scarlet	Scarlet Red	mix it	look for: orange-leaning bright red	look for: orange-leaning bright red	Your red + a little orange (about 3:1). Never white: it turns red pink.
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.
Dark earth	Rhinox Hide	Charred Brown	Oak Brown	look for: very dark brown	look for: very dark brown	Brown + black about 3:1.
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).

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.

Mid blue

Citadel: Macragge Blue
Vallejo: Ultramarine Blue
Army Painter: Ultramarine Blue
AK: look for: strong mid blue
Scale75: look for: strong mid blue
Mix: Pure blue + white about 4:1 with a tiny dot of black to knock it back.

Blue wash

Citadel: Drakenhof Nightshade
Vallejo: Blue Wash
Army Painter: Blue Tone
AK: look for: dark blue shade/wash
Scale75: look for: dark blue shade/wash
Mix: Dark blue + a touch of black, heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver.

Light blue

Citadel: Calgar Blue
Vallejo: Magic Blue
Army Painter: Crystal Blue
AK: look for: bright mid-light blue
Scale75: look for: bright mid-light blue
Mix: Your mid blue + white about 2:1.

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).

Gold

Citadel: Retributor Armour
Vallejo: Polished Gold
Army Painter: Greedy Gold
AK: look for: warm rich gold
Scale75: look for: warm rich gold
Mix: Any gold. Too pale? Glaze it with a brown or flesh wash to warm it up.

Flesh wash

Citadel: Reikland Fleshshade
Vallejo: Flesh Wash
Army Painter: Flesh Wash
AK: look for: warm red-brown shade/wash
Scale75: look for: warm red-brown shade/wash
Mix: Red-brown (brown + a little red) heavily thinned (1:8) + a drop of flow improver.

Pale gold

Citadel: Liberator Gold
Vallejo: Glorious Gold
Army Painter: mix it
AK: look for: light bright gold
Scale75: look for: light bright gold
Mix: Your gold + silver about 2:1.

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.

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.

Black wash

Citadel: Nuln Oil
Vallejo: Black Wash
Army Painter: Dark Tone
AK: look for: black or dark-grey shade/wash
Scale75: look for: black or dark-grey shade/wash
Mix: Black paint + lots of water (1:6 to 1:10) + one drop of flow improver or a tiny drop of dish soap so it runs into recesses.

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.

Bright red

Citadel: Evil Sunz Scarlet
Vallejo: Scarlet Red
Army Painter: mix it
AK: look for: orange-leaning bright red
Scale75: look for: orange-leaning bright red
Mix: Your red + a little orange (about 3:1). Never white: it turns red pink.

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.

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.

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).

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