Skaven Warlord - step-by-step

That's me - Squeek Vermintide - aspiring Skaven Warlord!

First, a couple of pics, and then on to the painting guide:

Note: As this guy is one of the army characters, I have put much more effort into him than I would on a lowly Clan Rat or Skaven slave. Although this looks like a very involved and lengthy list, it doesn't take too long. So here we go!

A.) Undercoat and Basing:

1. After assembly, liberally apply PVA glue to base and dip in modelling sand.
2. Wait until dry, then undercoat the whole figure and base. (Chaos Black spraypaint.)

B.) Base coats:

EDIT: Following the launch of the latest Citadel Paint range in 2012, please note that the colours listed below are from the previous range. I hope to have time to rewrite in the future, but for the time being, you can use the conversion chart/ list I made here or use the official Citadel Conversion chart here.

1. Fur: Drybrush Calthan Brown.
2. Skin/ Tail/ Feet/ Hands: Tallarn Flesh.
3. Teeth: Skull white.
4. Cloth: (Cloak)
• Regal Blue
• then 1:1 mix of Regal Blue: Ice Blue, leaving just Regal blue in the shadows.
• then, along raised folds of cloth, 1:2 mix of Regal Blue:Ice Blue
• Finally, along edges only of raised folds of cloth, Ice Blue only.
• OPTIONAL: very thin edges of 1:1 mix of Regal Blue: Skull White
5. Cloth: (Robes)
• 1:1 mix of Knarloc Green/ Codex Grey.
• then 1:2 mix of Knarloc Green/ Codex Grey, leaving just layer in the shadows of the folds
• then, along raised folds of cloth, Codex Grey
• OPTIONAL: very thin edges of Fortress Grey
6. Metal: Boltgun metal. (Weapons, armour) Dwarf Bronze. (cloak clasp)
• Dark Angels Green on the "ball" in the middle of the war-pick. Then Snot Green, finally build up around the edges of the Skaven symbol with 2:1 Snot Green/ Skull White.
• OPTIONAL: Leave the elbow cop Chaos Black and drybrush edges later with gun-metal. This provides a nice contrast with the rest of the armour.
7. Leathers: Snakebite leather. (Ropes, pouches, edges of the eye patch.) 
8. Standard: Bestial brown (wood), Dwarf Bronze (Cross piece through dwarf head), Gunmetal (Bolts)
9. Dwarf Head: Tallarn Flesh, then highlight with Dwarf Flesh. 
10. Severed Neck: Red Gore, then highlight with Blood Red.

C.) Apply Washes: Liberally apply Devlan Mud Wash all over. 

This is very important if your primary army colour is something bright. In my case, it is Ice Blue! Using lots of Devlan Mud on the cloak creates great shadows and adds a really dirty feel, offsetting the naturally bright Ice Blue enough that it isn't too bright.

D.) Reapply base colours: Layered up lighter shades/ colours: 

1. Skin/ Tail/ Feet: Dwarf Flesh on raised areas. (Being careful to leave some Tallarn flesh areas and the shadows created by the Devlan Mud wash and the black undercoat - especially on the tail.)
• OPTIONAL: Very thin line of Elf Flesh around lips.
2. Leathers: Snakebite leather/ Skull white (50/50 mix). 
3. Weapon: Chainmail on blade edges.
4. Armour: Very thin edge of Chainmail onto armour edges.
5. Boils, Pus-filled buboes etc. 
• For "Angry sores": Apply a spot of watered-down blood red onto the top of the spot and let it run down naturally.
• For "boils" on tail: Paint the boil Dwarf Flesh. When dry, just touch with a spot of Elf Flesh.

E.) Final Drybrushing:

1. Fur: Drybrush Calthan Brown/ Skull White (50/50).
2. Base: Drybrush Calthan brown, then drybrush Tallarn Flesh.
3. Dwarf Head: Drybrush beard with Codex Grey, and again with Fortress grey.
4. Armour: Chainmail on elbow cop, across gauntlets.
5. Ropes: Snakebite Leather/ Skull White (2:1)
6. Metal Clasp: Shining Gold.

E.) Final Basing:

1. Apply dabs of PVA glue onto the base and dip into green flock.
2. For long, dry-grass, put a blob of PVA and insert modelling grass cut to length. Hold or support while the glue dries and arrange the grass as you wish.
3. Paint base sides Knarloc Green.

DONE! (Phew!)

I think I have roughly remembered the steps right...hope you find this useful!

*Squeek*