Welcome to our guide on how to paint Blood Axes, one of the iconic Ork clans in Warhammer 40,000. The Blood Axes are known for their cunning tactics, combining brutal strength with a surprising amount of discipline. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to achieve a realistic and gritty paint scheme for your Blood Axes army.
Step 1: Priming
Before you begin painting your Blood Axes, you will need to prime your miniatures. Choose a color that will provide a good base coat for the colors you plan to use. For a realistic look, consider using a dark gray or black primer. Apply the primer in thin, even layers to ensure good coverage without obscuring any details.
Step 2: Base Coat
Once the primer is dry, it’s time to apply the base coat. For the Blood Axes, a dark and worn-looking green is a traditional choice. Use a large brush to apply the base coat, covering all areas of the miniature. Take your time and make sure the paint is applied evenly.
Step 3: Highlights and Shadows
To add depth and dimension to your Blood Axes, it’s important to highlight and shade certain areas. Use a lighter shade of green or yellow-green to highlight raised areas, such as muscles and edges of armor. For shadows, mix a darker shade of green with a small amount of black and apply it to recessed areas, like crevices or underneath armor plates. This will give your miniatures a more realistic and three-dimensional look.
Step 4: Details
Now it’s time to add the finishing touches to your Blood Axes. Use a fine brush to carefully paint the details, such as the clan markings, glyphs, and any additional accessories on the miniatures. Pay attention to the small details, as they can greatly enhance the overall appearance of your army.
By following these steps, you will be well on your way to creating a stunning army of Blood Axes. Remember to have fun and experiment with different techniques to make your miniatures truly unique. WAAAGH!
Preparation and Priming
Before you start painting your Blood Axes models, it’s important to properly prepare and prime them to ensure a smooth and even finish. Here are the steps you should follow:
Clean the Models
The first step is to clean the models to remove any mold release agents or residue from the manufacturing process. Use warm soapy water and a soft brush to gently scrub the models, then rinse them thoroughly and let them dry completely before moving on to the next step.
Remove Mold Lines and Flash
Next, carefully inspect the models for any mold lines or flash. Mold lines are thin seams that appear where the different parts of the model come together, while flash is excess plastic that may be present on the model’s surface. Use a hobby knife or file to carefully remove these imperfections, taking care not to damage the details of the model.
Assemble the Models
After cleaning and removing any imperfections, assemble the models according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This may involve gluing different parts together, such as attaching arms, weapons, or accessories. Take your time and ensure that the parts fit together securely.
Prime the Models
Once the models are assembled, it’s time to prime them. Priming provides a base layer for the paint to adhere to and improves the overall finish of the paint job. Choose a suitable primer for your models, such as a spray primer or brush-on primer, and apply it evenly over the surface of the models. Make sure to cover all areas, including hard-to-reach spots and undercuts.
A common practice for Blood Axes models is to use a black or dark gray primer to create a gritty and realistic look. However, you can also experiment with other primer colors to achieve different effects, such as using a gray or white primer for brighter or more vibrant colors.
Allow the primer to dry completely before moving on to the painting stage. This typically takes a few hours, but the drying time may vary depending on the brand and type of primer you are using. Read the manufacturer’s instructions for specific drying times.
| Tip: | For better control and coverage, place the models on a painting handle or a stick while priming. |
Following these preparation and priming steps will ensure that your Blood Axes models are ready for painting, helping you achieve the best possible results in your painting project.
Selecting the Miniatures
When painting Blood Axes, it’s important to choose the right miniatures to bring their unique fluff and personality to life on the tabletop. Here are some factors to consider when selecting the miniatures for your Blood Axes army:
- Ork Boyz: Ork Boyz are the backbone of any Blood Axes force. They should be heavily armed and equipped with a variety of shootas and close combat weapons to reflect the Blood Axes’ preference for combined arms warfare.
- Flash Gitz: Flash Gitz are a great addition to any Blood Axes force. These heavily armed and armoured Orks excel at shooting, making them a perfect representation of the Blood Axes’ love for dakka.
- Tankbustas: Tankbustas are essential for any Blood Axes army that wants to exploit their enemy’s weakness. These Ork specialists are armed with rokkit launchas and are great at taking down enemy vehicles.
- Stormboyz: Stormboyz are a great choice for representing the Blood Axes’ affinity for aerial and assault warfare. These Orks are equipped with jet packs and specialize in hit-and-run tactics.
- Burna Boyz: Burna Boyz are perfect for representing the Blood Axes’ love for fire and destruction. These Orks are armed with deadly burnas and excel at close combat.
By selecting the right miniatures for your Blood Axes army, you can ensure that your models visually represent the unique characteristics of this particular Ork klan. This will not only make your army stand out on the tabletop but also enhance your overall gaming experience.
Cleaning and Assembling
Before you start painting your Blood Axes models, it’s essential to clean and assemble them properly. This ensures that the paint adheres to the surfaces correctly and that the models look their best.
Cleaning
Begin by cleaning the models using warm soapy water and a soft brush. This removes any manufacturing residue, oils, or dirt from the surfaces. Make sure to scrub all the nooks and crannies of the models thoroughly.
Once the models are clean, rinse them under running water to remove any soap residue. Pat them dry with a clean cloth or let them air dry completely.
Assembling
After the models are dry, proceed with assembling them according to the instructions provided in the kit. Use plastic cement or super glue to bond the different pieces together firmly.
Take your time and make sure that the pieces align correctly and fit snugly together. Use clamps or clips if needed to hold the pieces in place while the glue dries.
Once all the pieces are assembled, check for any gaps or seams between the parts. Use modeling putty or gap filler to fill in these imperfections, ensuring a smooth and seamless appearance.
After applying the putty, let it dry completely, and then sand it down gently using fine-grit sandpaper. This step helps to blend the putty with the surrounding surfaces.
With the models now cleaned and assembled, you are ready to start painting your Blood Axes army.
Base Coat and Colors
Before you start painting your Blood Axes miniatures, it’s important to apply a base coat to ensure that the paint adheres properly and provides a smooth surface. You can use a spray primer or apply a primer with a brush.
For the base coat, you’ll want to use a dark green color to represent the Blood Axes’ natural camouflage. An olive green or deep forest green works well for this purpose. Apply the base coat evenly over the entire model, making sure to reach all the nooks and crannies.
Highlighting and Shading
Once the base coat is dry, it’s time to add some depth and dimension to your miniatures. You can use lighter and darker shades of green to create highlights and shadows. This will help add realism and make your miniatures pop on the tabletop.
To highlight, you can mix a lighter green paint with your base coat color or use a green shade mixed with white. Apply the highlight color to the raised areas of the model, such as the edges of armor plates, to simulate light hitting those areas. You can also dry brush the highlight color on some areas to create texture and a weathered look.
For shading, you can mix a darker green paint with your base coat color or use a green shade mixed with black. Apply the shade to the recessed areas of the model, such as the crevices between armor plates, to create shadows and depth. This will add definition to the miniature and make it look more realistic.
Remember to thin your paints with water or a medium to achieve smooth and even coats. Multiple thin layers are better than one thick layer, as it helps to preserve the details of the miniatures.
Applying the Base Coat
The base coat is an essential step in achieving a realistic and gritty look for your Blood Axes miniatures. This coat will provide a solid foundation for the rest of the painting process and help the subsequent layers of paint adhere better to the model.
To apply the base coat, you will need a large brush and your chosen base coat paint color. It’s recommended to use a dark green or khaki color for the Blood Axes. Before starting, make sure your miniature is properly cleaned and primed.
Step 1: Preparing the Paint
Begin by shaking your base coat paint bottle vigorously to ensure it is well mixed. Then, pour a small amount of the paint onto a palette or a clean surface. You can thin the paint with a few drops of water to achieve a smoother consistency if desired.
Step 2: Applying the Base Coat
Dip your brush into the paint, making sure to load it evenly. Start by applying the base coat to the larger areas of the miniature, such as the armor plates or clothing. Use smooth strokes and try to cover the surface evenly without leaving any visible brush marks.
If you accidentally paint over smaller details, don’t worry. You can correct this later when applying the subsequent layers of paint.
Work your way around the miniature, gradually covering all areas with the base coat. Pay attention to the recessed areas and hard-to-reach spots, ensuring that every surface is properly covered.
Depending on the consistency and coverage of your base coat paint, you may need to apply multiple thin coats to achieve the desired result. Allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next one.
| Tips: |
|---|
| – Keep a damp brush nearby to quickly correct any mistakes or clean up any areas where the paint might have pooled or collected. |
| – Take breaks between coats to rest your hand and keep a steady hand to avoid smudging the paint. |
| – Use natural lighting or a bright lamp to ensure you can see the details properly and apply the base coat evenly. |
Once the base coat is dry, you can proceed to the next steps of adding highlights, shadows, and additional details to bring your Blood Axes miniatures to life.
Choosing Blood Axe Colors
To paint Blood Axes, it is essential to choose the right colors that represent their clan and bring out their fierce and brutal nature. The following table provides a color guide for painting Blood Axes:
| Color | Description |
|---|---|
| Dark Green | The primary color of Blood Axes, representing their close connection with nature and their orcish roots. |
| Black | Used to add depth and intensity to the overall color scheme, representing the violence and brutality of the Blood Axes in battle. |
| Tan | Used as a highlight color to provide contrast and make the details stand out, representing sand and desert environments where the Blood Axes often wage their campaigns. |
| Brown | Used for weathering effects and to give the models a worn and battle-hardened look, symbolizing the long history and countless battles fought by the Blood Axes. |
| Red | Used sparingly for small details and accents to signify the bloodlust and ferocity of the Blood Axes. |
By using these colors effectively, you can bring out the true essence of the Blood Axes and create stunning models that showcase their brutal nature on the battlefield.
Highlighting and Detailing
To bring out the details of your painted Blood Axes, highlighting is an essential step. This will add depth and dimension to your miniatures, making them stand out on the tabletop.
Here are some techniques and tips for highlighting and detailing your Blood Axes:
- Drybrushing: Use a lighter shade of green or brown to drybrush over the raised areas of your miniatures. This will pick out the details and give them a worn, weathered look.
- Edge Highlighting: With a fine brush and a lighter tone of green or brown, carefully paint the edges of the armor, weapons, and other details. This will create a sharp contrast and make the details pop.
- OIL it Up: Consider using oil washes to add depth to the recessed areas of your miniatures. Apply a thin layer of oil wash to the areas you want to darken, then wipe away the excess with a clean brush or cloth. This technique will create shadow and bring out the details.
- Freehand Symbols: Blood Axes are known for their clan symbols and warpaint. Take some time to paint these symbols on their helmets, shoulder pads, or vehicles. Use a fine brush and a contrasting color to add these freehand designs and make your miniatures truly unique.
- Weathering Effects: Add weathering effects to your Blood Axes to make them look battle-hardened and rugged. Use a sponge or a stippling brush to apply small dots or patches of rust, dirt, or grime to the armor and vehicles.
Remember to practice these techniques on spare miniatures or test models before applying them to your main force. This will help you refine your skills and ensure you achieve the desired effect.
Adding Highlights
Adding highlights is an important step in painting Blood Axes. It helps to create depth and dimension in your miniatures. To add highlights, follow these steps:
Step 1: Choose a lighter shade of green than your base color. This will be used to create the highlights.
Step 2: Dip your brush lightly into the highlight color, making sure to remove any excess paint. You want the brush to be damp, but not overloaded with paint.
Step 3: Look for the raised areas on your miniature, such as the edges of armor plates or the top of muscles. These are the areas that will catch the light and should be highlighted.
Step 4: Gently brush the highlight color onto the raised areas. Use short, precise strokes to build up the color gradually. It’s better to start with a light touch and add more as needed.
Step 5: Keep in mind the direction of the light source while adding highlights. Highlight the areas that would be the most illuminated by the light source, such as the front of a helmet or the top of a shoulder pad.
Step 6: Blend the highlight color with the base color by using a dry brush technique. Lightly brush over the highlight areas with a dry brush to soften the edges and create a smoother transition between the colors.
Step 7: Step back and assess your highlights. If needed, make adjustments or add more highlights to achieve the desired effect.
Remember, practice makes perfect. Experiment with different shades of green and brush techniques to find what works best for you. Enjoy the process and have fun painting your Blood Axes!
