Space Wolves Painting Guide: New Paints, Easy Techniques

how to paint space wolves with the new paints

The Space Wolves are a hardy and proud warrior chapter with many visual cues taken from Norse iconography and mythology. Their models feature a variety of materials, including wolf pelts and fur details, frost weapons, and the best beards in the Space Marine range. When painting Space Wolves, it is important to consider the different approaches for painting their blue-grey armour, as well as their distinctive pack markings and heraldry. Various online tutorials provide step-by-step instructions on how to paint Space Wolves, covering topics such as colour choices, shading, highlighting, and adding battle damage. These tutorials offer guidance on achieving the desired aesthetic for your Space Wolves miniatures, ensuring an awe-inspiring sight on the battlefield.

Characteristics Values
Armour colour Frosty blue, slate blue
Other colours Yellow, black, red, grey, orange
Skin tone Cadian Fleshtone, Kislev Flesh, Flayed One Flesh
Beard colour Dawnstone, Celestra Grey, Ulthuan Grey
Bolter colour Ironbreaker, Eshin Grey
Shoulder pad colour Ushabti Bone, Eshin Grey, Administratum Grey
Axe head colour Stormhost Silver, Calth Blue, White Scar
Pack markings Red, black, grey, yellow, white
Pack markings shapes Triangles, lines
Other markings Yellow insignia of their Great Company

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Painting the distinctive slate blue armour

The following step is to shade the Eshin Grey joint areas of the armour with NuIn Oil, ensuring that the paint does not come into contact with the Russ Grey-coloured armour. Again, any mistakes can be fixed by letting the paint dry and then touching up with Russ Grey. To add an edge highlight, use Fenrisian Grey around all the armour panels, thinning the paint so that it flows easily from the brush without running everywhere.

For the final highlight, apply Ulthuan Grey to the corners and focus points of the armour. As with the previous steps, any errors can be corrected with Russ Grey. This completes the process of painting the distinctive slate blue armour of the Space Wolves.

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Using colours to denote battlefield roles

Space Wolves use colours to denote battlefield roles, with a number of special markings to mark their packs (squads). The right shoulder usually indicates rank and role/rank, with the marking representing pack/battalion. The pack marking is almost always displayed on the right pauldron.

Red and black denote Grey Hunters/Intercessors/Battleline units. Wolf Scouts and Reivers are marked in grey and black, while assault and close support units are marked in red and yellow. Devastator/fire support units are marked in black and white. Wolf Guard and veterans are marked in yellow and black. Wulfen are marked in red and white.

There are a few hard and fast rules to these markings, though there is generally a colour code used to identify different packs. Honour markings are displayed over a battle-brother’s pack markings to indicate a particularly heroic deed.

Space Wolves miniatures are different from other Astartes models in that they can often feature a lot of wolf pelts and fur details to paint. Bone and fur are particularly common, and the latter is a very fun thing to paint, with a lot of room for creativity and interesting patterns. Frost weapons are another cool reason, as they can make for an eye-catching and striking effect. They also have the best beards in the Space Marine range.

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Painting the fur and wolf pelts

Space Wolves miniatures are festooned with wolf pelts and fur details, which can be painted in a variety of ways depending on the desired look. One option is to use a drybrushing technique, starting with a light colour such as Screaming Skull and then neatening up with Russ Grey. You can then add shadows and depth by recess shading the armour panels with Agrax Earthshade and shading the joint areas with NuIn Oil, taking care to keep it off the grey armour.

For a more realistic and textured look, you can add multiple layers of paint to the fur. This will take time and patience, but the results can be impressive. Start with a base colour such as Russ Grey and then add highlights with a lighter shade such as Fenrisian Grey or Ulthuan Grey. You can also add lowlights or shadows with a darker shade to create depth.

To add interest and variety to your Space Wolves, consider using different colours for the fur on each model. For example, you could use red, yellow, black, or white to denote different battlefield roles within the pack. You can also add patterns or stripes to the fur for extra detail.

When painting the faces of the Space Wolves, don't forget to add some fierce grimaces and fiery hair or beards! The beard can be based with Dawnstone and layered with Celestra Grey, before being highlighted with Ulthuan Grey. For the face itself, start with a base of Cadian Fleshtone, layer with Kislev Flesh, and highlight with Flayed One Flesh.

Finally, don't forget to prime your models before painting. A white primer is a good option if you want to use bright colours, as it provides a good base for the paint to adhere to.

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Adding battle damage and scratches

To add battle damage and scratches to your Space Wolves miniature, you can use the following techniques:

First, using a small piece of sponge, dab on Rhinox Hide to create a pattern of random dots over the armour panels. Make sure to remove almost all the paint from the sponge before dabbing it onto the miniature. This technique will create a texture that resembles scratches and chips on the armour. You can adjust the amount of damage to your preference.

Next, paint an area with Rhinox Hide and then apply Ironbreaker on top, leaving some of the underlying colour visible to create the appearance of worn paint. This technique will give the miniature a battle-worn look, as if it has been through intense combat.

Additionally, you can add scratches to the weapons, such as the knife or axe, using the same technique. This will further enhance the battle-worn appearance of the miniature.

You can also create a similar effect on the shoulder pads and knee pads by adding chipping with Brigandine Brown and highlighting the edges of the armour panels with Warpaints Fanatic Space Dust. This will create a realistic worn look to the armour, as if it has been through numerous battles.

By following these steps and adjusting the amount of damage to your liking, you can effectively add battle damage and scratches to your Space Wolves miniature, capturing the fierce and battle-hardened nature of these iconic warriors.

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Painting the face and beard

Start by painting the entire face with a base coat of Cadian Fleshtone. This will create a uniform base for the subsequent layers of paint. Allow this base coat to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Next, you will layer Kislev Flesh paint over the Cadian Fleshtone. This layer will add depth and warmth to the skin tone. Again, ensure that this layer dries thoroughly before proceeding.

To highlight the facial features and bring them into focus, apply Flayed One Flesh paint to specific areas of the face. Focus on the raised surfaces, such as the cheeks, nose, and forehead. Blending this layer seamlessly will create a realistic and dimensional effect.

Now, let's move on to the beard. Begin by painting the base of the beard with Dawnstone, a dark grey shade. This will provide a solid foundation for the subsequent layers, helping them stand out.

For the final step, layer the beard with Celestra Grey, a lighter shade of grey. This will add texture and depth to the beard, making it appear more lifelike. As a finishing touch, highlight the edges of the beard with Ulthuan Grey to enhance the overall appearance.

Remember, when painting the face and beard, it's essential to work with thin layers of paint and gradually build up the colours. This technique will ensure smooth transitions and allow you to create realistic skin tones and textures. Take your time, and don't be afraid to go back and make adjustments as needed.

Frequently asked questions

The Space Wolves are clad in frosty blue armour and festooned with pack markings in reds and yellows. Their fur details, trinkets, and weapons are also key elements to paint.

You'll need a primer, either black or white, and a range of colours including blue, red, yellow, grey, and black.

It's recommended to paint in layers, starting with the base colours and working up to the finer details. This can be time-consuming, but it's worth it to get the best results.

Focus on getting the base colours right and leave the finer details until the end. Work on multiple models at once so that you can save time by letting paint dry on one model while you work on another.

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