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Hello everybody. You all know that when playing IG, one of the most demoralizing things is to look at around 100+ models unpainted and think that "I will never get these pained". Well I made a really simple and FAST way to paint decent looking guardsmen. Sorry for not including more pics yet, but had to rush the test model, so only a couple of pics so far. I will propably take more pics from the different steps when i have time to paint the next patch.

Step 1.
Assemble your models.

Step2.
Prime your models with the desired color for the cloth. I ended up using Italian Armor- spray from the Flames of War spray range. These are all good candidates for guardsmen as they are for WW2 figures and usually in some earth tone. A basic green or grey will do too from Army painter sprays.



Step 3.
Do a little highlight to the cloth parts of the model with a slightly lighter tone than the base color. I drybrushed some Citadel Ushabti Bone to the raised areas really fast. (this part is not nesessary, but will add some dimension to the model).

Step 4.
Paint the flesh. I painted the base color to the flesh areas with dark flesh, then drybrushed some Dwarf Flesh and after that Elf flesh to the raised areas of the skin.

Step 5.
Paint the flak armor parts and helmets with a contrasting color, like grey or green if the cloth is brown. use a bit darker tone for this though, or if your base color is quite dark, then use a lighter tone. After you have painted all the areas, use a lighter tone and drybrush the flak armor and helmet to add some dimension (optional). I used Russ Grey for my flak armor and added a 50/50 mix of Russ Grey and Ceramite White to do the highlights.

Step 6.
Paint black parts. I painted the gun, Imperial signia, belts and boots black.

Step 7.
Paint metal parts with Leadbelcher. I painted the gun, belt buckle and the Imperial signias on the helmet and breastplate with the metal color

So your model should look like this if you have used the same colors as i did:

sorry for the crap image.

Step 8.
Drown the model in Agrax Earthshade wash from GW. Other dark washes could do too depending on the color scheme, but i find that Agrax Earthshade is just the right for a "dirty" look on the model.

My model after the wash treatment.


I painted one model in about 20 mins, not counting assembly and priming, or waiting for the wash to dry, that actually took longer than the painting

Step9
Use a matt varnish, so your models won't shine as much as mine.

I recomend doing at least 10 models at a time and repeating the steps to each model before moving on to the next step. This will speed up the painting a lot.

Happy painting and For the Emperor!


First ten models


And they keep multiplying!

Great technique I really like the dirty look to your models

Might be trying this on my IG army that's coming up soon

dark1250 wrote:
Great technique I really like the dirty look to your models

I can second that

Do you brush on your wash or dip?

Might have to get some of that wash for my guard! Multiple bottles of it I am guessing?!

Good tutorial!!

I use a watercoloring brush to apply the wash. Just finished another 9 guardsmen today, but forgot to take photos. Still have loads to paint so will try and remember to take photos of all the steps then.

I made another patch of guardsmen today and remembered to take some photos

Here are the steps in pictures:

Model after priming and ready to be painted


Step 1 cloth highlights (does not show well in picture... doh )

Step 2 The skin



Step 3 flakk armor


Step 4 paint it black!

Step 5 paint the metal parts

Step 6 highlight the black (this part can be skipped if wanted)

Step 7 Wash everything!


So that is how it is done. Have fun painting!

Top notch tutorial man!

here are all my finished guardsmen. They were painted in four around 3 hour sessions using the method i have given above



Obviously they still need basing and a treatment of matt varnish, but other than that they are done

2 suggestions:

1) Do the base coat by hand and water it down so the white shows through. Gives more range of colours when washed and gives the illusion of blending.

2) A dark grey with black wash gives a "high lighted" black look.

Speed washing FTW.

Don't understand suggestion 1, but suggestion 2 really is worth trying on another project (ravenwing additions to my new ravenwing army )

If you water down your paint it acts a a thick wash, and the white primer lightens up the high points. It creates a gradual, and is amplified when you do the earth shade wash. Trust me, I am king of the 10 minute mini process

Works for Nurgle anything, Nids and Guard.

 Ravenous D wrote:
If you water down your paint it acts a a thick wash, and the white primer lightens up the high points. It creates a gradual, and is amplified when you do the earth shade wash. Trust me, I am king of the 10 minute mini process

Would be fine, Ravenous, but masquerade isn't using a white primer - he's using a coloured primer instead.

I know, you can do it with an airbrush as well if you really water it down. Its a few extra minutes but the turn out is little better.

 Ravenous D wrote:
I know, you can do it with an airbrush as well if you really water it down. Its a few extra minutes but the turn out is little better.

well i don't own an airbrush yet as i don't have a suitable place in my flat to use it in. Also it is a big investment in money to get one, so not getting one just yet. Possibly some time in the future.

Good tutorial.

I'm terrified of the surgery that medic has in mind.

^lol...he does have a rather Dr. Mengele looking hair cut :p

You make it look so easy This'll shave off hours of my painting time...

I will also suggest in your finished photos of the models they look rather shiny, not sure if you were going for this or if they were just drying from the wash but if you dont want that(I like my guardsmen to look weathered down) then get a can of Matt spray and it protects the model from chipping and will also get rid of that shine.

Just a helpful hint, Great tutorial as its very similar to how ive painted my guardsmen!