The

MIGHTY
BRUSh
PAiNTINg GUIDE

DARK
ANGELS v1.5 June 2020 © The Mighty Brush. All rights reserved. themightybrush.com
IntRodUction Key
This guide is designed for beginner to intermediate level painters. The aim is to achieve a AIRBRUSH
Denotes that this step should be applied
good quality paint job in a way that can be replicated relatively quickly across an army. You
using an airbrush.
may wish to treat some of the highlight steps as optional, so the method can be ‘scaled’
from rank and file to more special models such as commanders and characters. PAINT BRUSH
paint-brush Denotes that this step should be applied
A certain level of experience and understanding is assumed of basic painting techniques using an paint brush.
such as basecoating, layering, using shading washes and edge highlighting, but more
INFORMATION
‘advanced’ techniques such as freehand and NMM are avoided to ensure maximum  Information, notes and further
accessibility. explanation of processes and
techniques.
Once you have practiced the steps and feel comfortable, it is recommended to apply each
step to batches of five models at a time for maximum speed and efficiency when painting OPTIONAL
an army or large collection of models.  Denotes a step that is optional,
depending on the speed / level of quality
and detail desired.

VARNISH

painting Process
Denotes that a protective coat of varnish
is required after this step.

There are many ways to paint – and no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way. Some people prefer to focus
on one area at a time and complete each section before moving on to the next. This guide is
structured how I prefer to paint, which is to work my way around the whole model, building
up in layers. This way, once I get to the end of each step, the place I started is dry and ready
for the next step. I find this a good way to be efficient and maximise painting time.

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AirbrUshing
An airbrush is used to lay the initial shadows, highlights
and base colour of the armour. Other methods could be
used, such as layering / glazing or drybrushing, but an
airbrush is the best tool for achieving smooth blends and
transitions quickly.
It’s not necessary to have a specific brand or model, but
it is worth investing in a quality airbrush, as it will last
a long time with care. I like Badger airbrushes for their
robustness and ease of use, but whatever you choose, I
would recommend gravity feed, dual action, and a needle
/ nozzle size between 0.2 and 0.5mm.
As with the airbrush itself, the specific brand or model of
compressor is not important. I have an AS186 which is a
decent quality, good value compressor.
AIR PRESSURE
An air pressure of 15-20psi is good for most purposes and
situations. If you experience ‘speckling’ (which is most
common with light / pale colours and white), increase the
pressure to 25-30psi.
THINNING
I use primarily Vallejo Model Air paints for airbrushing,
which can be used undiluted in most cases. If the paint
dries too quickly and builds up on the needle tip, a drop
or two of Flow Improver can be mixed with the paint in the
cup of the airbrush, stirring gently with a paint brush.
CLEANING
Isopropyl alcohol is a low-cost, widely available chemical
suitable for cleaning acrylic paint. Always read the safety
instructions and warnings before use.
A cleaning pot with integral stand is an extremely useful
accessory to have!
SAFETY
It’s important to protect yourself from breathing in
atomised paint and cleaning fluid. Spray in a well
ventilated room and use a spray booth and respirator
mask at all times.
BrUsh pAinting
Good quality brushes are important for miniature painting,
and will affect the ease with which you can achieve good
results. I use many different brushes but most commonly
Winsor & Newton Series 7 (size 2 for basecoating and
shading washes, and size 0 for details). This particular
brand is not essential, but choose a brush that holds a
sharp point and will last a long time with care.
The Miniature version of these brushes, in the same two
sizes, are also very useful for fine detail when you need
more control.
DRYBRUSHING
For drybrushing I use Rosemary & Co Smooshing Brushes
(small and medium), which I find to have just the right
balance of coarse bristles and softness.
WET PALETTE
A wet palette is highly recommended to keep your acrylic
paints from drying during use. I use the Redgrass Games
Everlasting Wet Palette but others are available or you can
make your own.
The only time I don’t use a wet palette is when brush
painting with Vallejo Model Air or Metal Color paints, as
adding water to these can make them too thin.
ENAMEL (OIL-BASED) PAINTS
The vast majority of paints used in this guide are water-
based acrylics which most hobbyists will no doubt be
familiar with. Less well known in wargaming circles are
enamel or oil-based paints, but these have some unique
properties that are very useful for certain applications –
for example pin-washing and weathering effects.
Enamel paints (and the brushes used with them) cannot
be cleaned with water – enamel paint thinner or mineral
spirits must be used instead. For this reason it’s also
recommended to use separate, synthetic brushes with
these paints.
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pAint References pAint Ranges
BADGER VALLEJO MODEL AIR I use primarily Vallejo paints because of the huge range VALLEJO METAL COLOR
of colours available and my preference for dropper
Ultimate Primer (Black) 71.018 Black Green This range is designed primarily for airbrushing but can
bottles over pots. Other ranges of comparable quality
also be used for brush painting. It is highly opaque and
71.014 Gunship Green are available (Citadel, Army Painter, Scale 75, Andrea
VALLEJO MODEL COLOR therefore covers easily, but is very low viscosity so should
71.009 Duck Egg Green Color etc), so feel free to use whichever you prefer and
70.950 Black be used sparingly on the brush and on a hard (non-wet
substitute the colours for the closest match in your
71.036 Mahogany palette).
70.867 Dark Bluegrey chosen range.
71.054 Dark Grey Blue VALLEJO PREMIUM VARNISH
70.985 Hull Red Note: Vallejo occasionally change the descriptive names
71.103 Grey Blue of their paints, but the number reference is always tied to The Premium range of varnishes provide a tough, clear
70.814 Burnt Red
71.065 Steel the specific colour. The name is included here for ease of layer of protection, useful in creating a barrier between
70.946 Dark Red
reference, but always check the number to be sure. acrylic and oil-based paint steps.
71.063 Silver
70.926 Red
BADGER PRIMER CITADEL
70.829 Amaranth Red CITADEL
Badger Ultimate Primer is a highly opaque, very low I have yet to find better acrylic shading washes than the
70.804 Beige Red Ushabti Bone
viscosity primer, perfect for airbrushing. Vallejo airbrush Citadel range, so use these instead of Vallejo for that
70.983 Flat Earth Screaming Skull primer can also be used, as well as spray can primer. purpose, but use whichever range you prefer.
70.874 Tan Earth Nuln Oil
VALLEJO MODEL COLOR
70.819 Iraqui Sand Agrax Earthshade
These paints are densely pigmented with a high opacity,  NOTE ON VALLEJO PAINT NAMES

70.837 Pale Sand Agrax Earthshade Gloss perfect for basecoating. Thin with a small amount of Vallejo occasionally change the descriptive
water or Vallejo Thinner on a wet palette. names of their paints, but the numerical
70.820 Offwhite Seraphim Sepia
reference is always tied to the colour. For this
Coelia Greenshade VALLEJO MODEL AIR reason it’s best to go by the reference when
VALLEJO GAME COLOR
Carroburg Crimson These paints have a finer pigment and lower viscosity, shopping for Vallejo paints.
72.086 Game Ink Red
perfect for airbrushing. They can mostly be used
VALLEJO METAL COLOR undiluted but a drop of Vallejo Flow Improver can help
avoid buildup on the needle.
77.725 Gold
These paints are also used for edge highlighting in some
steps. For this purpose use undiluted on a wet palette.

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Eye LeNSes 

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN The colours used on the eye lenses are detailed
in the following steps, but I felt it would be useful
to explain the process here with the help of some
diagrams.

A Start by basecoating the eye lens with

Vallejo Model Air 71.009 Duck Egg Green.
You can overlap the lens slightly here.

B Next layer Vallejo Model Color 70.820

Offwhite

C Now apply a thin glaze of Vallejo 72.086

Game Ink Red

D Now apply a shading wash of Citadel

Carroburg Crimson

E Highlight the centre of the lens with Vallejo

Model Color 70.926 Red mixed 1:1 with
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN
Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

F Add a final, tiny highlight to the very centre with

Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

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CheSt EAgle 

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN The colours used on the chest eagles are detailed
in the following steps, but I felt it would be useful
to explain the process here with the help of some
diagrams.

A Start by basecoating the chest eagle with

Citadel Ushabti Bone.

B Now layer Citadel Screaming Skull. As we

will be using a wash to define everything in the
last step, we don’t need to worry about painting
each feather individually – just cover the whole
outer area of the wings and the centre/top of
the skull.

C Layer Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite,

covering a slightly smaller area towards the
outer edges of the feathers and the centre/top
of the skull
D CARET-DOWN
D Now apply a shading wash of Citadel Agrax
Earthshade Gloss. The gloss versions of the
shading washes give sharper, more defined
shading, so they will pick out the feathers, eye
sockets etc, without the need for us to paint
those elements individually.

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Step 1
A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Prime the model Black. I use Badger Ultimate
Primer but any black primer will do, spray can or
airbrush.

Now apply a basecoat of Vallejo Model Air 71.018

Black Green, using an airbrush. This is sprayed from
directly above and all around pointing diagonally
down at roughly 45º, covering the whole model
except the extreme underside where some of the
black undercoat remains visible to provide some
natural shading.

Spray from a distance of 15-20cm at approx. 20psi.

D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN

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Step 2
A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN The first airbrush highlight is with Vallejo Model Air
71.014 Gunship Green. This is applied to all the
areas where light would hit the model from above.
See pictures opposite for where these highlights
have been applied to the model.

For spraying smaller areas, reduce the air pressue

to approx. 15psi and spray at a range of 5-10cm.

D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN

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Step 3
A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN The second airbrush highlight is with Vallejo Model
Air 71.009 Duck Egg Green. This is applied in the
same places as the previous step, but covering a
smaller area.

Try to be as light and controlled as possible here

– the objective is to create a ‘spot’ highlight that
leaves some of the previous colour visible. Duck Egg
Green is quite a light colour, but don’t be alarmed by
how bright the model looks at this point, the effect
will be toned down in the following step with a
shading wash.

Because light / pale colours tend to be more highly

pigmented than other paints, they are prone to
‘speckling’ when airbrushing. If you encounter this,
thin the paint slightly with Vallejo Thinner or water,
and increase the air pressure to 25-30psi.
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN

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Step 4 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Apply a shading wash (with normal brush, not
airbrush) of Citadel Coelia Greenshade mixed
2:1 with Citadel Lahmian Medium. Apply this in
two thin coats. The medium helps eliminate visible
brush strokes as the wash dries. This will tie all
the aibrush highlights together and give a deeper,
darker, blue-green tint to the armour.

After this step, apply any decals (see free guide on

this here: https://www.themightybrush.com/tutorial/
how-to-apply-decals-with-microset-and-microsol/).

 OPTIONAL
You can apply your decals after the first
coat of wash, but before the second.
The second coat of wash will then tone
down the decals and blend them in to
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN the armour colour.

 VEHICLES
If you wish to use this scheme on
vehicles, it’s best to apply the wash with
airbrush to avoid the patchiness that
can occur on large, flat areas. Do this
undiluted in several light coats (drying
in between). This will act like a filter,
tinting the model to the same tone as
the infantry. You can then use a panel
liner / pin wash for deep recess shading.

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Step 5 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Basecoat the other areas of the model:

UNDERSUIT
Vallejo Model Air 71.054 Dark Grey Blue

BROWN LEATHER
Vallejo Model Air 71.036 Mahogany

CHEST EAGLE
Citadel Ushabti Bone

METAL
Vallejo Model Air 71.065 Steel

GOLD
Vallejo Metal Color 77.725 Gold

GUN CASING, WAX SEALS, RED ARM LENSES

Vallejo Model Color 70.985 Hull Red

PARCHMENT
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN Vallejo Model Color 70.837 Pale Sand

EYE LENSES
Vallejo Model Air 71.009 Duck Egg Green

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Step 6 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Now we apply shading washes to some areas, and
layer highlights to other areas.

SHADING WASHES:

UNDERSUIT, LEATHER, METAL & GUN CASING

Citadel Nuln Oil

GOLD
Citadel Agrax Earthshade Gloss

PARCHMENT
Citadel Seraphim Sepia and then, when dry
Citadel Agrax Earthshade

WAX SEALS
Citadel Carroburg Crimson

LAYERING:

CHEST EAGLE
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN
Citadel Screaming Skull

EYE LENSES
Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

RED ARM LENSES

Vallejo Model Color 70.926 Red

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Step 7 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Now we build up highlights across the model.

For edge highlighting on the armour and leather,
you can give the model a rougher ‘grittier’ look by
breaking up the lines in places, and drawing the tip
of the brush perpendicular to the edge to create
scratches and texture. For the metal, a similar effect
can be achieved by using a combination of careful
drybrushing and stippling.

GREEN ARMOUR
Vallejo Model Air 71.009 Duck Egg Green

UNDERSUIT
Vallejo Model Color 70.867 Dark Bluegrey

BROWN LEATHER
Vallejo Model Color 70.983 Flat Earth

RED GUN CASING

D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN Vallejo Model Color 70.814 Burnt Red

CHEST EAGLE
Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

PARCHMENT
Vallejo Model Color 70.837 Pale Sand

WAX SEALS
Vallejo Model Color 70.926 Red

METAL
Vallejo Model Air 71.065 Steel

EYE LENS
Vallejo 72.086 Game Ink Red (thinned with water)

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Step 8 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Now we add further highlights and some additional
shading washes to blend in and tone down some of
the previous highlights.

For the armour, add these only where we want to

exaggerate the highlights, such as corners and
sharp edges. You can also add some tiny dots and
fine lines to represent dents and scratches.

HIGHLIGHTS:

GREEN ARMOUR
Vallejo Model Air 71.103 Grey Blue

BROWN LEATHER
Vallejo Model Color 70.874 Tan Earth

RED GUN CASING

Vallejo Model Color 70.946 Dark Red

D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN PARCHMENT

Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

SHADING WASHES:

METAL
Citadel Nuln Oil

CHEST EAGLE
Citadel Agrax Earthshade Gloss
(Once dry, give the chest eagle a coat of Lahmian
Medium to remove the glossiness)

EYE LENS
Citadel Carroburg Crimson

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Step 9 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Now we add penultimate highlights, and shading to

the dents and scratches in the armour to create the
effect of 3-dimensional damage.

HIGHLIGHTS:

BROWN LEATHER
Vallejo Model Color 70.819 Iraqui Sand

RED GUN CASING

Vallejo Model Color 70.926 Red

GOLD
Vallejo Model Air 71.063 Silver

EYE LENSES
Vallejo Model Color 70.926 Red mixed 1:1 with
Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

SHADING:
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN
DENTS & SCRATCHES
Vallejo Model Color 70.950 Black

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Step 10 paint-brush

A CARET-DOWN B CARET-DOWN C CARET-DOWN Now we add the final highlights and details, and
paint the base.

HIGHLIGHTS:

RED GUN CASING

Vallejo Model Color 70.804 Beige Red
(Edge highlight)

EYE LENSES
Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite

RED ARM LENSES

Vallejo Model Color 70.829 Amaranth Red
(bottom-right) and
Vallejo Model Color 70.820 Offwhite
(top-left)

BASE:
D CARET-DOWN E CARET-DOWN F CARET-DOWN BASECOAT:
Vallejo Model Air 71.036 Mahogany

DRYBRUSH:
Vallejo Model Color 70.983 Flat Earth
Vallejo Model Color 70.874 Tan Earth
Vallejo Model Color 70.819 Iraqui Sand

WASH:
Citadel Seraphim Sepia

 Finally, seal the model with a coat of

satin varnish.

v1.5 June 2020 © The Mighty Brush. All rights reserved. themightybrush.com

The
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