Space Wolves

Space Wolves

By Duncan Rhodes

This tutorial demonstrates three distinct methods for painting Space Wolf Power Armour, suitable for various skill levels and desired speeds. It covers techniques from quick basecoating and drybrushing for tabletop readiness, to more controlled recess shading and precise edge highlighting, and finally, advanced glazing and multiple fine highlights for a display-quality finish.

Wolf Grey

Two Thin Coats · Midtone

Battle Mud Wash

Two Thin Coats · Wash

Gravestone Blue

Two Thin Coats · Highlight

Ivory Tusk

Two Thin Coats · Midtone

Faust Blue

Two Thin Coats · Shadow

Easy Method: Space Wolf Power Armour

  1. 1.

    Apply two thin coats of Wolf Grey, thinned with a touch of water, to fully block in all parts of the power armor. Do not worry about surrounding details at this stage.

    Two Thin Coats — Wolf Grey

  2. 2.

    Dilute Battle Mud Wash with Lahmian Medium (Citadel) in a roughly 50/50 mix. Apply the diluted wash over all the armor, focusing on letting it run into recesses and corners while minimizing buildup on flat panels by soaking up excess with a clean brush. Allow to dry for approximately 45 minutes.

    Two Thin Coats — Battle Mud Wash

  3. 3.

    Perform a soft, rounded drybrushing motion with Wolf Grey over the flat panels of the armor to re-establish the mid-tone, avoiding recesses.

    Two Thin Coats — Wolf Grey

  4. 4.

    Perform a light, flicking drybrushing motion with Gravestone Blue, focusing on catching the sharpest edges and corners of the armor to create highlights.

    Two Thin Coats — Gravestone Blue

Intermediate Method: Space Wolf Power Armour

  1. 1.

    Apply two thin coats of Wolf Grey, thinned with water, to establish an even basecoat over all power armor panels, working into all nooks and crannies.

    Two Thin Coats — Wolf Grey

  2. 2.

    Using a small detail brush, precisely apply Battle Mud Wash into all the recess panels and around details like rivets on the armor, avoiding flat surfaces. Allow to dry.

    Two Thin Coats — Battle Mud Wash

  3. 3.

    Thin Gravestone Blue to a smooth, controlled consistency. Apply it as an edge highlight along the sharpest edges and angles of the armor, using the side of the brush where possible and the tip for intricate areas, turning the model as needed.

    Two Thin Coats — Gravestone Blue

  4. 4.

    Mix Gravestone Blue and Ivory Tusk (Two Thin Coats) in a 50/50 ratio on the palette. Thin this mixed paint to a fine consistency. Apply this mixed paint as a finer edge highlight to further enhance the previous highlights, focusing on the most prominent edges.

    Two Thin Coats — Gravestone Blue

  5. 5.

    Thin Ivory Tusk with water to an extremely fine consistency. Apply minute dots as spot highlights to the absolute most prominent and sharpest points on the armor for the final, crisp highlight.

    Two Thin Coats — Ivory Tusk

Advanced Method: Space Wolf Power Armour

  1. 1.

    Apply two thin coats of Wolf Grey, thinned with water, to establish an even basecoat over all power armor panels.

    Two Thin Coats — Wolf Grey

  2. 2.

    Heavily thin Faust Blue with water to a very runny consistency, almost like an ink. Apply this glaze very thinly to the bottom parts and undersides of the armor panels in a downward motion, pulling the paint towards where the color needs to be darkest. Build up multiple thin layers, allowing each to dry, to gradually create a smooth, subtle shading effect.

    Colour Forge — Faust Blue

  3. 3.

    Mix Faust Blue with Cuirass Leather (Two Thin Coats) in a 50/50 ratio. Heavily thin this mixed paint with water to an inky consistency. Using a small brush, carefully run this mix into the deepest recesses and corners of the armor to create deep shadows.

    Colour Forge — Faust Blue

  4. 4.

    Mix Wolf Grey and Gravestone Blue (Two Thin Coats) in a 50/50 ratio. Thin this mixed paint to a fine consistency. Apply this mixed paint as an edge highlight, slightly broader than subsequent highlights, along the edges of the armor panels.

    Two Thin Coats — Wolf Grey

  5. 5.

    Thin Gravestone Blue with water to a finer consistency. Apply it as a more precise edge highlight along the sharpest corners and edges of the armor, making a finer line than the previous highlight.

    Two Thin Coats — Gravestone Blue

  6. 6.

    Mix Gravestone Blue with Ivory Tusk (Two Thin Coats) in a 50/50 ratio. Thin this mixed paint to a very fine consistency. Apply this mixed paint as a very fine edge highlight to push the light further on the sharpest points and edges, especially where the light would naturally hit.

    Two Thin Coats — Gravestone Blue

  7. 7.

    Thin Ivory Tusk with water to an extremely fine consistency. Apply minute dots as spot highlights to the absolute most prominent and sharpest points on the armor for the final, brightest touch.

    Two Thin Coats — Ivory Tusk