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As a beginning painter I want to start the classic way by painting Space Marines - in this case Ultramarines. Following the GW paint system, I can base with Macragge Blue and wash with Drakenhof nightshade. Now here's where things get fuzzy. Do I fix the blue back up with the Macragge (armor plates, raised areas etc) and do line highlights with Altdorf Guard and then a thinner one with Calgar Blue? Or do I ain't the armor with Altdorf and highlight with Calgar?

After the wash of Drakenhof just paint the armor with Altdorf, you can leave recessed spaces the darker colors. Then highlight the edges of armor plates with Calgar. I really recommend you use the Guilliman Blue Glaze too. That stuff is liquid talent. One thin layer is all you need.

I would go with blue, definitely blue.

In all seriousness, pretty much any color of blue would work. Just pass off any inconsistencies as them being on a planet with a weird star that emits light different that our sun does.

I was just to ask about the glazes. In some of the tutorials from GW they use one highlight and then glaze and in others, 2 highlights and no glaze (Dark Angels). Guess it's a matter of personal taste.

So if I paint with Altdorf, I get a tad lighter Space Marine as opposed to touching up with Macragge. Has anyone used the new texture paints for bases? Or should I just use the classis sand method?

Thanks