How are your Armies on Parade projects coming along? Now that we’ve charged headlong into July, it’s time to move from the Gods of War we were painting last month to the next major category of the year: Magicians and Machines.
We’re moving into the powerful realms of spells and science, as reality-bending powers compete with the cold logic of engineering for a space on your army’s display board. Will you be tapping into the storm-wracked winds of magic, strapping into a rumbling battle tank, or combining the two into hellish contraptions?
This is one of our most open categories this year, as almost all factions across the worlds of Warhammer rely on machines and magic to some degree – be they extravagant displays of sorcerous might or rugged, low-tech combat walkers. Should you power up a mighty Contemptor Dreadnought in the Age of Darkness, or devour souls as an extension of the all-consuming Hive Mind, we want to know.
To help you along with painting projects perfectly suited to July and August’s theme, we tapped the rich veins of knowledge in the Warhammer Painting Team’s minds for some expert know-how. Here’s what Adam had to tell us.
Adam: First and foremost, nothing says esoteric mastery of the Warp like hands and eyes glowing with power. You can achieve a really cool power glow effect on your miniatures with just a few steps, beginning with a thin base of Grey Seer over the area where you want the glow to be; eyes, palms, and weapon nodes for example.
Thin out Frostheart with Contrast Medium (a 1:3 ratio is normally good) and apply all over the area, making sure to have it spill out around your desired area as well to sell the effect. Now apply undiluted Frostheart into the recesses – we’re looking for the pure colour in the darker areas so it boosts the effect of power coming from within the user.
Apply thinned Grey Seer over the raised details,* then finally do a small dot of White Scar in the centre or sharpest edges to show the brightest points of the power glow. If you want an even quicker way of doing power glow you can always thin out Baharroth Blue with Lahmian Medium and apply it straight into the recesses of where you want the power glow effect to be – Lizzie demonstrates this fantastically in her recent Space Marine Librarian video!
Another really cool way of adding character and a sense of sustained indomitability to your engines of death is by applying some weathering. This is a lot easier than you think and really goes a long way to make your models look great.
Our first method is perfect for large areas of metal on your miniatures, such as the backs of Imperial Knights that lack armour panels, tank tracks, and Void War bases. Just paint Typhus Corrosion all over a desired area primed with Leadbelcher, then drybrush Ryza Rust over that once it’s dried and the gritty texture has formed.
Then simply stipple Runefang Steel over some of the Ryza Rust to show areas where the rust has chipped away. It really is as simple as it sounds – just check out our Ash Wastes Gangways video to see it in action.
Another way of adding wear in a more controlled manner is by thinning Skrag Brown with water to a wash consistency, then apply it around rivets and into recesses where dirty water would gather. You can then paint it streaking down over flat panels to add to the effect.
After that, thin down Troll Slayer Orange – also to a wash consistency – and apply it sparingly to the deepest recesses where the most amount of rusty water would gather. It’ll look like centuries-old rust and damage in no time!
Thanks Adam! Don’t forget, we also have a special Leviathan category in Armies on Parade this year to celebrate the epic launch box for the new edition of Warhammer 40,000. This category is intended to show off what you can do with only the contents of the box to work with – yes, a mere 72 miniatures – and as long as you stick to that stipulation, you have free reign. If you’ve not got your copy yet, a limited supply remains at certain Warhammer stores around the world.
Completing this category will also earn you the second of the three Armies on Parade pin badges available this year – just chat to your local Warhammer store manager to find out more about how you can get yours.
How is your entry coming along? The big showcase in November is rapidly approaching, so this may well be time to shift your hobby into high gear. Show us your progress on Facebook and Twitter, and we’d be happy to cheer you on!
* For the palm of a Space Marine, this would be the ribbing.