How to Paint High Elf Archers

*Squeek*

Below is a fairly simple step-by-step guide to painting High Elf Archers. These were one of the first units I painted in the Sons of Xereus. Hope you find it useful!

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.

Paints used:

• Skull White
• Snakebite Leather
• Bleached Bone
• Chainmail
• Mithril Silver
• Dark Angels Green
• Snot Green
• Liche Purple
• Warlock Purple
• Calthan Brown
• Tallarn Flesh
• Dwarf Flesh
• Elf Flesh
• Sunburst Yellow
• Dwarf Bronze
• Codex Grey
• Fortress Grey

Washes:

• Gryphonne Sepia
• Ogryn Flesh
• Badab Black

(Wow, I can't believe that I used that many different colours on a model that looks so simple...but I did!)

Step 1: Preparation.

Assemble models.

Use a craft knife or file away flash/ mould lines (carefully!)  With archers in particular make sure you pay attention to this on their robes and bows, as mould lines really show up later when painted if you don't get rid of them!

Step 2: First basing.

Sand down any flash or raised areas around the edge of the base. 

Apply PVA glue to the top of the base, being careful not to get this on the boots of the model. (For variety, consider sprinkling a couple of pieces of crushed coral onto the PVA before the sand.)

Immediately dip the base into modelling sand.

TIP: Rub away any sand or glue that has dripped over onto the sides of the base now if you prefer a nice (clean-looking) base later.


Optional: Finish off the bases now (see Step 8, final basing).

Step 3: Undercoat.

Spray paint the model(s) using the undercoat of your choice. I use Citadel Chaos Black. Many people prefer a Skull White undercoat for brighter models like High Elves as the overall effect will be brighter and you will need far fewer layers of Skull White later on robes etc. 

However, I often use black as it hides mistakes etc.

Step 4: Basecoats.

Codex Grey: Robes (this will be an undercoat for the Skull White later.)

Chainmail: Bracelets/ bracers, helmets, details on bow, swords.

Bleached Bone: Bow stave, bow case, hair, pouches.

Snakebite Leather: Belt, shoes.

Liche Purple: Sleeves.

Dark Angels Green: Gems

Tallarn Flesh: Skin.

Calthan Brown: Unit standard pole.

Dwarf Bronze: Musical instrument.

TIP: I didn't do the Skull White robes until after washes (step 5 below) had been done.

Step 5: Washes.

Ogryn Flesh: Skin

Devlan Mud: Sleeves, belts, shoes, (leathers)

Gryphonne Sepia: Hair, details on bow, bow case.

Step 6: Layers.

Skull White: Robes (leave Codex Grey in the folds to provide some shading.) If using Skull White, be prepared to use many, many thin layers. 

TIP: Don't be tempted to do thick layers though, the end effect won't look very nice.

Liche Purple/ Warlock Purple mix (50/50) on sleeves. Layer this up to a purer Warlock Purple to provide highlights on the raised areas of the sleeves (30/70) 

Bleached Bone: Bow, edges of bow case, strands of hair

Tallarn Flesh/ Dwarf Flesh mix (50/50)

Dark Angel Green/ Snot Green mix: Gems. (70/30 mix, layering up to a 30/70 mix along the bottom edge of the gem)

Dwarf Bronze/ Shining Gold mix: (50/50) on the musician's instrument.

TIP: To make your gems really stand out, consider adding a tiny dot of pure Skull White at the top and/ or bottom of the gem.

Step 7: Drybrushing.

Codex Grey or Skull White drybrushed on the arrow fletchings.

Step 8: Final basing.

Calthan Brown: Overbrush across the base, being careful to avoid the boots/ legs of the model.

Snakebite Leather: Drybrush across the base. Paint the base edges. I usually find 2 coats gives a nice smooth finish.

Codex Grey: Drybrush lightly across the base, paint any crushed coral.

Fortress Grey: Drybrush any crushed coral rocks to add a natural highlight. Paint on PVA glue, and then sprinkle static grass onto the base.

I think that is it!

Cheers,

*Squeek*

THE HAMMERS! Dust Warfare Allies Update #3

*Squeek*

It has been a while since my last post. In the background I have been working on and off on my Dust Warfare Allies, so here is another completed unit:
THE HAMMERS!
...and my first Allied hero: RHINO!

These guys duke it out with the Axis in their aerial assault armour and have the "Jump" special ability and the "Rocket Punch" attack.

Some pics below, followed by more information about the painting.

The Hammers

So what did I do with these guys. 

Firstly, I just went straight to a full GW Badab Black wash. This was slapped straight on top of the green primer that covers the model straight out of the box (one of the great things about Dust models). 
Here is a comparison image that shows these models with and without that black wash:

Washed with Badab Black (L) and unwashed (R)
Notice that face/head was not washed.

After that, some standard paints on key areas:

• Face: Tallarn Flesh (Followed by an Ogryn Flesh wash)
• Gloves: Blazing Orange (Hammers) and Red Gore (Rhino) Be careful to leave the wash in the gaps of the gloves.
• Helmet/ Cap (Hammers): Bleached Bone and Calthan Brown
• Hair (Rhino): Sunburst Yellow
• Jetpack parts: Boltgun Metal
• Rockets: Fortress Grey, with Blood Red and Skull White tips

Then layers:

• Face: Tallarn Flesh/ Dwarf Flesh (50:50)
• Gloves (Rhino): Red Gore/ Blood Red (50:50), then pure Blood Red, then Blazing Orange/ Blood Red (20/80)

A bit of aging...

• Chainmail (or Boltgun Metal) on armour edges or areas where there would be wear (joints, places where armour would scrape etc.) Also some small nicks and scratches on flat surfaces.

This was all capped-off with some simple basing using a drybrush of Calthan Brown/ Skull White and GW grass.

That would be the last Allied infantry unit that was in the Dust Tactics Core set. Next comes a bigger challenge, my first walker!

Thanks for stopping by. All C&C welcome.

Cheers,

Squeek.

Dust Warfare Allies Update #2

*Squeek*

Continuing to work on the Dust Warfare allies at a leisurely pace. Over the last few nights I did some washes on a new unit - The Hammers, as well as finish off basing the Ranger units and adding a few highlights. 

In the photos below, you will see:

• How the Hammers look if they ONLY have a Chaos Black wash.
• I have highlighted the leather packs and gloves on the Rangers.
• I highlighted the weapons with Calthan Brown.
• I drybrushed weapons with Boltgun Metal and Chainmail. (50/50 mix)
• Edge highlighting on some body armour and helmets.
• I added Boltgun Metal to the bases/ bolts of the NCOs. (Boltgun Metal) Will add rust later.

(Lots of images - please be patient!)

Chaos Black wash at left. Model at right as received (primed by manufacturer)

Unwashed model at back right

Bolts on bases are ripe for some rust methinks!

Cheers!
*Squeek*

Dust Warfare Unboxing #2 Allied Medium Walker

*Squeek*

The last item in my initial order of Dust Tactics/ Dust Warfare units arrived, so I thought I would do another "unboxing" video.

This is the allied Medium Walker, which has four variants:

• Hot Dog
• Pounder
• Steel Rain
• Mickey

Check out the video for more information on what's in the box!

Overall, I was impressed, both with the model and the quality of the packaging.

I haven't really painted any vehicles since making my Tau army for WH40K a couple of years ago. The Tau were my first real attempt to paint anything so I didn't use (or know!) any techniques for aging or weathering. The Dust Warfare models though look like exactly the ones to try some new techniques on, so I am looking forward to having a go.

Cheers and have a good week!

*Squeek*