How to Paint Giant Rats

*Squeek*

After finishing a couple of Rat Ogres I thought I would tackle something that looked as though it wouldn't take much time and that would be pretty simple to do. Giant Rats probably fit into that category (along with Rat Swarms) more than many other troop types in the Skaven army:

1. They don't demand too much detailed painting to look OK on the tabletop
2. They are small models.
3. A unit can be anything from 5 on upwards (I think), so you can get them up and running quickly. (The unit of 12 here took me a few hours (I'm a slow painter so this is pretty quick for me!)

Below you'll find a few more pics, followed by a (rough) step-by-step guide that looks OK to me for the tabletop.

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.

A.) Undercoat

• After assembly, liberally apply PVA glue to base and dip in modelling sand. 
• Wait until dry, then undercoat. (I use Chaos Black spraypaint.) 

B.) Basecoat(s)

• Fur: Drybrush Calthan Brown OR Bestial Brown OR Codex Grey. (Note, I usually use all three colours on different models in a Giant Rat unit to achieve a bit of visual interest in the colours, otherwise the whole unit looks just brown...)
• Skin/ Tail/ Feet: Tallarn Flesh. 
• Metal: Boltgun metal and Dwarf Bronze. (Trinkets, machine parts etc.) 
• Bandages: Skull White OR Bleached Bone
• Buboes/ Boils: Elf Flesh Bone
• Exposed bone: Skull White OR Bleached Bone
• Warpstone: Dark Angels Green, then Scorpion Green. 

C.) Apply Washes: 

• Apply Devlan Mud Wash all over.

D.) Reapply base colours: Layered up lighter shades/ colours:  Skin/ Tail/ Feet: Dwarf Flesh on raised areas. (Try to leave some Tallarn flesh areas and the shadows created by the Devlan Mud wash and the black undercoat - especially on the tail)

Metal: Chainmail on edges

Bone: Skull White or Bleached Bone on edges.

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• E.) Drybrushing

• Fur: Drybrush Calthan Brown/ Skull White (50/50 mix) OR Bestial Brown/ Skull White (50/50 mix) OR Codex Grey/ Skull White (50/50 mix). I find that unless I drybrush this lighter shade then all the fur ends up looking very similar in a unit.

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F.) Base:

• Drybrush Calthan Brown, then Tallarn Flesh, finally a very light brush of Codex Grey. 
• Apply dabs of PVA glue onto the base and dip into green flock. 
• Paint base sides Knarloc Green. (Many, many people have told me they prefer to paint their based edges Calthan Brown or another brown rather than green.)

Now I'm going to have to do some Clan Moulder Pack Masters. Until then these guys are just going to have to run wild!

*Squeek*