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Before continuing I'm going to make my excuses! I haven't painted or even assembled a model in 8 years and I quit partly because I became frustrated at my painting skills (all my own fault because I refused to practice and learn better techniques).

The five CSM pictured I dug out of my parents loft to practice on before I even make an attempt on the 2 CSM squads, rhino, terminator lord and squad of 5 terminators I've got on order.

The main aim was clean up the models correctly on assembly, achieve an even under coat and apply the colours on smoothly and accurately. I know very small goals but from what I gather very important for future success!

I've started to get steadier and even though I have only completed 3 so far my understanding has increased dramatically.

I've attempted highlighting with varying levels of success (I've tested different ratio mixes of codex grey with chaos black and also experimented where I've highlighted) I've decided a lot of what I've tried highlighting should not have been done as it looks stupid. I wouldn't have known this without trying!

I wanted to get them look slightly weathered (mainly chipped paint) but haven't try anything yet as I don't want it over the top nor do I want to reduce the black look of the armour so any ideas would be appreciated. I have modelled some bullets holes using a drill and knife but haven't found a way to paint them that I'm not embarrassed to show.

Any hints or tips overall would be greatly appreciated.

It's a good start, although I would recommend that you paint the trim gold rather than brass as the gold contrasts the black more and attracts attention to the model.

Gold does provide more contrast, but the brass can as well if you highlight it. As is the models are too dark and the paint scheme will undermine your efforts. Standard Black Legion have bone colored trim, providing a greater contrast.

I don't think you really need to change the trim, but find a way to lighten up the model. A red shoulder pad, or painting their helmets skull colors could go a long way, as would a base of white rubble (like an imperial church or eldar ruins).

I use brass on mine as I think it gives them more of an antique 10,000 year old veteran look. But a highlighted brass or a gold does look more visually striking.

It's a good start, although I would recommend that you paint the trim gold rather than brass as the gold contrasts the black more and attracts attention to the model.

As I didn't really have any ideas where to start the trim was painted with Shinning Gold as recommend on the GW site in this article : http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?catId=cat1300042&categoryId=400029§ion=&aId=1100023.

I haven't used any highlights or inks (it does recommend using chainmail to highlight the trim).

I'm not only collecting models but also the paints from scratch. I've just recently ordered the inks set and some of the metallic paints including bolt gun metal and burnished Gold.

How could I make the Shining Gold look more Gold and less bronze using what I've got?

To be fair, its a very neat and tidy paint job. I quite like them looking dark and 'antique' as someone above me has already said ... it actually makes them look 10,000 yrs old

good attention to detail (i.e. drilling the barrel on the heavy bolter etc)

the highlighting is basic but effective for a tabletop standard, maybe consider blending another shade between black and grey in there for a smoother effect.


considering they're your first models after an 8 yr break, its a good start!


oh...and get them properly based, this always finishes a model imo.

Don't just stick to what the GW site does, mate. Black Legion squads tend to have the trim done as silvers, bronzes, and golds.

A particularly effective trim I've seen is done using the following(from the basecoat to the final highlights):
Boltgun Metal->Chainmail->Mithril Silver.

For the gold effect, what you'll want to do is this:
Boltgun Metal->Chainmail->Shining Gold->Burnished Gold(final highlight).
THEN you take a small bit of chainmail, wipe most of it off on a rag and as finely as you can manage with a drybrush: run it along the outside of the trim, following the angles of the designs.

But another thing you'll want to look at is the washes. Devlan Mud is a musthave for any painter, and the Ogryn Flesh/Gryphonne Sepia washes can be used to really make gold pop. Following it up with Badab Black and Devlan Mud will darken it up if you think it ended up too bright.

I've been experimenting with a Badab Black/Devlan Mud mix that turns flat chainmail into a really really cool kind of archaic looking tin/bronze color that could look really awesome as an easy way for you to do the trim if y'want.

Thanks for the replies guys.... The tips that your giving me are helping solve the parts I wasn't too happy with

the highlighting is basic but effective for a tabletop standard, maybe consider blending another shade between black and grey in there for a smoother effect.

I never understood much of the basics of painting so excuse the ignorance.

So for example do most of the highlighting with a more black mix to start and then maybe for the more prominent parts a mix with more grey?

A particularly effective trim I've seen is done using the following(from the basecoat to the final highlights):
Boltgun Metal->Chainmail->Mithril Silver.

For the gold effect, what you'll want to do is this:
Boltgun Metal->Chainmail->Shining Gold->Burnished Gold(final highlight).

Any step by step examples? I've tried looking here for post or articles but I have to admit there has been so much posted that I can't seem to find any

THEN you take a small bit of chainmail, wipe most of it off on a rag and as finely as you can manage with a drybrush: run it along the outside of the trim, following the angles of the designs.

With only a basic grasp of painting techniques I'm trying to imagine what this will achieve... At a guess this will give me my chipped paint work effect that I really want to add.

I also can't wait for my washes to be delivered if they can add to the models affect that easily.

Step by steps, eh. I don't have any Marine models to work with, but I guess I can write down to do a basic one on a servitor.

I find the painting Shining Gold over silver can make it look rather washed out.

Undercoating the gold parts in Bestial Brown, then painting gold, then highlighting the edges with either silver or a silver/gold mix gives a nice bright shining gold.


These are looking fine so far, though. I would recommend giving the weapons a wash of black or Devlan Mud to cut down the shiny-newness of them a little. Perhaps painting the casings a different colour as well... a deep red or bone would look interesting.

Insaniak does make a good point.

You CAN do golds both ways, and the bestial brown way can look quite nice. It's just a matter of preference, I'd say.