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I'm a new player (not even one game under my belt) but I just finished painting my first model: a Dark Angels Tactical Marine with Plasmagun me and my friend were using as a test model. I think it came out pretty well, considering that I only used base paints! I won't be winning any awards anytime soon, but it does look presentable.

I am now totally sold on the hobby; just that tiny sense that I accomplished something tangible that I consider worthwhile.

Biggest lesson: Washes (hereafter referred to as "Liquid Awesome" and "The Paint That Makes You A Better Painter") are amazing and will be used on any future models/detail parts.

I'm just wondering about what other people's first painted models were.

Incidentally a tactical marine in Dark Angels colours, from the AOBR box.

It's an enormous sense of well being you get after doing it. Turns into an addiction quicker than thought and you'll learn and grow as you go. Welcome to the hobby!

An Iron Warriors CSM champion with bolt-pistol and power fist. It's quite bad considering my painting is awful, but it's the least bad of my earlier painting.

My first 40K models were Jain Zar and Maugan Ra, shortly after they were originally released. At that point, I had no idea what 40K even was, they were just two cool models that I found in a local store.

First models I painted specifically for 40K were the Space Marines and Orks from the 2nd ed Starter Set. Although those Marines went through 3 or 4 different schemes before I settled on a colour that I liked... some of them were looking a little, er, 'padded' when they were finally finished

Washes are indeed liquid skill (as i call them). Proof? Below...



This is the first model i painted. This is also before any wash was applied. Looks good, but something is off....oh wait...



Ive posted this guy around before so he might look familiar. But, literally all i did was i COVERED him with Earthshade (or something like that) wash, i wasnt even applying it to specific areas i just blanketed the guy.
Looks way better lol

My first painted model was a Trygon Prime. It killed me but I love that big guy. Still run him, no edits.

A Tau Fire Warrior back when I was trying to get into 40k (nearly 8 years ago). I had no experience in using acrylics, or painting anything other than military aircraft.

Needless to say, that paint scheme was horrendous, and the five models I managed to paint ended up getting stripped down and repainted in their current livery (which looks much better, IMHO) about six years later.

Welcome to the hobby, by the way!

Sanguinary guard guy with chapter banner. All that red 'n gold just looks fantabulus.

Dice

No really though I haven't painted anything yet because I don't know what clan I want to make my orks.

Actually.. I helped my friend paint a crater.

Thanks for all the responses.

I didn't really have any experience painting models before this. I now know that painting very fine detail is not my specialty. The test model does look good from a tabletop distance though.

Here he is.


the "Longsword" (or Broadsword) Vanquisher tank.
First built, first painted, first foray into 40k. I've come a long way since this little guy. gone through numerous redos of regiment fluff.
I still use him in battle and he is the command tank of the first Vanquisher Squadron I have.

My first models I painted about 2 months ago were the 5 dark angels that came in the warhammer 40k paint set. I already had the dark vengeance set. It's amazing the difference between some of my first models and my more recent ones.

Here's my 1st one, painted in a GW. I remember the guy working made out as if it was a Golden Demon model lol.

I started out with orcs and goblins.. And i'm not going to share pictures of my old models.. They are abominations. But I collect dark angels too, so awesome.

A pretty standard old metal Grey Knight Terminator

RT-era Space Marine with bolt gun that I bought back in 1987. I recently repainted it along with a bunch of other RT-era Marines for one of my Devastator squads.

AoBR Boys with Big Shootas. I actually painted three simultaneously, on my first go. Had wanted to try different methods of painting the skin, but they all trended towards the same look, so I scrapped the idea and just shot for consistency. Pic was taken just before completion - cleaned up the base rims and washed down the overly bright teeth and skull soon afterward.

Technically when I was a we lad I got a painter set with ultra marines colors. If I had to guess it was third edition as I can remember the crimson fists on the cover of some book my dad got with it as the store clerk advised him to. Willing to bet they looked awful.
But since actually getting into the hobby with real effort, a Tau fire warrior was the first one I did. It looked OK but the tau symbol on the shoulder got majorly goofed up. Consequently the rest of the squad only the sergeant's emblem came out legible.

I think mine was a Space Marine from Battle of McRagge(sp?).

Found one of the little guys under a trunk, a long with one of thoes Imperial Guard Pilot guys. I don't have the heart to repaint him though and it's funny seeing that he's smaller than the DV Dark Angels

Did some Tau... loved the Tau...


When I restarted in maybe October or November of last year I cracked on with some Ork Boys and did a bad job on them.... I've repainted them though

Gonna have to upload some pictures!

Hope you enjoy 40K, TC!

My first model was a tyranid carnifex; I wanted to start out big and that was the biggest model the tyranids had at the time. I put as many spines, horns and shell pieces onto it as I could. I've torn him apart and reassembled, but it's mostly the same model.



Still my favourite model,

My first was the metal Space Marine Librarian in Terminator armor from WAY back in 2nd edition.

This is the best version of the model I could find online (it's not mine)

I started with Nids back in 2004. But I went to Space Wolves. I still have a bunch of nids including an old metal tyrant guard some where in a box.

My first painted models were for D&D back in '80.

For 40K, the first things I painted were the rogue trader plastic space marines - a puke green color that I've been trying since then to redo into a nicer looking scheme.

The first model I ever painted was some scrappy recast of an RT era space marine I bought on ebay when I wanted to start 40k about 5 years ago.

the first one(s) i painted was from Battle of Macragge box set. at the time i wanted the Space Marines and found it at a local shop ... spent a while painting it but never once played a game. they have since been regulated to a small display with some scenery on my shelf. but here are a few pics of them.

If you count 'Space Crusade' then the figures from the original boxed set. Otherwise it was the RTB01 Space Marines painted as Blood Angels

Here is my first 40K model. I moved on to the Eldar after this. I don't have a pic of my first two eldar. I was trying to pick out a color scheme I liked. This was the my third Eldar, but first one I was happy with.

This was the first model I ever put paint to, circa 1994 but didnt finish him in one sitting.



This was probably my first finished model. Sgt Apone of 3rd Blood Claw squad.



Hasnt seen much action since the old 2nd ed days Im afraid. Maybe SW 6th will bring back Blood Claws useably.

My first model was a Grey Knighs Interceptor Squad guy with standard equipment (a few months ago ). In my eyes, he looks rather crappy... others tell me he was quite good for a first try... .

My first model was the original o'shovah. I cringe to think of what I did with that model still I used white out to pick out the white parts, testors banner red to do the horribly clumped on paint, a felt tip pen for the panel lines, and the highlights were done in white out covered with red marker. Oh the memories...