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Hello, TheH!veM!nd here, wanting to bring my own brand of hobby(ing) to the forums. Having very little painting skill and some tiny bits of modeling skill, I thought it would be fun and informative to create this to help other people and myself by presenting tips and idea's that newer people (or even curious people) could utilize to create a painted army with some semblence of nicety, so without further ado, the great devourer awaits!

Now to go over some house keeping, namely the paints that will be featured (thus far) and the tools that I use, and what brushes.

Tools and Brushes, and feel free to join in with your own tyranid ideas and suggestions guys!

Now to introduce some of the many creepy crawlies to be featured in this forum (not all are pictured due to the sheer numbers of Tyranids that make up an army, and some are arbitrarily put before others because they look more fun to paint).


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Now to get down to business, we'll begin with one of the more infamous Tyranid species, The Hive Tyrant. Here I'll begin the step by step process for each one until completion, and if you have questions or suggestions, critiques, or even a thought on what you want me to paint next, just shoot me a message!

Here we have the now primed Hive Tyrant, and I went over the chitinous plating on the creatures body with Drakenhof Nightshade, a citadel shade.

I go over each section once lightly, let it set for a minute or so, then I rub the section down again with the same brush (not re-dipped in the paint).

After this I wait another minute or two then re-dip the brush in the paint and slather on the next layer heavily to achieve the dark blue, after that if there are any spots that are far too light still I go over it with the same brush to even it, and if need be, re-dip and apply a small drop, then allocate it by guiding it with the brush.

Next up we'll cover the spikes and small claws/talons!

Claws, barbs, and assorted spikes, done in Moot Green.

Looking pretty good so far.

Thank you

The Lash Whip, Bone Sword, and the tongue/ mouth have been given a base coat of Bugman's Glow.

Next I have coated the membranes in between the wing bones with a layer of "Ushabti Bone" Citadel Layer Paint, on both sides. This will be washed later on.

Next I next used "Seraphim Sepia" Citadel Shade paint on the "skin" areas of the body and the wing bones, i also did a light wash over the Lashwhip and Bonesword. I just slathered it on, going back to draw up excess as it came and reallocated it to other parts as need be. I tried to fill gaps and places where shade would be good with extra that would sit and dry into a nice darker hue to achieve a nice shadow.

After that I took "Agrax Earthshade" a Citadel shade paint and applied it to the wing membranes on the inside and the outside. I used about a whole drop/brushful/dunk of shade for each section of the wing, even the small ones, however I used two on the largest segment of the wings (the section right below the wing's "hand").

I then did some extra work on the mouth, lash whip, and bone sword by adding some blood colored "Khorne Red" citadel base paint.

Hi everybody, sorry I hadn't updated sooner (Because everybody reads this blog thing (rolls eyes)). Anyway, if you think that the carapace, sword, mouth and lashwhip (the latter two not so much due to picture issues) look shiny, you would be right, i slathered them with a light coat of "'Ardcoat" citadel technical paint to make them shine like a more realistic carapace. And in the corner of the base (it's a circle, ha) we have a little ripper now hanging out too. Almost done with the Hive Tyrant!!! Basing and maybe some ripper details! But as it stands I am tired, so goodnight everyone! (or nobody for that matter lol).


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i said "slather" then said "light coat", I'm an idiot lol.

And here we have the Hive Tyrant, and his new found companion. I finished off the basing with some citadel texture paints, namely "Stirland Mud" and "Lustrian Undergrowth" and I also painted the Ripper's tongue on using "Bugman's Glow" Citadel base paint. I then painted around the rim using citadel Layer paint "Moot Green", and painted a single black stripe on it with citadel base paint "Abaddon Black", to signify the fact that this is my first Hive Tyrant for the future when I'm sure my Hive ranks will be larger. When I get more basing materials and better ones for that matter (grass, debris, etc), I'll do another update on the Tyrant and any other models that I further add to with these materials on this blog. Thank you! Next up we have a Carnifex!

Some pic's of the Hive Tyrant at the end of all these steps, enjoy!

Now to the Carnifex! This Carnifex will have Twin-Linked Brain Leech Devourers and a Heavy Venom Cannon. I have already primed it and hit the chitinous plating with two coats of citadel shade "Drakenhof Nightshade".

Sorry I have not yet got some new models to show you the very beginning, hopefully that'll change soon though!

Nice tutorial! I really like the way your carapace turned out. Only thing that I am not a fan of is the blood on the mouth. doesnt really look enough like blood..but instead that his mouth was just dipped in paint.

Keep em coming

Thank you, and your so right!! I feel the same way about the blood on the mouth, in the near future I would like to go back over it and maybe just make it the regular flesh color. I feel like it just kills the overall look of the model, it looks tacky. Thank you so much, more updates to come!

Hey TheH!veM!nd, I'm diggin' the tutorial, I think it's a great place for beginners to go. What you're doing with the wash is pretty cool, it's something I've only ever thought of, but too afraid to try out, it really gives a nice natural looking highlight to the carapace. I'm gonna give yah some constructive critism here, I hope it helps, and sorry if I sound like dick

Now, a great product you can find at art stores, and hobby stores alike, is called "Flow Aid". It literally does exactly what the name implies, "aiding the paint flow". You should find some and add it to your washes, this will prevent it from bunching up in areas, kinda like the underside of the Flyrant wings.

You should think about colour theory when doing your models too, in my personal opinion, the bright green claws, throw off an otherwise very "cold" looking colour scheme. try using a darker colour to fit in with the dark blue.

Wash and drybrush the base for maximum effect. Judging by your pictures, I'm assuming you are familiar with this technique, if not, PM me.

Not sure if there's anything else I can offer you at this point, without knowing your full potential. I hope this offers some aid in your painting, you're on good track.

I enjoyed reading your tutorial and I think it's really a good thing for you to be catering to newer painters.
Everyone was a new painter once so most remember the feeling of not being sure what comes next. You're being very helpful to those people by providing them that information and thus helping them improve their skills

I agree with Jburch on the blood around the mouth, and also about the carapace looking good. The carapace on the Carnifex has an excellent natural look to it.

Anyway, keep up the good work

Thank you I plan on doing a good amount of work on the Carnifex tonight and maybe some warriors if I have the time.

Hey, sorry the update took awhile, emotional garbage been happening.

Have the Canifex weapon biomorphs' main bodies and tubes done in citadel layer paint "Moot Green".

Now I've had discussion with some others as to the "Moot Green" on the weapons and claws and spikes.

What do you guys think? It looks iffy to me. Opinions are appreciated!

Maybe do what I did with the Tyrant wings, "Ushabti Bone" citadel layer paint and "Agrax Earthshade" citadel shade?

I don't know, thanks guys!

Sorry there have been no updates for so long, time has a habit of getting away from all of us I suppose. I picked up some basing stuff at Hobby Lobby though (because I'm cheap). So we'll see how that goes over. Also have a few random things that hopefully you guys will like when I throw them in.

Surprise #1, a Zoanthrope, sorry that there aren't many steps for this one, I sort of started him before I started this blog. :/

I did an awful job priming this guy so I went over the vents and chtinous plating with "Scar White" Citadel Layer Paint.

Then Hit the skin with "Seraphim Sepia" Citadel Wash paint.

The next few Zoanthrope pictures where I hit the head with some wash.

Sorry guys, the CRnifex is done and based and I need to get pictures up, but for now I do have another surprise, I task myself with trying to make a camouflaged Lictor, similar in nature to a tree or other foliage. Here's the first part.

I slathered the skin with some "Seraphim Sepia" Citadel Wash paint.

Then I hit the chitin with some "Agrax Earthshade" Citadel Wash Paint.

Then I used some "Biel Tan Green" Citadel wash paint to do the vents and tentacles and other such areas.

Lastly I used some "Stirland Mud" Citadel Texture paint on the legs and base, and some "Lustrian Undergrowth" Texture paint on the chitin and Mantis arms.


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Sorry there flipped upside down, the orientation is correct if you click on the image, sorry.

So I'm changing my tyranids paint scheme a little bit, my experimentation with my Lictor left me feeling that my current scheme was lacking. Hope to make some progress on various things and report back, thanks for being patient guys!

Hey, sorry updates are taking so long, had various levels of work being done.

Finally got some green stuff too.

Have some new Raveners to work with and a Tyrannofex, some green stuff work to be done and a Red Terror conversion planned and in the works, I still need some pictures of my new paint scheme too, sorry.

Here's some works I've had going.

I have also the camouflaged Lictor I was working on with it's most current "finished" state.

I also picked up some "Krylon" matte spray and began using "Krazy Glue".

The Finished Carnifex in the old paint scheme (sorry it took so long ) I also have a Mawloc now being painted!

"Seraphim Sepia" Citadel Wash Paint on the skin, "Drakenhof Nightshade" on the Carapace. "Moot Green" Citadel Layer on the weapons and "Bugman's Glow" Base Paint for the tongue and other such things.

"Stirland Mud" and "Lustrian Undergrowth" Citadel Layer paint on the Base.