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Hey all, I've recently begun a Raven Guard force and I really want to step up my painting/modelling game with this army. Having said that I could really use a few pointers on how to achieve realistic black armour for my marines. An employee at my local GW told me that I should prime the whole model in black, drybrush grey over the areas I want to look black (armour etc), and then apply a wash of nuln oil to those same areas to achieve a really nice black. What do you you guys think about this method? Have you achieved a really awesome black for your models and would be willing to share some advice? All comments and criticisms welcome, thanks in advance!

 drock403 wrote:
Hey all, I've recently begun a Raven Guard force and I really want to step up my painting/modelling game with this army. Having said that I could really use a few pointers on how to achieve realistic black armour for my marines. An employee at my local GW told me that I should prime the whole model in black, drybrush grey over the areas I want to look black (armour etc), and then apply a wash of nuln oil to those same areas to achieve a really nice black. What do you you guys think about this method? Have you achieved a really awesome black for your models and would be willing to share some advice? All comments and criticisms welcome, thanks in advance!

It really depends how much time you are willing to spend, the technique described would be like the most basic thing you can do.

The main trick is to use as much greys as possible, and stay away from pure black (only in the shadows), in fact I would prime black, then do a bascoat of very dark grey in the areas that are higher/more exposed to light, and then less dark grey highlights (that you do a black wash over). more advanced techniques involve some shading from dark to light to define the shapes.

For the hightlights, have a look at P3 coal black, it's a slate blue that works really well.

Gah! the OP has asked the one thing I am constantly trying to perfect: the "right" black.

I play BT so black is always on my mind (everything will be from the BT viewpoint)

Priming black for the start.

I prefer what is called "Payne's Grey" or what used to be "Chaos Black" I it is black with a bit of blue in it as my base block coverage.

Dry brush the darkest grey you have on raised areas and the tops of rounds like top of thigh, top of helmet etc.

A wash of the more "true black" (light sucking I-cannot-see-raised-detail-it-is-so-black) paint over everything, remember a wash is really thinned down to milk.
I really am not sure if the Nuln-Oil does anything when we are this dark so I do not use it but itmay blend the next step well.

Do two or three progressively lighter greys highlighting sharp edges on the top of the model (where light would catch from above) in covering a little less than 2/3rds of the prior color on edges or the top arc of the helmet etc.

The guy at "awesome paintjob" has a good video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDxeZE6Ozds

A fast and dirty way to do it and looks great (table grade to be proud of)
http://whencannonsfade.com/painting-black-templar-space-marines/

Read really good reviews on this DVD that a guy put out, did not get it myself (yet).
http://agpminis.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7

Also not to overlook our Dakka folks:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/434751.page

Good luck.

I like the idea of using using Model colour black grey as a base adn washing with nuln oil so You can have some shading even though the colour is black.

"True" or perfect anything is relative to the person. I find that thefollowing method works for me

Spray Chaos Black
Drybrush a 3:1 mix of Chaos Black/Vallejo Model Neutral Grey onto raised edges
As many heavy washes of Nuln Oil as required.

But as said, my interpretation of perfect doesn't match other people's perfect. Best thing to do is find an example of "perfect" black, find the owner if possible and get an instruction.

 Deadshot wrote:
"True" or perfect anything is relative to the person. I find that thefollowing method works for me

But as said, my interpretation of perfect doesn't match other people's perfect. Best thing to do is find an example of "perfect" black, find the owner if possible and get an instruction.

Very true indeed my friend. Should've stated it more objectively as my interpretation of "perfect" is purely subjective. Well played. Really like the way this thread is gaining momentum. Thanks to everybody for their valuable input, i'll be testing out these methods on some poor lab rat space marines in the near future

I just remember that there was a great tutorial on painting a blue-black in this month's issue of WD.

I can do a tut on my black if you want it?

Personally, I want my armour to look like shiny black onyx. So I prime it black, highlight the edges with The Fang and then apply a coat of Quickshade only on the armour plates.

That's how it looks:




I would recommend this if you wanted your Raven Guard to look shiny.

Here is some reading material:
http://handcannononline.com/blog/2011/07/29/tutorial-basics-back-in-black-painting-black-armour/
http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2010/08/wfb-hobby-painting-black-cool-way.html
http://blog.brushthralls.com/?page_id=1942
http://miniaturemiscellany.wordpress.com/tutorials/painting-black/
http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2010/12/painting-black-armour-learning-how.html
http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/2010/12/painting-black-some-help.html

This will help a lot too:
http://fromthewarp.blogspot.com/search/label/ravenguard (read the one on skin tones, it's excellent)

Google is your friend!

 CptCortez128 wrote:
I can do a tut on my black if you want it?

That would be greatly appreciated!

I find to get a great looking black with my raven guard I start with white primer thats right white!

Add greys to get progressively darker into the shadows (leaving your areas that would be in the direct light white), then cover the whole armour with a very thinned down black. ( like dirty water) I use model colour from vallejo but watered down nuln oil will work. It has to be done in very thin multiple coats but works really well and gives your highlight areas a definite lighter look that blends into the shadows pun intended. I use an airbrush as the greys blend easier and faster but a normal brush will also work well. Dont go over the top with the black washes/glazes on your light areas as it will kill the effect and if you edge highlight a light grey to white in the shaddows after, it gives it a non metallic effect.
Looks awesome if done right and may take a couple of goes.

Great information. Painting black armor is a real trick. At least it is for me. Thanks for this informative thread!!

My current method is, prime in chaos black. Basecoat in 90% ulthuan grey 10% Indian black ink. Wash with 10:1 Indian black ink and water mix, then highlight with progressively lighter ink/ grey mixes. You can pick the ink up cheaply at any art supply store.
Just be careful how much ink you add as it is extremely highly pigmented.

Here are a couple of photos of the method of described above. I hope this explains it better with pics. I know the model is different in the images but the 1st step on the finished model didnt have a clear image any questions or help wanted msg me. im glad to help.

Had to do this in stages as images wouldnt load.

Build up the black glazes until you get the look you want. Let each layer dry properly before adding the next and dont add too much at once to avoid pooling. Thin coats only. The use of a heir dryer helps a lot here.

Finished product. As always it looks better in the flesh. I only had my phone available for images so I hope it helps. I think you get the idea from the top of the raised leg.

Fantastic advice, thanks again to everyone that contributed. Looking forward to getting some Raven Guard painted up