Painting a Grey Knights Land Raider

[Doomaflatchi]

I was wondering if some people could give me some advice on the best way to paint the grey color on the Grey Knights Land Raiders, as I'm not sure what technique to use to get the best look on such a large surface area. So far, I have considered several options:

• Use Boltgun Metal, like I do with my Knights (though I'm worried this might make it too shiny)
  
• Use Codex Grey or Fortress Grey for a basecoat, and highlight/drybrush on Boltgun Metal
  
• Use a custom mix of Codex/Fortress Grey and Boltgun Metal
  
• Use a Boltgun Metal basecoat with some kind of ink (though I'm not sure which one)
  

Could anyone please give me some pointers? Have any of these worked or not worked for you? Have you seen any particularly good paint jobs, and what did they use? Is there an acceptable standard for something with as much surface area as a tank?

 

Thanks in advance for the advice. :D

[Inquisitor Fox]

I've noticed when painting other areas of boltgun metal or chainmail that a matte finish..um.. the protective spraycan stuff.. tends to "dull" the metal making it significantly less shiney! It worked well for lots of my metal objects on things like Chimeras, Bretonnian Knight armor.. stuff like that, but still maintains a look different from grey.

 

My concern with painting it grey is it may resemble say, a Space Wolf Land Raider. That would be bad :lol: Granted all the white and red and black designs, big giant swords and books, and Inquisitorial symbols should give people a clue, but you'd be surprised...

[revnow]

The matte will indeed dull it down quite a bit, or you can put a very very thin black wash (called a filter) over it to darken down the metal.

 

 

A WIP after the initial "messy" filter of Badab black which goes on right after the base coat.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn5/revnow85/DSCN3119.jpg

[Marid]

I personally avoid using metallic paints on large areas. It is really tough to pull off. I would recommend either using shades of grey or choosing a paint scheme such as red that would still look very GK, but not be so hard.

 

However, if you still want to give it a go, I'd suggest getting inspiration from the DeLorean sports car since it is a matte stainless steel.

[mortiferum]

I went the grey route:

 

Original colour scheme on the LRC (prior to foundation paints being released) and then simplified using foundation paints on the later 2 LR's

 

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/r555ung/Daemonhunters/DSC00957.jpg

 

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/r555ung/Daemonhunters/LR3a.jpg

 

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d112/r555ung/Daemonhunters/LR2b.jpg

[Doomaflatchi]

The matte will indeed dull it down quite a bit, or you can put a very very thin black wash (called a filter) over it to darken down the metal.

 

 

A WIP after the initial "messy" filter of Badab black which goes on right after the base coat.

I actually love the color scheme you've done there, Revnow. Can you run over its constituent parts with me, please?

 

So it was basecoat of Boltgun Metal, thin black wash, then... what did you use for a matte spray? Also, what did you use for the red section?

[benmothershaw]

I went the grey route:

 

Original colour scheme on the LRC (prior to foundation paints being released) and then simplified using foundation paints on the later 2 LR's

Can I ask where you got the Imperial Eagles? I need one for Coreteaz Land Raider :o

[Lion in the Stars]

Actually, I'd start with the P3 color, Pig Iron, and a BIG flat brush (1/2 to 3/4" wide). Pig Iron is the color of raw cast iron (not black like your seasoned cast iron pans, but a dull metallic gray)

 

Prime black, then take your time drybrushing the surface with thinned Pig Iron. It'll probably take you a couple hours work, but take your time building up a solid base color.

 

Your first highlight color should be Boltgun metal. Again, take your time on this, you need to concentrate on the centers of the flat areas, and the edges of the raised panels.

 

P3 "Armor Wash" is your friend for shading metallic colors. If you can find an empty paint container for mixing, fill the container 1/4 with Armor Wash, 1/4 with Future (err, Johnson's Klear), and 1/2 water, and add a mixing marble. shake well, then apply a thin coat of the Armor Wash mix. Future/Johnson's Klear will help prevent puddling/bathtub rings.

 

Go back over the edges with a little Boltgun after the Wash dries (give it a day or so), then lightly hit just the points of the edges with a bit of chainmail.

 

Seal with a good matte varnish.

[mortiferum]

Can I ask where you got the Imperial Eagles? I need one for Coreteaz Land Raider :)

 

The first one I'd traced off someone elses design. The later two were modified / custom drawn. All were cut from plasticard.

[revnow]

A heavy Overbrush boltgun metal on the Lower Body

 

3 (or so) layers of Red Gore on the Upper body

 

Badab Black filter over everything

 

Filter

2-4 parts water to 1 part wash/ink depending on how dark you want the filter, and just a little bit of dish soap (this isn't as necessary with the new citadel washes, but is absolutely critical for preventing inks from pooling and staining). Apply the filter evenly across the entire surface you want darkened with the most liberal amounts in recesses (to create a standard washing effect). I'll try and post a better pic a the effect a bit later.

 

Keep in mind the pic that is up is only the initial basecoats with the black filter. I have yet to do any detail work or highlighting (which will probably be done with mithiril silver on boltgun metal and a red gore mix on the red). Nor have I put the matte varnish over it which will probably dull the colors a little bit more. I use the Citadel matte varnish btw.

[Aidoneus]

Or you could just go my route, and not use silver at all! :P Unfortunately, probably wouldn't match any paint scheme in the world but for my own.

 

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w44/Aidoneus43/DSCN1055.jpg

[Till]

I would go with whatever your method was on the standard units of the army. Force cohesion is paramount imo. If your army is painted "ok", and you end up making the land raider great with a different technique, it wont make the land raider look better; it will make the rest of the army look like crap. If the land raider is make "ok", the entire army will go together and have presence.

 

Just my opinion.