Imperial Knight

Imperial Knights

By Warhammer

This tutorial shows how to paint an Imperial Knight Gallant of House Taran, focusing on breaking the model into sub-assemblies for efficient painting. Key techniques include spray priming, basecoating, shading, drybrushing, and applying intricate checkerboard patterns and transfers for a detailed finish, followed by simple basing.

Leadbelcher

Citadel · Base

Chaos Black

Citadel · Base

Wraithbone

Citadel · Base

Nuln Oil

Citadel · Shade

Agrax Earthshade

Citadel · Shade

Stormhost Silver

Citadel · Layer

Abaddon Black

Citadel · Base

Kantor Blue

Citadel · Base

Khorne Red

Citadel · Base

Runelord Brass

Citadel · Base

Warplock Bronze

Citadel · Base

Corax White

Citadel · Base

Lahmian Medium

Citadel · Technical

Reikland Fleshshade

Citadel · Shade

Altdorf Guard Blue

Citadel · Layer

Wazdakka Red

Citadel · Layer

Caliban Green

Citadel · Base

Warpstone Glow

Citadel · Layer

Moot Green

Citadel · Layer

Frostheart

Citadel · Contrast

Skeleton Horde

Citadel · Contrast

Ardcoat

Citadel · Technical

Stirland Mud

Citadel · Technical

Armageddon Dust

Citadel · Technical

Screaming Skull

Citadel · Layer

Steel Legion Drab

Citadel · Base

Priming and Skeleton

  1. 1.

    Spray prime the skeleton section of the model.

    Citadel — Leadbelcher

  2. 2.

    Spray prime most of the armor panels.

    Citadel — Chaos Black

  3. 3.

    Spray prime the face plate, small shield, and banner.

    Citadel — Wraithbone

  4. 4.

    Basecoat the entire exoskeleton from the pot.

    Citadel — Leadbelcher

  5. 5.

    Shade the entire exoskeleton.

    Citadel — Nuln Oil

  6. 6.

    Add visual interest to the pistons.

    Citadel — Agrax Earthshade

  7. 7.

    Drybrush the entire exoskeleton for highlights.

    Citadel — Stormhost Silver

  8. 8.

    Basecoat cables and lenses.

    Citadel — Abaddon Black

Armor Panels

  1. 1.

    Basecoat all blue areas on the sub-assembly panels, panel above the head, feet panels, banner, and weapon parts.

    Citadel — Kantor Blue

  2. 2.

    Basecoat all red areas, including the back section of each shoulder pad, the inside section of the leg armor panel, purity seal wax, and the faceplate visor.

    Citadel — Khorne Red

  3. 3.

    Basecoat all gold trim and Aquila heads.

    Citadel — Runelord Brass

  4. 4.

    Basecoat extra details across the exoskeleton, weapon details, and the void shield on top of the carapace.

    Citadel — Warplock Bronze

  5. 5.

    Basecoat the chest detail.

    Citadel — Corax White

  6. 6.

    Recess shade the blue and red details.

    Citadel — Nuln Oil

  7. 7.

    Recess shade the Warplock Bronze areas.

    Citadel — Nuln Oil

  8. 8.

    Apply an all-over wash to the Corax White areas for a subtle shade.

    Citadel — Nuln Oil

  9. 9.

    Mix Nuln Oil with Lahmian Medium for the all-over wash on Corax White areas.

    Citadel — Lahmian Medium

  10. 10.

    Shade all gold areas (Runelord Brass).

    Citadel — Reikland Fleshshade

  11. 11.

    Edge highlight all blue areas.

    Citadel — Altdorf Guard Blue

  12. 12.

    Edge highlight all red areas.

    Citadel — Wazdakka Red

  13. 13.

    Basecoat any remaining silver details, such as vents and small plates on the carapace.

    Citadel — Leadbelcher

  14. 14.

    Shade the newly painted silver details.

    Citadel — Nuln Oil

  15. 15.

    Drybrush all metallic details, including weapons and the void shield.

    Citadel — Stormhost Silver

  16. 16.

    Pick out all rivets across the model.

    Citadel — Stormhost Silver

Lenses

  1. 1.

    Ensure all lenses are fully black.

    Citadel — Abaddon Black

  2. 2.

    Paint the bottom third of the lenses.

    Citadel — Caliban Green

  3. 3.

    Apply a layer within the Caliban Green, leaving some showing.

    Citadel — Warpstone Glow

  4. 4.

    Add a small amount of paint in the corner of the lens.

    Citadel — Moot Green

  5. 5.

    Apply a tiny dot in the opposite corner to create a light reflection.

    Citadel — Corax White

Plasma Coils

  1. 1.

    Basecoat all plasma coils.

    Citadel — Corax White

  2. 2.

    Paint all plasma coils.

    Citadel — Frostheart

Chequered Pattern

  1. 1.

    Basecoat the entire area for the pattern (shoulder pad and knee pad).

    Citadel — Wraithbone

  2. 2.

    Use 7mm masking tape to create vertical stripes, then remove every other stripe. Spray the exposed Wraithbone areas.

    Citadel — Chaos Black

  3. 3.

    Lay masking tape horizontally over the newly painted black squares. Spray again.

    Citadel — Chaos Black

  4. 4.

    Tidy up any black areas after removing the tape.

    Citadel — Abaddon Black

  5. 5.

    Tidy up any Wraithbone areas and create battle damage.

    Citadel — Wraithbone

  6. 6.

    Freehand vertical lines on the opposite knee pad.

    Citadel — Abaddon Black

  7. 7.

    Freehand horizontal lines on the opposite knee pad.

    Citadel — Abaddon Black

  8. 8.

    Block in every other square on the opposite knee pad until a nice pattern is achieved.

    Citadel — Abaddon Black

  9. 9.

    Mix with Lahmian Medium and apply all over the chequered pattern (shoulder pad and knee pad) to make the white areas bone-colored.

    Citadel — Skeleton Horde

  10. 10.

    Mix Skeleton Horde with Lahmian Medium for the bone-colored wash.

    Citadel — Lahmian Medium

  11. 11.

    Paint the red section of the shoulder pad.

    Citadel — Khorne Red

  12. 12.

    Paint the trim of the shoulder pad.

    Citadel — Runelord Brass

Transfers

  1. 1.

    Apply a gloss varnish where transfers will go to create a smoother surface.

    Citadel — 'Ardcoat

  2. 2.

    Apply appropriate House Taran transfers (Imperial Insignia on red, House Symbol on blue, and other battle honors/warning symbols).

    Games Workshop — Imperial Knights Transfer Sheet

  3. 3.

    Apply over transfers to lock them in place and matt down the surface.

    Citadel — Lahmian Medium

Base

  1. 1.

    Dot around different skulls on the base.

    Games Workshop — Battlefield Trophies

  2. 2.

    Basecoat all the skulls.

    Citadel — Wraithbone

  3. 3.

    Add all over the base.

    Citadel — Stirland Mud

  4. 4.

    Mix into the wet Stirland Mud on the base to create a variety of different tones.

    Citadel — Armageddon Dust

  5. 5.

    Shade the base, particularly in recesses.

    Citadel — Agrax Earthshade

  6. 6.

    Drybrush the entire base.

    Citadel — Screaming Skull

  7. 7.

    Paint the base rim.

    Citadel — Steel Legion Drab

  8. 8.

    Apply grass tufts (can be cut to different sizes).

    Games Workshop — Grass Tufts