Paint for Ultramarines

[BloodWolves]

Hey there all,

I was wondering if any of you have a picture of an Ultramarine in Caledor Sky vs Macragge Blue. I keep trying Macragge Blue but it comes out as dark and more violet almost like a Kantor Blue. WarhammerTV IG page had a "10 Step battle ready" model where they used Macragge Blue and Drybrushed Chronus Blue and then washed it with nuln oil. Do you think this merhod would work well if Caledor Sky was used vs Macragge Blue? I like a brighter blue, more of the old models on the boxes vs the dark blue models on the Start Collecting box.

If anyone can help me out, that would be awesome! Thank you!

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

I use field blue from Vallejo... it looks really good. You might want to try it.

[Ishagu]

I use Macragge Blue as a Base, but then put a layer of Altdorf Guard Blue over it.

 

Caledor Sky is a very different blue that creates a different look, but is a nice colour.

[MeatHammerActual]

I use Ultramarines blue from Army Painter. It comes in both primer spray and base form. 
Then again I like a lighter color that I then tone down and spot darken with shades.

[Brother Captain Ed]

I went through a similar issue with the change in GW's shades recently. My new recipe is the following:

-Macragge Blue base

-A few thin coats of Altdorf Guard Blue (enough to smoothly lighten the color in the open fields)

-Shade the recesses (and only the recesses) with Drakenhof Nightshade

-Glaze the model with Guilliman Blue

-Highlight with Calgar Blue

-Do a second highlight on the most visible edges (collar, helmet, power pack edges, knees) with Fenrisian Grey.

 

This strikes a balance between the newer, darker Macragge Blue and the older bright blue by using the glaze to tie the blues together and exploiting the mind's ability to tie the colors together with the wide range from the very dark recesses to the very bright grey highlights.

 

Good luck!

[StraightSilver]

I also use Altdorf Guard Blue as I'm not a fan of Macragge Blue - to me it's too dark.

My recipe is:

Undercoat: Black
Basecoat: Macragge Blue
Basecoat: Altdorf Guard Blue
Recess Wash: 70:30 Macragge Blue:Lahmian Medium
Recess Wash: 50:50 Drakenhof Nightshade:Lahmian Medium
Highlight: 50:50 Altdorf Guard Blue:Clagar Blue, then Calgar Blue, then 50:50 Calgar Blue: Fenrisian Grey, then spot highlights of Fenrisian Grey.

WIP pic but shows the colour as close to real life as possible:


 

[Ishagu]

I also use Altdorf Guard Blue as I'm not a fan of Macragge Blue - to me it's too dark.

 

My recipe is:

Undercoat: Black

Basecoat: Macragge Blue

Basecoat: Altdorf Guard Blue

Recess Wash: 70:30 Macragge Blue:Lahmian Medium

Recess Wash: 50:50 Drakenhof Nightshade:Lahmian Medium

Highlight: 50:50 Altdorf Guard Blue:Clagar Blue, then Calgar Blue, then 50:50 Calgar Blue: Fenrisian Grey, then spot highlights of Fenrisian Grey.

 

WIP pic but shows the colour as close to real life as possible:

 

 

They look very similar to mine :-D

I also highlight in Fenrisian Grey

[Brother Captain Ed]

I also use Altdorf Guard Blue as I'm not a fan of Macragge Blue - to me it's too dark.

 

My recipe is:

Undercoat: Black

Basecoat: Macragge Blue

Basecoat: Altdorf Guard Blue

Recess Wash: 70:30 Macragge Blue:Lahmian Medium

Recess Wash: 50:50 Drakenhof Nightshade:Lahmian Medium

Highlight: 50:50 Altdorf Guard Blue:Clagar Blue, then Calgar Blue, then 50:50 Calgar Blue: Fenrisian Grey, then spot highlights of Fenrisian Grey.

 

WIP pic but shows the colour as close to real life as possible:

 

 

I would rather punch myself in the groin than do that much highlighting. 

 

That said, your results are undeniable.  Very nice marines.

[greatcrusade08]

beautiful job, those look great

[BloodWolves]

See I did a bit of poking around and I found this tutorial. Im looking for this bright of blue. Although Im basic and probably would paint my Marines as 2nd Company or maybe even 1st Company.

 

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.ca/2015/12/tutorial-how-to-paint-ultramarines-as.html?m=1

 

I like the brightness amd brillance of the blue.. but like most people, I dont think I have the patience to do proper edge highlighting. So what im thinking for the main armor is..

 

Basecoat: Caledor Sky

Drybrush: Chronus Blue

Wash: Nuln Oil

 

Does anyone see if this might not work?

[StraightSilver]

See I did a bit of poking around and I found this tutorial. Im looking for this bright of blue. Although Im basic and probably would paint my Marines as 2nd Company or maybe even 1st Company.

 

http://taleofpainters.blogspot.ca/2015/12/tutorial-how-to-paint-ultramarines-as.html?m=1

 

I like the brightness amd brillance of the blue.. but like most people, I dont think I have the patience to do proper edge highlighting. So what im thinking for the main armor is..

 

Basecoat: Caledor Sky

Drybrush: Chronus Blue

Wash: Nuln Oil

 

Does anyone see if this might not work?

I think this would be fine and once you add the Company colours it should pull together nicely.

 

I would say to possibly avoid Nuln Oil for the wash though - I would use Drakenhof Nightshade. 

 

It might also be worth trying a Guilliman Blue glaze over everything to blend in the drybrushed highlights as well?

 

Also thanks to everybody for the comments on mine - I don't think it's necessary to do quite so many highlights but I'm a bit OCD but I'd get things done a lot quicker if I halved the amount... :)

[Captain Idaho]

I'm okay at painting and go for a simple method of Maccragge Blue (Ultramarines blue if you got it old school) and then use Regal blue (old school again but I believe it's similar to Kantor Blue?) as a next layer.

 

Easy enough.

[garreth]

I use 'Ultramarine blue' from Vallejo 'Game colour' line.

[StraightSilver]

I use 'Ultramarine blue' from Vallejo 'Game colour' line.

This was my go to before I discovered Altdorf Guard Blue is almost the exact same colour. It's just easier for me to source Citadel Paints but Vallejo Ultramarine Blue and Imperial Blue as a shade are very good.