Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

I am trying to come up with some sort of alternative way to paint necron armour.

I see a lot of marble and gold effects but prefer a darker palette. my necron army is a dark bronze colour and I hit upon the idea of giving my overlord black granite trim to his armour.

my issue is how to paint granite. the only thing I can think of is to paint ain't the armour black and either use a VERY light stipple of mythril silver to simulate the quartz bits you get in granite.....or mix a little silver glitter into the black paint and then glos varnish it.

Does anyone have a better method or suggestion?

check out my necron, maybe you will like this idea

They don't look like they have any granite effects on them.... (not to say they're bad because they aren't at all.)

Here's a thread about marble, it's not necessarily what you're looking for but it might help. http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/441485.page

Granite isn't shiny unless it's polished so I wouldn't use any metallics, glitter or gloss varnish. Stippling would be the way to go I think to give that spotty, random texture.

While I've never tried this effect, here's how I would do it:

1. Prime the entire model black.

2. Basecoat the granite areas in Celestra Gray. If you stipple the Gray over the black primer, it may look too dark and you won't be able to see the granite effect. Basecoating Gray will give a solid foundation while leaving the black primer in the recesses to create shadows.

3. Stipple Abaddon Black over the Celestra Gray.

If I'm picturing it my mind correctly, you should end up with an effect like this:

Looks good. in the picture above there are a couple of different shades of "dots". So maybe a couple of light stipples of a lighter grey and then a white.

I'll have to find a spare few bitz somewhere and do a practice run.

You can use a scouring pad to apply the texture for a loose stippling effect which is a bit larger than a sponge or most stippling brushes. Depends on what effect you're after though. A gloss varnish to finish could neaten it up if you do want it to look like it has been polished before being attached to the Necron Lord.


Spheres make the best texture testers, in my opinion.

That's what i was thinking. It is basically going to be the shourldeer trim and maybe the hip plates on the barge Overlord model.

I'd start with a medium gray basecoat, applying both lighter gray and black spots - you'll get the same variety and range of colors as the examples, while having an easier time achieving the proper opacity.

I wonder, though, if stippling will give you a fine enough pattern without streaking. If you're testing methods, I might experiment with a few different methods. Flicking your dots onto the model by drawing your finger across a loaded brush (either stiff bristle or a throwaway toothbrush) is one alternative, although it would require masking. Using a fine sponge torn roughly might also work well, if you alternate and overlap colors to avoid any oversized patches.

I'd definitely skip the glitter, though - I have a feeling that the shine would be too strong if the glitter remained exposed. If it gets covered by paint, all it will do is give a weird texture.

Depends on the granite, but I'll safely assume you want something similar to this:


I agree with oadie, try that. And try the stippling idea, just be cautious.

Something else you could try would be the Salt-weathering trick:
http://thepaintingcorps.blogspot.com/2009/04/friday-quick-tip-salt-hairspray.html

As your base coat, do patches of white and grey (leaving no spaces), then do the hairspray/salt, top coat with black, remove salt, touch up with black, clear coat.

If you want it as realistic (like granite) as possible, use opalescent whites, greys, and a little in your black for that mineralistic sheen. ADD: If you prefer an unfinished stone look (rough, un-polished, freshly broken after being dug up) add the opalescent medium only to your white (the white in granite is most commonly quarts, which is always a bit shiny) and leave the rest dull.

ADD: If you want rough looking armor, add some very fine sand to your paint as well.

As usual: ymmv

That's what I would try, so good luck.

OK, so base it gray and then work the black over the top to control the hue and depth of the colour.

I'm thinking Codex gray for the base (i dont have any of the new paints and done knwo their names, i'm in the process of switchign to vallejo anyway).

Greys-wise i have Codex, Fortress, Adeptus Battle (foundation colour), and Space Wolves grey (which always struck me as being pale blue/purple)