Games Workshop - Battle for Skull Pass

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nce you have played a few games of Warhammer, it is well worth painting your models. Painting is a lot of fun and will make your battles much more realistic. This page will help explain how to get started.

First off, find a comfortable place in which to paint with plenty of space for paints and models, such as a desk or table (kids, ask your parents first). Below, you will find descriptions of various materials you will need to set up a painting area, including a Paint Station, Citadel Colour paints, and tools available from Games Workshop.

ESSENTIAL PAINTING TIPS

UNDERCOAT

Paint the entire model black before beginning. You'll find that this undercoat provides a better surface that takes the paint well.

PAINT VOLUME

It is easier to paint neatly if you dip the bristles of your brush only halfway in paint. Too much paint cuts down on your accuracy (shown right).

CLEAN WATER

Having clean water is a must. If you keep your paint water around too long, it gets murky. That will affect your colors and make them less vibrant.

WHAT IS DRYBRUSHING?

Picture of drybrushing in progress. rybrushing is a quick and effective way of highlighting a model. It works best on areas of raised detail and not so well on smooth surfaces. The following is a very simple guide to applying highlights by drybrushing.

Place the desired color on your brush and wipe it backwards and forwards on paper towel until there is only a trace of paint left on the bristles. Make sure that you use an old brush, as this technique is very hard on the bristles and will quickly ruin a good brush.

The next step is to quickly drag the tip of the brush backwards and forwards over the area you are highlighting. The raised surface texture will pick up the paint from the bristles and the highlights will build up. Be as gentle as possible when you are drybrushing. If you are heavy-handed, the paint will build up too thickly and the texture or detail will become obscured.

ASSEMBLY-LINE PAINTING

Image of models being assembly line painted.

n assembly-line process (also known as batch painting) will allow you to paint the same area on each of your models in turn and, by doing so, you can finish a unit more quickly. For instance, if you were working on the shields of your Dwarf Warriors you would work down the line, painting that part of each model in turn. By the time you've finished the first model should be dry and ready for the next step. When painting a unit the assembly-line method, it will speed things up even more if you mount each rank on a strip of rigid card using double-sided adhesive tape.

SETTING UP YOUR PAINT AREA

Steady Hands. Half the trick to painting well is holding the model steady. When you brace your elbows on the table and rest your hands together when painting, it will allow you to bring the model closer to your eyes while keeping your hands steady.

Palette. It is useful to have a nonabsorbent surface on which you can mix paints together to create new colors. An old tile, plate, CD, or an artist's palette will do the job.

Newspaper. Make sure you put down plenty of newspaper to protect the surface of your painting area from spills.

Paints and Brushes. If you've already picked up a starter paint set, then you have some colors. However, you'll inevitably need a few more colors to finish your army.

Clean Water. Use clean water to rinse out your brushes — a plastic cup or an old glass or mug is perfect.

Paint Station. After you've been painting for a while, you may find it easier to keep all your paints and equipment together on a Paint Station. This is a mobile painting desk that you can move about as required — very useful if you have to pack away after every painting session.

Paper Towels. Have paper towel or a cloth handy for wiping paint and excess water from brushes, as well as for dealing with those inevitable spills.

Light Source. There's nothing better for painting than daylight, as colors show up best under natural light. A lamp shining onto your desk is a good alternative.

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