How do you paint bolters

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**Alkaline_Hound**

Most bolters that I can find have been painted with metal details and desaturated case. Are there any other good looking ways to paint bolters? I have to ask because I haven't been able to find any reference photos.

**Big Mac**

Dark grey, light grey highlights, then detail colors on the lens, and metallic parts.

https://i.imgur.com/bgB6d0x.jpg

**Zumikito**

would this help you at all?
https://youtu.be/Y6rX8lJi0mg

**Joyous_Oblivion**

I just googled "Space Marine bolters" and literally hundreds of reference images came up, so I'd start there!

**Alkaline_Hound**

I haven't found a single good reference photo for a bolter with brass components. Am I blind?

**queen_annes_revenge**

Because no modern weapon systems are made from brass. There are much stronger alloys available which withstand the explosive pressures much better. Honestly, painting bolt weapons in brass would look very odd unless you heavily modified them into some steampunk rifle or something.

**John Prins**

queen_annes_revenge wrote:
Because no modern weapon systems are made from brass.

It's 40k, they can probably make any hyper-alloy look like brass if that's their preference.

**Xenomancers**

I just paint them black and dry brush them with dirty metallic. If I am feeling spicy I dry brush rust on the tip of the barrel.

**queen_annes_revenge**

John Prins wrote:
queen_annes_revenge wrote:
Because no modern weapon systems are made from brass.

It's 40k, they can probably make any hyper-alloy look like brass if that's their preference.

Indeed, but it would still look odd through our modern eyes.

**Sgt_Smudge**

I nearly always paint it completely silver, wash nuln oil, and then paint in the casing. Sometimes it's a black casing, other times dark red. It usually depends what looks good.

**Deadshot**

All my Blood Raven and Chaos marine bolters are simply metal. Leadbelcher, Nuln Oil, Ironbreaker highlight, edge and detail highlight with Runefang Steel or Stormhost silver depending.

For my Deathwatch I do as above but then use Khorne Red, Agrax Earthshade, Mephiston Red and Evil Sunz Scarlet for the casing.

For my Grey Knights I instead spray or paint black (Chaos or Abaddon) and then edge highlight with Eshin Grey and then Vallejo Neutral Grey (roughly a GW Dawnstone).

**John Prins**

queen_annes_revenge wrote:
John Prins wrote:
queen_annes_revenge wrote:
Because no modern weapon systems are made from brass.

It's 40k, they can probably make any hyper-alloy look like brass if that's their preference.

Indeed, but it would still look odd through our modern eyes.

No less odd than armies running around in brightly colored armors.

**Fictional**

John Prins wrote:
No less odd than armies running around in brightly colored armors.

Open battlefield warfare needs no camoflage.

40K: mid-2nd Milennium war with 40th Milennium equipment.

**craggy**

Reluctantly...

I kid mostly. Usually black or red casing, leadbelcher on the metals and wash, maybe a highlight in a brighter silver after.

For my Sisters, I decided to be a smartarse and blend from a dark purple up to a pink-y one, with varying degrees of success.

**=Angel=**

black and yellow stripes, same as the chainswords