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So I picked up a couple of bags of bits and picking through it I managed to assemble about 40 tac marines. I gave them all a coat of abbadon black and have decided to turn them into deathwatch or various chapters, my only question is how to do a quick decent deathwatch paintjob. I don't normally paint marines but I know that deathwatch are black with the silver arm and deathwatch shoulder pad. However leaving them just abbadon black with the shoulder pads and eyes probably won't look particularly good. So my question is how would you suggest to paint the bodies to make them look somewhat decent? Thanks in advance

Here's the 'Eavy Metal version



The most important thing you can do for a quick paint job involving power armor is edge highlighting. The little lines of gray at the edges of each piece of armor go a long way towards creating some depth in an all black model.

And although this photo doesn't show it, you should paint the non =I= shoulder pad in the chapter color and insignia of that particular marine. Fluffwise, this is to honor the machine spirit of the armor, who doesn't take kindly to the coat of black applied over the chapter color(s).

They're your models so do what though wilt, but I'd recommend against deathwatch. It would be unfluffy to have them as such a large force, and to me the whole fun of the deathwatch is the fluff. Also, regular tac marines painted in deathwatch colors have a tendency to look lazy and boring.

If you're looking for simple distinctive black color schemes check out the Iron hands, Raven Guard, Sable Swords, Black Consuls and a few others. If you're interested in the new Dark Angels codex then you should check out the Angels of Vengeance successor chapter.

If you are mainly worried about having a quick, easy and attractive paintjob I'd really recommend Silver Skulls, Doom Eagles or Minotaurs, all of whom can be accomplished pretty easily by drybrushing subsequently lighter metallic shades over your existing black base.

thanks, the edge highlighting is a really good idea, I'll definitely be testing that out
the deathwatch marines aren't so much for using them in game but for a painting project I'm working on
I do know how unfluffy a lot of deathwatch marines are and for the number I'll be doing it definitely wouldn't make sense