Metallic tones in HH Legion base colors?

[SITZKRIEG!]

I'm thinking of painting up an Ultramarine in the HH style colors pictured below as an example.

 

http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/warhammer40k/images/6/65/UM_Legion_Honour_Guard.jpg

 

I've been looking at numerous video painting guides online, both unofficial and GW official, and none of them mention any metallic tones in the base legion colors. My color vision isn't great but it looks to me like they're in the FW HH art. Am I mistaken? If not, any tips on achieving it? I'm considering just using a metallic color from a car focused paint line but the effect could be too prominent with that. I had hoped the new contrast paints over a metallic primer coat might work but the videos I've seen of that aren't promising either. Should I just go with a deeper blue instead and leave it glossy as an alternative?

Edited June 13, 2019 by SITZKRIEG!

[Vykes]

heyas mate. I think most people that tend to go about the metallics are usually in the Thousand Son camp with Alpha Legion being a very close second. But I have seen Salamanders, Emperor's Children, and Ultramarines done before using metallics as well. Some metallics seem to give an interesting effect (heard the art deco metallic line, oddly, gives good results when thinned with a bit of gloss medium, for instance)

But the usual stuff I've experimented with were just simple one offs: A sharp metallic silver (or gold if going for red or green) with a bit of zenithal highlighting: then clear/candy coat/ghost tints over them with a thinned black ink to get the definition.

Eh, I'll toss down my quick example from a few years back:

Ultramarines:

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

I'd suggest black primer, dark silver like lead belcher with black to darken as base, a mid tone like steel then silver to highlight. You can then wash with gloss nuln oil.

 

I use alclad black chrome, steel, aluminium then a light dusting of chrome. I tend to make it overbright as the colour dulls it down.

 

I airbrush but I'm pretty sure you can spray leadbelcher, wash it dark then do a few dry brushes of silver.

 

Then I'd recommend badger miniataire ghost tints, they do nice brushable transparents. Personally my up close viewing of the contrast paints over Metallics didn't look that hot, it came across as muddy. I think the old FW clears are returning, not sure what the blue is like.

[carlisimo]

A straight metallic blue is likely to be too extreme. Consider starting with a shaded and highlighted steel base and using a slightly purplish clear blue over it.

[Charlo]

You'd almost want to do the dark metal that my esteemed colleagues talk about above and then do a VERY light (as in amount not colour) wash of violet to hit all the shaded areas in that. THEN hit it with the clear blue all over to get some depth.

[Kizzdougs]

Do you have an airbrush? If you do then you've got plenty of great options, if not then it becomes a bit more difficult.

 

I haven't painted any metallic Ultramarines but I've painted a few metallic Emperor's Children and plenty of Alpha Legion. The same principles apply to all metallic schemes: Metallic base-coat (preferably pre-shaded) covered with a clear colour or ink of some sort. For the Emperor's Children I just went down to my local art shop and looked around until I found an acrylic artist's ink that matched the shade of colour I was after. I ended up using Daler and Rowney Purple Lake.

 

The metallic pre-shade

 

Purple ink

 

The finished look

 

 

I applied the same technique to this mini

 

 

I used the same technique but a different purple on this mini

 

 

For the Ultramarines you could try a suitable colour of artist's ink over the top of a metallic pre-shade. Usually I'd suggest Tamiya Clear Blue, but it's probably a bit too light in tone for the Ultras.

 

This is the Tamiya Clear Blue over a metallic pre-shade. Here is a link to my Alpha Legion airbrush scheme.

 

 

Like you I've also tried to replicate the metallic looking art in the Black Books. This was my attempt at the Sons of Horus scheme using Coalia Greenshade over a metallic base-coat.

 

 

The inspiration

 

If you don't have an airbrush you could try a metallic spray-can colour, although the range of colours is far more limited.

 

I painted these Alpha Legion using Tamiya's Light Metallic Blue, TS54, spray-paint. Tutorial for spray-can Alpha Legion scheme.

 

 

 

Also, I recon the new Citadel paints would work perfectly fine over a metallic undercoat, but so do plenty of other brands so don't limit yourself :tu:

[StruManChu]

Listen to Kizzdougs. He knows what's up. 

[SITZKRIEG!]

Thanks to all for the tips and additionally to Kizzdougs and Vykes for the sample pics. The colors on those look great and are what I'd be going for; additionaly, it's nice to know that I wasn't imagining the metallic tones that were missing from all the online paint guide videos I watched. Unfortunately, I don't have an airbrush and getting one isn't likely for the foreseeable future so I'm stuck trying to replicate what I can with a brush and my at best 6/10 painting skills coupled with mild color blindness (a triple whammy against me!). 

That's why I was hoping that the contrast paints applied with a brush would work over metallics but the pics I've seen online aren't promising as the undercoat doesn't seem to come through at all despite the translucent nature of the paints. I'm wondering if a metallic blue base coat (likely too strong of an effect as mentioned above) with some tamiya blue clear over the top to take it down a few notches will work. Honestly, I'm not familiar with the Tamiya clears as I've never used them and didn't know of their existence frankly until yesterday.  Alternately, I could try this spray color which doesn't (at least to my admittedly inferior color vision) look too strong and then maybe use a blue wash over it in the recesses to dull those parts down a bit. 

 

Edited June 13, 2019 by SITZKRIEG!

[Pacific81]

Some extremely cool looking metallic-marines in this thread!  

[Lord Commander Eidolon]

To get around the lack of an airbrush I'd suggest the following

 

1 - a darkish silver spray, I think you are on the right track with the tamiya! Base the whole model.

 

2 - zenithal highlight using a lighter silver - this should be from about a 45degree angle, you are aiming for the top parts of the model.

 

3 - nuln oil gloss -- this is a simple pin wash. Don't worry about the gloss finish, the clears and varnish will hide it. This is an easy way to get definition on detail.

 

4 - dry brush the raised details with the brightest silver you have. Alternately if there is a chrome spray can a top down dustinging - light spray so you are hitting the top of the head.

 

5 - your clear colour of choice. Lots of very light passes will build up the colour for you. Guillman glaze might also be useful.

 

 

I wasn't a fan of the metallic blue but i was trying to do Night Lords when I tried it! I think it would be good for Ultras. It depends on how far you want to go, You could base the model in that, then use a silver as the zenithal highlight I mentioned, gloss wash then hit it with the clear blue. It should work, give it many light passes though.

 

You seem to have the right idea about the contrast paints. However the technical 'gem' paints like spirit stone something also work well over silver bases. I'd suggest getting an old Rhino side panel or plastic spoons and experimenting. It took me years of trying to find a blue and red i liked for my Night Lords and Thousand Sons respectively

[SITZKRIEG!]

Thanks for the tips.  I think I'll eventually do some junk test models to try out techniques.  I went to various hobby stores last night and found four different (enamel) metallic blue paints specifically for models from the various testors lines in two stores but none stocked Tamiya locally.  To see the all purpose less expensive alternative, I went to Home Depot and Lowes to check out their metallic sprays and only foudn the Rustoleum.  I sprayed it on a test paint card they had and it is waaaay to flaky metallic to be any good for what I'm hoping for.  Once I get a Michael's coupon, I'll go back there and test out their blues as well as Hobby Lobby's.

[Charlo]

Kizzdougs hitting the thread to flex hard on ALL OF US

[Petitioner's City]

How would you do space wolves in this way? I tried with the new basicanum contrast paint on leadbelcher, but it came out way too dark. Not quite sure what to direction to go.

[Kizzdougs]

I'd probably paint metallic Space Wolves' armour with a darkish steel colour and then finish it off with a good coat of matt varnish to dull down the metallic sheen. It'll still look metallic, but will be different enough to not be confused for Iron Warriors and the matt varnish will help to make it look a bit greyer in colour :tu:

[Petitioner's City]

Nice idea. Hmm, now to practice...

[betrayer41]

How would you do space wolves in this way? I tried with the new basicanum contrast paint on leadbelcher, but it came out way too dark. Not quite sure what to direction to go.

 

Here are some of my old Metallic SW. 

 

[Petitioner's City]

 

How would you do space wolves in this way? I tried with the new basicanum contrast paint on leadbelcher, but it came out way too dark. Not quite sure what to direction to go.

 

Here are some of my old Metallic SW. 

 

 

 

Gorgeous! How did you manage this? These are simply stunning

[betrayer41]

 

 

How would you do space wolves in this way? I tried with the new basicanum contrast paint on leadbelcher, but it came out way too dark. Not quite sure what to direction to go.

 

Here are some of my old Metallic SW. 

 

 

 

Gorgeous! How did you manage this? These are simply stunning

 

Thanks mate i definitely miss these guys.

 

Theyre primed black, then airbrushed Vallejo metal color burnt iron. get it pretty bright, it won't look right at first but if you finish the process you get this nice metallic grey.

 

Next satin varnish (optional) then I wash with an oil wash 3/4 burnt umber 1/4 black.  Then hit it with pigments. That's about it!

[Petitioner's City]

 

 

 

How would you do space wolves in this way? I tried with the new basicanum contrast paint on leadbelcher, but it came out way too dark. Not quite sure what to direction to go.

 

Here are some of my old Metallic SW. 

 

 

 

Gorgeous! How did you manage this? These are simply stunning

 

Thanks mate i definitely miss these guys.

 

Theyre primed black, then airbrushed Vallejo metal color burnt iron. get it pretty bright, it won't look right at first but if you finish the process you get this nice metallic grey.

 

Next satin varnish (optional) then I wash with an oil wash 3/4 burnt umber 1/4 black.  Then hit it with pigments. That's about it!

 

 

Really nice and simple; I will have to try :)

[Barok-]

On 6/13/2019 at 1:17 PM, Kizzdougs said:

Do you have an airbrush? If you do then you've got plenty of great options, if not then it becomes a bit more difficult.

 

I haven't painted any metallic Ultramarines but I've painted a few metallic Emperor's Children and plenty of Alpha Legion. The same principles apply to all metallic schemes: Metallic base-coat (preferably pre-shaded) covered with a clear colour or ink of some sort. For the Emperor's Children I just went down to my local art shop and looked around until I found an acrylic artist's ink that matched the shade of colour I was after. I ended up using Daler and Rowney Purple Lake.

 

The metallic pre-shade

 

Purple ink

 

The finished look

 

 

I applied the same technique to this mini

 

 

I used the same technique but a different purple on this mini

 

 

For the Ultramarines you could try a suitable colour of artist's ink over the top of a metallic pre-shade. Usually I'd suggest Tamiya Clear Blue, but it's probably a bit too light in tone for the Ultras.

 

This is the Tamiya Clear Blue over a metallic pre-shade. Here is a link to my Alpha Legion airbrush scheme.

 

 

Like you I've also tried to replicate the metallic looking art in the Black Books. This was my attempt at the Sons of Horus scheme using Coalia Greenshade over a metallic base-coat.

 

 

The inspiration

 

If you don't have an airbrush you could try a metallic spray-can colour, although the range of colours is far more limited.

 

I painted these Alpha Legion using Tamiya's Light Metallic Blue, TS54, spray-paint. Tutorial for spray-can Alpha Legion scheme.

 

 

 

Also, I recon the new Citadel paints would work perfectly fine over a metallic undercoat, but so do plenty of other brands so don't limit yourself :tu:

Do you remember what ink you used in the last EC looks amazing

Edited September 17, 2022 by Barok-

[Kizzdougs]

On 9/18/2022 at 7:28 AM, Barok- said:

Do you remember what ink you used in the last EC looks amazing

I think it was the Purple Lake from Daler and Rowney.

[MARK0SIAN]

On 6/13/2019 at 1:17 PM, Kizzdougs said:

Do you have an airbrush? If you do then you've got plenty of great options, if not then it becomes a bit more difficult.

 

I haven't painted any metallic Ultramarines but I've painted a few metallic Emperor's Children and plenty of Alpha Legion. The same principles apply to all metallic schemes: Metallic base-coat (preferably pre-shaded) covered with a clear colour or ink of some sort. For the Emperor's Children I just went down to my local art shop and looked around until I found an acrylic artist's ink that matched the shade of colour I was after. I ended up using Daler and Rowney Purple Lake.

 

The metallic pre-shade

 

Purple ink

 

The finished look

 

 

I applied the same technique to this mini

 

 

I used the same technique but a different purple on this mini

 

 

For the Ultramarines you could try a suitable colour of artist's ink over the top of a metallic pre-shade. Usually I'd suggest Tamiya Clear Blue, but it's probably a bit too light in tone for the Ultras.

 

This is the Tamiya Clear Blue over a metallic pre-shade. Here is a link to my Alpha Legion airbrush scheme.

 

 

Like you I've also tried to replicate the metallic looking art in the Black Books. This was my attempt at the Sons of Horus scheme using Coalia Greenshade over a metallic base-coat.

 

 

The inspiration

 

If you don't have an airbrush you could try a metallic spray-can colour, although the range of colours is far more limited.

 

I painted these Alpha Legion using Tamiya's Light Metallic Blue, TS54, spray-paint. Tutorial for spray-can Alpha Legion scheme.

 

 

 

Also, I recon the new Citadel paints would work perfectly fine over a metallic undercoat, but so do plenty of other brands so don't limit yourself :tu:

These are amazing!

Can I ask, did you apply the purple ink on the EC using a brush or air brush?

Also, did you do the metallic pre-shade in the same manner as in your alpha legion tutorial? 
 

Thanks in advance :)

[SkimaskMohawk]

Guys this is some wild threadomancy