Isabella Flores
Painting Space Wolves can be a fun and rewarding hobby, and there are many guides available online that can help you achieve the perfect look for your models. Whether you're a seasoned painter or a beginner, the right techniques and tools can make all the difference. Before you begin, it's important to gather the necessary supplies, such as paints, brushes, oils, sponges, and cotton buds. The colour scheme you choose is also important, with popular options including the traditional baby blue, Russ Grey, and Lothern Blue. Additionally, don't forget to pay attention to the small details, such as the distinctive yellow shoulder pads and red gems. By following guides and taking your time, you can create an army of Space Wolves that you can be proud to display or use in gameplay.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Painting order | Paint the pelt first, then the torso, legs, and backpacks, then the weapons, pauldrons, and heads, and finally the gems and other details |
| Paint colours | Baby blue, Russ Grey, Lothern Blue, The Fang, Reaper Snow Shadow, Corvus Black, Mechanicus Standard Grey, Retributor Armour, Reaper Ghost White, Baneblade Brown, Steel Legion Drab, Karak Stone, Screaming Skull, Rhinox Hide, Ironbreaker, Mephiston Red, Avalon Sunset, Abaddon Black, Eshin Grey, Necron Compound, Retributor Gold, Leadbelcher |
| Tools | Airbrush, regular brush, sponge |
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What You'll Learn
Priming the model
Firstly, decide on the priming method. You can use an airbrush, a spray can, or a regular brush to apply the primer. Each method has its advantages; for example, an airbrush allows for precise control over the thickness of the paint layer, while spray cans are convenient and can cover large areas quickly. If you opt for a brush, ensure you thin the paint with water to avoid obscuring the model's details.
When choosing a primer colour, consider the desired final look of your Space Wolves. For a traditional Space Wolves "baby blue" hue, prime the model with a black primer, followed by a thin coat of Lothern Blue, as suggested by the box instructions. Alternatively, for a darker look, you can use Russ Grey primer, or even Mechanicus Standard Grey for a zenithal undercoat, which can be highlighted with Grey Seer for added depth.
If you're priming multiple models, consider batch priming to speed up the process. Work on a squad at a time, focusing on specific areas like torsos, legs, and backpacks. This assembly-line approach can help you maintain consistency across models and motivate you to tackle the next set of details.
Take the time to invest in quality brushes. While you can use regular brushes for priming, higher-quality brushes like the Citadel series or Windsor and Newton Series 7 can make a significant difference in your painting experience and the final finish.
Remember, when priming, always aim for thin, translucent coats to preserve the model's sculpted details. You can always add additional thin layers to build up the desired opacity without losing the intricate aspects of the miniature.
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Painting the pelt
There are two stages to shading the pelts. First, recess shade all the armour panels with Agrax Earthshade. This means running the shade into the grooves and edges of the armour, not all over the model. If you make a mistake, let it dry and tidy up with Russ Grey. Second, shade all the Eshin Grey joint areas of the armour with Nuln Oil, taking care to keep it off the Russ Grey-coloured armour. If you make a mistake, let it dry fully and tidy up with Russ Grey.
Another source recommends starting by carefully drawing the outline of where you want your scar patterns to be, then just paint inside those lines. If you want to get fancy, you can highlight those areas with some Corvus Black. The metal and black bits are shaded with Nuln Oil.
Other colours used for Space Wolf miniatures include red, yellow, blue, grey, and gold. One source recommends using an airbrush to prime the model, although this is not necessary. They recommend using thin layers of paint so as not to lose any of the nice sculpted details. They use a colour called The Fang, a frosty blue-grey that’s perfect for Space Wolves.
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Painting the shoulder pads
Preparation
Before you begin painting the shoulder pads, it's essential to prime your Space Wolves miniature. You can use any good black base paint, a spray can, or an airbrush to apply a thin coat of The Fang, a frosty blue-grey colour that suits the Space Wolves aesthetic. This initial layer should be as thin as possible to avoid obscuring the sculpted details of the miniature.
The traditional Space Wolves colour scheme includes yellow shoulder pads, but you can also find variations with red or blue shoulder pads. If you're a stickler for lore and proper heraldry, note that the shoulder pad colours of Space Wolves can vary depending on their battlefield role. For example, Assault Intercessors should have both shoulders painted yellow, rather than one red and one yellow, as commonly seen on other Space Wolf units.
To paint the shoulder pads, you can use either an airbrush or a regular brush. For a bright red, use Mephiston Red, and for a vibrant yellow, opt for Avalon Sunset. If you're painting a large number of miniatures, consider using the production line painting method, where you paint batches of the same areas (e.g., all the shoulder pads) at once to speed up the process.
Detailing
Once the base colour of the shoulder pads is complete, you can add detailing. For a worn paint effect, use a small piece of sponge to dab on Rhinox Hide over the armour panels, creating random dots. You can also add scratches and chips by painting an area with Rhinox Hide and then applying Ironbreaker on top, ensuring the underlying colour peeks through for a realistic worn look.
Highlighting and Shading
To add depth and dimension to your shoulder pads, consider highlighting and shading. Use Fenrisian Grey for edge highlighting, thinning the paint so it flows easily but doesn't run. For shading in the recesses of the armour, use Agrax Earthshade, ensuring you apply it only in the grooves and edges, not over the entire model.
Finishing Touches
After painting the shoulder pads, you can move on to other details, such as adding Retributor Gold to any golden elements and touching up weapons and accessories with Leadbelcher. Remember, painting is a creative process, so feel free to experiment and adapt these techniques to create your unique Space Wolves army.
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Painting the weapons
Colour Choices:
Most painters recommend using a combination of Abaddon Black and Eshin Grey for Space Wolves weapons. You can add a light dry brush of Necron Compound over this base for a more metallic look. Alternatively, you can use a shade of red for the weaponry to create a striking contrast with the darker armour. For a more traditional approach, Space Wolves are often associated with a distinctive ""baby blue" colour, so using a shade of blue-grey like The Fang can also work well for weapons.
Painting Process:
Before painting the weapons, it is recommended to paint the gold and silver parts first since they stand out the most. This way, your model will already look impressive even if you haven't finished the entire miniature. When painting the weapons, start by applying a base coat of your chosen colour, such as Abaddon Black. Then, carefully dry brush on the Eshin Grey to create highlights and add depth to the weapon. If you want to add some extra metallic shine, use a light dry brush of Necron Compound.
Assembly Considerations:
Some painters suggest painting the individual components of the model before assembling them. This approach can save time on clean-up and make it easier to reach all the details of the weapon. On the other hand, others prefer to assemble the model first and then paint it, as it allows for better coverage in hard-to-reach areas. Ultimately, the decision comes down to personal preference and what works best for your workflow.
Detailing and Touch-ups:
Once the base colours and highlights are in place, you can add final touches to the weapons. For example, you might want to add Retributor Gold to any golden details on the weapon or touch up specific areas with additional colours to make them stand out. Don't be afraid to go back and add fine details to the weapons, even if you've already declared them finished. It's worth taking your time with these final touches to make your Space Wolves truly unique.
Remember, when it comes to painting miniatures, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Experiment with different colours, techniques, and processes to find what works best for you and your Space Wolves army. Happy painting!
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Finishing touches
When it comes to painting Space Wolves, there are a variety of techniques and approaches you can take to achieve the desired look. Here are some finishing touches you can consider:
Colours and Shades
The colours and shades you choose will play a crucial role in the overall appearance of your Space Wolves. For a traditional Space Wolves look, consider using shades of blue, such as "baby blue" or a frosty blue-grey like "The Fang". You can also add in some darker shades, such as Russ Grey, for shading and depth. Don't be afraid to experiment with different colour schemes to find the one that suits your aesthetic preferences.
Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads are an important detail to consider when painting Space Wolves. In the Warhammer 40,000 lore, Space Wolves have different coloured shoulders depending on their battlefield role. For example, Assault Intercessors should have both shoulders painted yellow, while other Space Wolf units may have one red and one yellow shoulder pad. You can use colours like Mephiston Red and Avalon Sunset to achieve the desired effect.
Weapons
Weapons are a key element of any Space Wolf miniature. Most people paint weapons with a combination of Abaddon Black and Eshin Grey. If you're looking for a more metallic look, you can try dry brushing with Necron Compound. Don't forget to add some edge highlights to the weapons as well, such as Corvus Black or Mechanicus Standard Grey.
Scars and Highlights
To add some character to your Space Wolves, consider painting scar patterns. Carefully draw the outline of the scars and then paint inside the lines. You can highlight these areas with Corvus Black for added depth. Additionally, edge highlights can be applied to the entire model using a light off-white colour like Reaper Ghost White.
Pelts and Details
Messy dry brushing is often needed to paint the pelts of Space Wolves. It's recommended to base coat the entire pelt with Baneblade Brown and then add dark shapes with Steel Legion Drab. Finish the edges with Karak Stone, and don't forget to add stripes to the tail using the same colours. You can also leave the pelts, bones, and gems until the end, touching them up with Retributor Gold or other appropriate colours.
Bases and Effects
Once your Space Wolf miniatures are painted, you can base them however you like. You might consider creating a realistic ice base or adding a snow effect by mixing PVA glue with natron. Be careful not to use too much glue, as it can turn the snow effect greyish. You can also add battle damage effects using a small piece of sponge and Rhinox Hide to create random dots over the armour panels.
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Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to paint Space Wolves, but one popular method is to use the traditional Space Wolves "baby blue" colour scheme. First, use a black primer and then apply a coat of Russ Grey. Next, add a thin, translucent coat of Lothern Blue for an ice blue hue, and finish by using The Fang for shading.
The colour of the shoulder pads depends on the battlefield role. For most Space Wolves, you will need a red right shoulder pad. However, Assault Intercessors should have both shoulders painted yellow.
Most people paint the weapons Abaddon Black and Eshin Grey. You can also add a light dry brush of Necron Compound for a more metallic look.
First, base coat the whole of the pelt (inside and out) with Baneblade Brown. Then, paint dark shapes with Steel Legion Drab and paint a border around the edges with Karak Stone. For the tail, paint stripes of the same colours, starting with Steel Legion Drab, then Baneblade Brown, Karak Stone, and finally Screaming Skull on the tip.
It is not necessary to paint Start Collecting Space Wolves, but it is a fun way to customise your miniatures and make them your own. There are many tutorials and guides available online to help you get started.
