Friday, 16 January 2026

PAINT BY NUMBERS

 Been a bit of a slow week for me, but managed to do a step by step for painting white armour, this could be handy for any one with Imperial Star Wars or 40K space marines.

STEP 1 basecoat the model, I use GW Corax white as it's darker.


STEP 2 cover the model in GW Apothecary White Contrast.


STEP 3 I fill in all the areas that need black, between the armour plates and details, I also add blue to the cheek vents on the helmet, using blue wash.


STEP 4 I apply GW Corax white over the armour plates leaving some of the gray from the contrast showing, like between armour plates, and also areas where light wouldn't reach ( The point of light I use is above the head, so looking from above I can see which areas the light would see)


STEP 5 Using GW White scar, I add lights to the areas that the light would hit, using the same point I did in the previous step.


STEP 6 If you want a dirty armour like I do for my troopers on Tatooine, I use two parts GW Reikland Fleshade wash to one part Lamian Medium. You can dab this on apply with a brush to desired areas, or apply extra and wipe off the excess, I used all methods on this one. I also added some GW Dawnstone Grey to the two rectangles on the helmet ears at this point.


Hope you find this useful. For the next 9 days I will be away from the computer so won't be able to comment on anyone's posts until I get back, as the wife and I are going away and hoping to see the Northern Lights, which is something on our bucket list, so until next time stay safe, and have fun !

Cheers Dave

24 comments:

  1. Thanks, Dave! This is going to help tons as I just had a Empire starter box show up mysteriously at my door! All that white armor has me a but intimidated. Enjoy the lights!

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    1. Thank you Grimmleigh's Fiends, what timing for this post then ! LOL I'm currently working through the same set, and have almost completed step 3 on the whole box, with one of the squads of scouts a little bit further so hopefully they should be finished not long after we get back. The wife is thinking of getting the lights app so an alarm goes off whatever time the lights happen ! LOL

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    1. Thank you Michael, having seen your white on models, I'm sure you already have a recipe or two ! LOL

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  3. Nice to see how the magic is made mate!

    Jealous of your upcoming trip tho - make sure to share pics if you can when you return?

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    1. Thank you Dai, don't worry my daughter has given us instructions on the amount of pictures so should have that covered, as long as they happen while we are there.

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  4. Interesting and useful tutorial, thank you! Oh, enjoy the trip, I'd love to see the Northern Lights! Please flood us with pics!

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    1. Thank you Suber, trying to remember to write things down occasionally in case people find it useful ! LOL Will do my best on the pictures.

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  5. Its interesting to read about your process for stormtroopers. One of the things I enjoy about our hobby is how there are many roads to "success". You paint your stormtroopers much different than I would and nobody can argue with your results! I hope you enjoy your trip and get some clear skies as well!

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    1. Thank you Jeff, indeed there are many routes to a destination, we must pick the right one for us ( Fortune cookie mode off ! LOL).
      Hope so on the skies, and that they occur while we are there, last time they happened while we were asleep ! LOL

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  6. Very useful, thank you.
    I must get back to my 28mm Star Wars stuff, this will help a lot.

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    1. Thank you misterc, I'm terrible for remembering to post up step by step guides, but happy to share if anyone asks.

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  7. Wow!! That's an excellent tutorial on painting White, Dave. Definitely up there with your using Pink to paint Yellow one - which still blows me away to this day!! Thanks very much for taking the time to put this one together, and I might just dig out some Stormies to give this a go as I believe I have some GW Corax somewhere.

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    1. Thank you Simon, hope you find it useful, can't take the credit for the yellow, as that was taught to me by Fred Reed.

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  8. *standing applause*
    give this man an award. this is a great guide on painting White.

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    1. Thank you Mr. Martin, always happy to share.

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  9. Nice guide, white is a bit of a pain I find, enjoy the Northern lights, I was a bit grumpy when I saw them the first time as I was trying to get a key in the door obviusely it was freezing cold and I was cursing because the background light kept changing!
    Best Iain

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    1. Thank you Iain, it's one that a lot of people find daunting, so thought I would share this recipe, have another one for cloth and horses. The lights were amazing, and can imagine it was very difficult trying to find the key hole with the constantly changing light.

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  10. John@justneedsvarnish21 January 2026 at 14:20

    Nice work on the white, Dave! Looks really good! :-)

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    1. Thank you John, really need people to remind me more often, to show how I do bits ! LOL

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  11. Does look good, thanks for the tutorial mate Cheers Roger

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