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Behold, the worst paint job of all time.



(The dusty gray splotching on the shoulder pads is intentional, by the way - it's supposed to be dust.)

In all seriousness, I don't think it's the worst paint job ever. However, I'm definitely not going to be winning any Golden Demon awards.

This brings me to the relevant question: how the heck do you paint? I'm terrible at thinning my paints, or layering, or even painting eyes. I've got maybe five kinds of paint and three separate brushes, and with these I'm trying to paint my chapter of Mary Sue Space Marines without making an ass of myself.

How can I improve my technique? How can I paint properly? How can I make an all-gray Space Marine visually appealing?

Thinning your paints is a must.

If you're really really bad about it? Just add some water to the paint pots. Shake it before painting, voila. 'Thinned' in many cases.

Layering isn't a necessity either.

For making an "all-gray Space Marine visually appealing"?

Weathering. Dust marks along his legs, a well-done base, etc all do a lot to really make that gray look far better.

As Kanluwen above said, thinning your paints is a must.
Did you prime the model before painting? I might be mistaken but it appears you might not have.

If you want grey space marine, a simple (but effective) technique might be drybrushing over a black basecoat.

For the dust effect, stippling (dabbing a small amount of paint using an old brush) would work.

Thanks, dude. That's all great advice.

Have you got any tips for paint techniques? When I thinned my Chaos Black and tried to apply it to the gaps in this guy's armor, it ended up dribbling into the cracks and leaving the exposed regions gray. And how the heck do you highlight? I tried brushing a little Boltgun Metal on this guy's head, shoulders and backpack, but I don't think it worked out all that well.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Cobbie wrote:As Kanluwen above said, thinning your paints is a must.
Did you prime the model before painting? I might be mistaken but it appears you might not have.

If you want grey space marine, a simple (but effective) technique might be drybrushing over a black basecoat.

For the dust effect, stippling (dabbing a small amount of paint using an old brush) would work.

My first couple of Marines, I tried basecoating with Chaos Black and then drybrushing with Codex Grey, but too much paint built up on the surface, and I lost detail. And I get the impression that you don't want to water down the first coat too much, or else subsequent coats won't stick. Is there a way I can drybrush with gray over the basecoat without losing detail? Would thinning the gray work?

If you want to do scratched paint?

DO NOT BRUSH IT ON. It's very silly when it gets done that way.

Use the side of a sharpened pencil, and run it along the raised edge pressing down.

If you were trying to use the Chaos Black as a wash, I'd suggest just grabbing Badab Black wash. CB can work, but it's one of those instances where if you're not careful in thinning it down it goes nuts.

I used Badab Black for washing. I was trying to use Chaos Black to fill in the exposed bits of the Spacebro's underarmor, but I guess I thinned it down too much.

I'll try that pencil trick next time.

Anyway, this has been some good advice. Thanks, guys.

Thin your paints, take your time, and take breaks if you get tired or switch out painting tasks (rotate from vehicles to infantry, for example).

I don't have any desire to compete in GD. My paintjobs only have to be good enough for my own play.

Hawkward wrote:
My first couple of Marines, I tried basecoating with Chaos Black and then drybrushing with Codex Grey, but too much paint built up on the surface, and I lost detail. And I get the impression that you don't want to water down the first coat too much, or else subsequent coats won't stick. Is there a way I can drybrush with gray over the basecoat without losing detail? Would thinning the gray work?

With a good basecoat ( I suggest spray primer, lightly dusted on the model), and a light coat of chaos black (if your primer isnt totally even all over) you can drybrush without losing any details.
Do not thin the paint. Get some paint on your brush (preferably an old brush), and wipe it on a paper towel back and forth until you see almost no paint coming off.
take the model and lightly move the brush back and forth on it. The raised details will catch the paint.
You might not see much of a difference, but the beauty is you can do it in several coats, which will gradually build up color. It is best to apply too little, rather than too much.

You could also simply paint the model gray (after you prime it of course. Dont thin your paint too much - you are looking for paint that has the consistency of milk, so it flows nicely, but wont clump on the brush. You can simply apply a second coat if the first didnt do it. Again, better too little than too much. Once painted, apply a Badab Black wash over the grey.

Alternatively, you could paint the model Grey and cover it with a very thinned down ink/wash (Badab black wash). This will work similarly (but hopefully much more effectively) than your Chaos Black experience. The wash will find all the grooves and give your marine some depth.

This guy was the first HQ I ever painted and I had used the above technique.


Good luck sir!

On the plus side you've not blobbed up the model with paint.

Do you use a spray undercoat on this Marines?

From the gouges on the shoulder pads it looks like you're twisting the pieces off the sprues. Use a knife or clippers to avoid this.

If I were starting out grey marines I'd paint them:

1. Chaos Black spray undercoat
2. Using a small drybrush apply one or two coats of the Adeptus Battle Grey Foundation paint
3. Wash it all with Badab Black

Not to toot GW's horn or anything, but honestly if you're this new, it might be worth picking up How To Paint Citadel Miniatures, with step-by-step guides for the hobby stuff. It'll explain all the terms, give you a bunch of step-by-step guides using different techniques for you to try and explain the differences between the various paints, and also how to prepare the model for painting by removing mould lines and other irregularities.

To further Lady Cass's point, why not actually go into GW for one of those free sessions showing you how to use a variety of techniques.

I only went twice, which gave me the knowledge and confidence to have a good go. After that, I picked up advice from here, and now I just get better through practice.

Considering you are brand new, it's not a bad effort.

All the advice given is golden, take it, use it, become better at it. The only way you become better at some thing is by constantly doing it, and painting is no diffrent.
That being said, your first time is way better than my first time 17 years ago