Painting Tallarn Desert Raiders

The list of paints used for my desert raiders, written down for future reference, VJ = Vallejo GW = Games Workshop.

BASE COAT:

VJ Green Ochre - tunic 

GW Tallarn flesh - flesh

VJ Camouflage Olive Green - trousers

VJ Flat Earth - boots and puttees

VJ USA Uniform - weapons

VJ Flat Brown - Pauldrons equipment

GW Deneb Stone - Shemagh

VJ Offwhite - Headress, plasma glow

VJ Turquoise - Knife handle

VJ Sky Blue - Headress edging

VJ Gunmetal Grey - gunmetal

VJ Bronze - Knife hilt scabard

GW WASHES:

Brown wash - Equipment, trousers and footware eyes/face

Thinned Blue - Headress

Thinned Black - Equipment, Lasgun

Sepia - Tunic, lasgun casing

Flesh - arms, possibly face

HIGHLIGHT:

Tau sept Ochre - Tunic

VJ Tan Yellow - 2nd Tunic

VJ Cam Olive Green - Trousers

VJ Russian Uniform - 2nd Trousers

VJ Flat Earth - Boots & Puttees

VJ Biege Brown - 2nd Puttees

VJ Thinned USA Uniform - Weapon casing

VJ Thinned USA Uniform + VJ Dark Yellow 50/50 - 2nd Weapons casing

VJ Green Blue - Knife handle

VJ Flat Brown - Pauldrons, straps & Equipment

VJ Mahogany Sand - 2nd Pauldrons, straps & Equipment

VJ Bronze - Knife hilt, scabbard

VJ Old Gold - 2nd Knife hilt scabbard

GW Tallarn Flesh - Flesh

GW Thinned Elf Flesh - face

VJ Off White - Shemagh

PLASMA OSL:

VJ Turquoise - raised parts of ribs

Mix of sky blue and white watered down - this also is used to highlight the area around the ribbed area on the plasma gun and area the light hits from the guns glow.

Watered down white - inbetween ribs

Note: posted late as it seems to have slipped through the net. This suggests I had yet to add some comments, long forgotten!

Hand Painting Shield Designs

This post is a companion to this main post on Antiochus IV's Romanised infantry which was inspired by Angus McBride's plate in Monvet's Seleucid Army book which was also faithfully reproduced by Angel García Pinto for Ancient Warfare magazine. The distinctive shield device was the main feature I wanted to replicate and this post is to expand on how I did this.  

The process to achieve the design was quite experimental not having much experience with free hand designs. Starting with the red basecoat (step 1) was the diamond shape (step 2) after haphazardly painting wobbly diamonds I broke the process down to slightly more consistent manner;

A) Along both sides of the the spine of the shield paint the height of the shape.

B) From the centre of the shield boss paint a line for the width of the shape.

C) Connect the top and bottom of the shape to the width lines.

D) Fill in the centre.  

The "diamond" shape break down

Quite hard to see the detail on the picture:

Step 1) Red basecoat.

Step 2) Turquoise diamond background.

Step 3) Edges and spine painted in bronze and also within the diamond rough wing shapes.

Step 4) The centre of the boss in dark grey for the face.
Step 5) In the dark grey area a rough face shape; a line in the middle for the nose, dots either side of that cheeks, horizontal lines below for the mouth and most of the area above the nose for the forehead. 

Step 6) Highlight step 5 with white   

Step 7) Highlight around the face and the wings with old gold (spine optional).

Step 8) Highlight the diamond with blue green to give wreath\leafy effect.

Step by step

Finished examples with the red highlighted

Painting Thureophoroi

I had fell out of the habit of writing down my method of painting but as it will become clear below its useful having a recipe book. Mainly in my case I got mixed up with the order of steps so when I paint more in the future I can finally learn from my mistakes. If it is helpful to anyone else out there then that's even better.

My basic goal is to paint units, lots of figures at once, so I aim for a balance between quantity and quality. With that in mind I essentially use an 'Army Painter' method of basecoat wash and little bit of highlighting if neccessary. 

I undercoated these with artists acrylic guesso procured from the Works, if I was starting a whole unit I might have used a Army Painter Barbarian Flesh. The guesso however provides a great key for paint to be applied.

I usually try to start with the deepest parts of the miniature. I Started with their cloaks because from the front the cloak is in the nooks and crannies using Games Workshop Citadel (GW) foundation Tausept Ochre.

GW Tallarn Flesh for the skin including the face and helmet. I have found that this paint provides a nice base to paint Vallejo (VJ) Metallic brass. Once done I went over the boots with GW Graveyard Earth. Newer sculpts of this code have facial hair which were painted GW Scorched Brown.

Then the tunics, however in retrospect, I would do this step BEFORE painting the flesh. I think this is how I originally painted them years ago. It would have made the process easier.

One unit was based with GW Shadow Grey and the other with GW Scorched Brown then a stripe was painted down the front using GW Deneb Stone. 

I left the straps, the shield will cover them up and the Scorched Brown base is a suitable colour for the rest. I used the brown to also paint the beards which the newer of the sculpts appear to sport.

The helmet was painted next with Vallejo Brass, the plume black and spear GW Vomit Brown. The spear is washed with GW Ogryn Flesh wash. A final inspection and cleanup of any mistakes.

GW Delvan mud wash was then applied shading the figures in a quick and easy manner. It also helps I find to hide slight mistakes and wobbly painting between different coloured areas such as the cloak and tunic.

Following the wash highlighting begins. Starting with the nose, cheeks and chin with GW Elf flesh. Beards were highlighted with a lighter Brown. Then the helmet is highlighted with Vj Old Gold.

Tunics highlighting is next. The brown tunics were first highlighted with GW Beastial Brown and further highlight with GW Vermin Brown. The stripe painted GW Deneb Stone followed by VJ Off White.

The grey blue tunics were given GW Shadow Grey and a further highlight of the same colour lightened with a touch of VJ Off White.

Both then had their cloaks highlighted in the original colour, GW Tausept Ochre. Spear tips were painted in GW Chainmail and the butts VJ Brass. The main body if the figures were finished off with the base painted with some OOP (like most of my paints) wilkos tester pot coffee paint.

Next up is their shields. The backs if them were undercoated with gesso followed by a GW Deneb Stone base coat.

The shields were then glued to the figures and the same process are applied to the fronts. The shield fronts is then dry brushed VJ Off White. The boss is painted VJ Bronze with a VJ Brass highlight. After that they are ready for the basing room!

As a final note I again was happy with the guesso undercoat. It made the basecoating process quite easy. I had to water down the paint a bit, aided by my new wet palette, as the guesso appears to absorb the paint nicely. So unless there is a major benefit to spray under/base coat I will stick with the guesso. The crisp detail of the Newline Design figures work very well with a basecoat, wash & highlight Army painter inspired method.

Painting Triarii

I started this guide some time ago and its long over due. I have realised that I have a few part done painting guides on the blogs drafts list! I am not sure if it is complete but I think its about there.

Army Painter Black spray undercoat
Dry brush Chainmail GW Chainmail
Paint legs, arms and head GW Tallarn Flesh
Paint sandles and greave straps GW Calthan Brown
Paint Greaves, helmet VJ Brass
Basecoat Tunics GW Terracotta, Shadow Grey, Fortress Grey
Paint Belts, scabbards Dark Brown
Paint edging of chainmail and highlight belts GW Vermin Brown
Dry brush Scabbards GW Snakebite Leather
Paint Spearshafts GW Vomit Brown
Paint hair
Paint plumes Black

GW Flesh wash on Spearshafts
GW Mud Wash avoiding chainmail areas

Highlight faces in GW Elf flesh
Highlight Bronze armour in VJ Old Gold
Highlight Tunics Red, Space wolves Grey, white

Paint shield backs base colour glue on to figure.
Paint shield front base colour.
Wash or Dry brush
Paint top and bottom edge brass, highlight old gold.
Paint shield boss gun metal highlight with chainmail.

Silvershields Paint guide

Just a modified version of the Hellenistic rank and file painting guide

Base/undercoat: Army Painter white spray paint

Base colours

Flesh: GW Tallarn Flesh
Tunics: VJ Royal Purple (thinned down a bit over the white gave them a bit of shading also)
Straps, scabard & sarissa: dark brown
Helmet & greaves: GW Boltgun Metal
Sandles: mid/light brown

Washes:

Linothorax: watered down GW Mud wash over the white undercoat
Everywhere else: GW Mud wash

Highlights

Face: GW Elf Flesh
Tunics: VJ Royal Purple (skipped this on the second batch) followed by VJ Purple
Straps & scabards: GW Vermin Brown
Sarissa: GW Snakebite Leather in thin varied length lines
Helmet & greaves: GW Chainmail

Sarissa and Shield

Tip and butt: Black basecoat, GW Chainmail for tip and VJ Brass for butt
Back of push pin shield: GW Vermin Brown

Painting Marian Roman Legionaries

After painting a few Marian Romans I thought I write down the process to refer back to since it will probably be a while before I paint more of them.

Undercoat Black
Dry/overbrush Armour, Pilum & Sword: Boltgun Metal
Head arms Legs: Tallarn Flesh
Helmet: Boltgun Metal or Brass
Belt, Scabbard, Pilum shaft: Dark Brown
Sword Hilt scabbard edges: Brass
Tunic: Light grey or Terracotta
Sandles: Snakebite Leather
Crest: Black
Head, arms & legs: Delvan mud wash

Highlight Face: Elf Flesh
Highlight Helmet: Chainmail or Old Gold
Highlight Pilum & Sword:  Chainmail
Highlight Sword Hilt scabbard edges: Old Gold
Highlight Belt, Scabbard, Shoulder armour edges: Vermin Brown
Highlight Tunic: White or Red
Highlight Pilum shaft: Snakebite Leather

Shield: Medium Blue or Red
Wash: Blue wash or Red wash
Highlight Spine, edge Medium Blue or Red
Shield boss: Boltgun metal; highlight: Chainmail

Painting Samnite Infantry

Roughly how I painted Italian Allied Legionaries:

• Base coat with GW Tallern Flesh. 
• Paint tunics various colours.
• Paint armour, helmets, standard with VJ Brass.
• Paint spear shafts Bronzed Flesh.
• Paint Feathers black.
• Paint leader's cloak with dark grey.

• Apply GW Delvan Mud Wash.
• Highlight skin with GW Tallern Flesh (face with GW Elf Flesh).
• Highlight tunics with original colours.
• Highlight armour, helmet and standard with VJ Old Gold.
• Apply GW Flesh Wash to spear shafts.
• Dry brush leader's cloak light grey.
• Base coat spear tips and swords black, paint with GW Chainmail. 
• Shields, base coat GW Deneb Stone/Bleached Bone/Space Wolves Grey, GW Mud Wash, highlight original colour.
• Shield boss base coat with GW Boltgun Metal, highlight GW Mithril Silver.

Painting Ancient Italian Cavalry

This guide is going to be very simple and mainly to remind me of the general steps I took for Italian Allied Cavalry.

• Undercoat horse and rider with black.
• Base coat rider with GW Tallern Flesh. 
• Base coat horses in various colours.
• Paint rider's tunics and flag various colours.
• Paint Armour VJ Brass.
• Paint reigns, straps spearshafts dark brown.
• Paint Feathers black.
• Paint leader's cloak with dark grey.

• Apply GW Delvan Mud Wash over horse and rider.

• Highlight horses in original base colours (black with GW Granite).
• Dry brush horses' mane and tail with original base colour. 
• Highlight rider's skin with GW Tallern Flesh (face with GW Elf Flesh).
• Highlight rider's tunic and flag with original colour.
• Highlight armour with VJ Old Gold.
• Highlight reigns, straps and spear shafts with light browns.
• Dry brush leader's cloak light grey.
• Base coat spear tips black, paint with GW Chainmail. 
• Metal shields as above, apply transfer, gloss varnish.
• Other shields, base coat GW Deneb Stone, GW Mud Wash, highlight original colour.
• Shield boss base coat with GW Boltgun Metal, highlight GW Mithril Silver.

Painting Libyan, Liby-Phoenician, Carthaginian or African Spearmen etc.

Painting guide for African heavy infantry.

GW = Games Workshop Citadel Colour, VJ = Vallejo.

1. Undercoat with GW Foundation Flesh.
2. Linothorax with GW Foundation Stone.
3. Tunic, crests, cloaks with VJ Red.
4. Straps, scabards, spear, in GW Dark Brown.
5. Metal, helmet, greaves, armour, spearbutt with VJ Brass.
6. Sandles with light brown, hair with black/brown.

 

7.   Whole figure GW Brown Mud Wash.

8.   Highlight Skin with GW Foundation Flesh except face, use GW Elf Flesh.
9.   Highlight linothorax with GW Foundation Stone.
10. Highlight tunic, crests, cloaks with VJ Red.
11. Highlight straps with GW Vermin Brown, scabards, spear with GW Snakebite Leather.
12. Highlight metal helmet, greaves, armour with VJ Old Gold.
13. Speartip, swords with GW Chainmail.



Shields:

1. Undercoat with VJ Light Blue.
2. Wash Front with GW Blue Wash.
3. Paint alongside of spine with GW Ice Blue.
4. Highlight VJ Light Blue.
5. Paint Shield Boss GW Boltgun Metal.
6. Highlight shield boss GW Mithril Silver.
7. Apply transfers.
8. Highlight VJ Red if neccessary.
9. VJ Matt Varnish shield.