This tutorial is a step-by-step guide on how to finish painting Warhammer 40k Space Marines from the starter sets. It covers techniques like shading, recess shading, layering, and drybrushing for different areas such as armour, cloth, and skin, to add depth and detail to the miniatures. Additionally, it demonstrates how to apply transfers and texture bases for a complete tabletop-ready look.

Steps

General Base Coat & Details (from previous tutorial)

8 steps
  1. 1. Basecoat everything using Macragge Blue spray.

    Macragge Blue Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Paint Macragge Blue from the pot to even out the color from the spray.

    Macragge Blue Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  3. 3. Picked out all the silver details using Leadbelcher.

    Leadbelcher Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  4. 4. Picked out all the gold details using Retributor Armour.

    Retributor Armour Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  5. 5. Picked out all the black details using Abaddon Black.

    Abaddon Black Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  6. 6. Picked out white details using Corax White.

    Corax White Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  7. 7. Picked out red details using Mephiston Red.

    Mephiston Red Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  8. 8. Picked out flesh details using Bugman's Glow.

    Bugman's Glow Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Definition (Shading)

5 steps
  1. 1. Paint all the belts and pouches using Mournfang Brown.

    Mournfang Brown Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Apply Agrax Earthshade over all the belts and pouches, ensuring it settles into recesses.

    Agrax Earthshade Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  3. 3. Apply Nuln Oil to all silver details (weapons, backpack).

    Nuln Oil Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  4. 4. Apply Reikland Fleshshade to all gold details (chest decoration, shoulder pad trims).

    Reikland Fleshshade Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  5. 5. Recess shade the blue power armour with Nuln Oil, applying precisely into recesses and around details.

    Nuln Oil Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Highlighting

7 steps
  1. 1. Layer Mournfang Brown on the raised details of the belts and pouches.

    Mournfang Brown Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Layer Pink Horror on the raised details of purity seal wax, chainsword handles, and bike handlebars.

    Pink Horror Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  3. 3. Drybrush the bolter and chainsword casings with Dawnstone, focusing on the edges.

    Dawnstone Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  4. 4. Drybrush the blue power armour with Calgar Blue, focusing on the edges.

    Calgar Blue Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  5. 5. Edge highlight the Outrider bike with Calgar Blue, using the side of the brush or thin lines for edges.

    Calgar Blue Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  6. 6. Drybrush the gold details with Runefang Steel, then edge highlight the shoulder pad trim.

    Runefang Steel Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  7. 7. Highlight the red helmet with Wild Rider Red (edge highlight or drybrush).

    Wild Rider Red Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Outrider Specific Details

10 steps
  1. 1. Apply Skeleton Horde Contrast to the paper part of the purity seals in one even thin coat.

    Skeleton Horde Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Drybrush the tires with Dawnstone.

    Dawnstone Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  3. 3. Recess shade the tires with thinned Mournfang Brown to create dirt buildup.

    Mournfang Brown Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  4. 4. Apply Agrax Earthshade all over the bike exhaust and a little way up the pipes.

    Agrax Earthshade Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  5. 5. Apply Reikland Fleshshade about two-thirds of the way along the exhaust.

    Reikland Fleshshade Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  6. 6. Apply Nuln Oil on the last third of the exhaust.

    Nuln Oil Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  7. 7. Highlight the edges of the exhaust using Runefang Steel.

    Runefang Steel Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  8. 8. Highlight the black casing of the bike console with Dawnstone.

    Dawnstone Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  9. 9. Paint the console screen with Warpstone Glow for a solid color.

    Warpstone Glow Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  10. 10. Edge highlight the console screen with Moot Green.

    Moot Green Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Unhelmeted Heads

2 steps
  1. 1. Mix equal amounts of Kislev Flesh and Bugman's Glow, then paint on the raised features and details of the head.

    Bugman's Glow Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Highlight the prominent details of the head using Kislev Flesh.

    Kislev Flesh Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Primaris Captain Specific Details

9 steps
  1. 1. Basecoat the robes with Ushabti Bone.

    Ushabti Bone Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Highlight the raised folds of the robes with thin lines of Screaming Skull.

    Screaming Skull Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  3. 3. Stipple Skeleton Horde Contrast towards the bottom of the robes for dirt.

    Skeleton Horde Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  4. 4. Stipple Agrax Earthshade even lower on the robes for more dirt.

    Agrax Earthshade Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  5. 5. Thin Agrax Earthshade with an equal amount of water and apply all over the skeleton on the shield for a dirty bone look.

    Agrax Earthshade Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  6. 6. Paint the raised areas and details of the skeleton using Ushabti Bone.

    Ushabti Bone Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  7. 7. Edge highlight all parchment and purity seals with Screaming Skull.

    Screaming Skull Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  8. 8. Highlight the sword using Runefang Steel.

    Runefang Steel Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  9. 9. Apply Aethermatic Blue Contrast all over the power nodes on the power sword and in the recesses of the skeleton.

    Aethermatic Blue Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Basing

4 steps
  1. 1. Apply Astrogranite to the bases using a texture spreader.

    Astrogranite Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  2. 2. Apply Nuln Oil over the dried Astrogranite on all bases.

    Nuln Oil Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  3. 3. Lightly drybrush all bases with Screaming Skull.

    Screaming Skull Warhammer Colour (Citadel)
  4. 4. Tidy up the base rims by painting them with Dawnstone.

    Dawnstone Warhammer Colour (Citadel)

Paints used

24 paints

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