How to Paint Space Marines – Eavy Metal Style | Titus | Warhammer 40K

Summary

This tutorial provides a step-by-step guide to achieving a classic Games Workshop ‘heavy metal’ style paint job on a miniature, specifically Lieutenant Titus. The video walks through each stage, including painting blue armor with soft shadows and sharp edge highlights, adding gold and metallic details, painting the head and leather, and applying weathering effects. It emphasizes the importance of smooth base coats, controlled washes for depth, and multiple layers of edge highlighting to achieve a professional finish. The techniques are simplified to remain accessible, offering both beginners and advanced painters valuable insights into miniatures painting.

Takeaways

• 😀 Start with a solid base coat using deep, saturated colors like Deep Blue for armor and Old Gold for metallics.
• 😀 Use diluted paints to ensure smooth coverage without clumps, especially when working over a black primer.
• 😀 Apply decals (such as shoulder pad decals) early on and integrate them into the paint job with washes for a more natural look.
• 😀 For shadows, use diluted washes to settle into the recesses, creating soft yet defined contrasts across the miniature.
• 😀 Edge highlighting is key to achieving a sharp, defined look, with multiple layers using slightly lighter tones for increasing contrast.
• 😀 The heavy metal style focuses on soft, blended shadows but sharp, clear edge highlights for a clean and defined finish.
• 😀 Add texture and weathering to prevent the armor from looking flat by using techniques like scratches and wear on the edges.
• 😀 Use glazes for smooth transitions in skin tones and facial features, along with washes for increased depth and contrast.
• 😀 For metallics like gold, apply a wash, then use a second lighter wash to reinforce contrast and a warm finish.
• 😀 Keep the same approach for non-metallic elements: base coat, wash, edge highlight, and final light pass to maintain consistency.
• 😀 Finish the base by painting ground textures, applying sand, and dry brushing for a realistic, Warhammer-style terrain look.

Q & A

What is the main goal of the painting tutorial described in the script?

The goal is to replicate the classic Games Workshop "Heavy Metal" box art style using simple, well-executed techniques that are accessible to most painters.

Why does the painter emphasize solid and saturated base coats?

Solid, saturated base coats ensure strong color impact and provide a clean foundation for washes and edge highlights, which are key to the Warhammer box art look.

Why is the shoulder pad decal applied early in the process?

Applying the decal early allows later washes and shadows to integrate it naturally into the armor, preventing it from looking flat or pasted on.

What role does the diluted Ultramarine blue wash play on the armor?

It creates soft shadows, adds contrast, integrates the decal, and gives the armor a slightly satin finish while keeping sharp definition.

Why are edge highlights so important in the Heavy Metal style?

Edge highlights define shapes very clearly, making the miniature readable from a distance and giving it the crisp, graphic look typical of Games Workshop box art.

Why are multiple edge highlight passes used on the armor?

Each pass represents a different intensity of light, starting with thick framing highlights and progressing to finer, brighter reflections for realism and depth.

Why is dark blue used instead of black for shadow outlines on armor panels?

Dark blue provides contrast without looking too harsh, keeping the shadows natural while still clearly separating armor plates.

How is gold painted to achieve the classic Warhammer appearance?

Gold is built with a smooth base coat, dark brown washes for depth, warm brown glazes for richness, and sharp metallic edge highlights finished with silver.

What is the general approach to painting weapons in this style?

Weapons follow the same logic as armor: clean base coats, washes to define shadows, and multiple stages of edge highlighting for clarity and contrast.

How is the face simplified while still maintaining quality?

The process uses clear base tones, selective shadows, controlled highlights, and simple glazes to integrate colors without complex blending techniques.

What purpose do anthracite glazes serve on the face?

They deepen shadows, add depth, and can simulate effects like a short beard when applied subtly around the chin and sides of the face.

How is leather kept visually interesting despite its simplicity?

Leather uses edge highlights, progressively lighter tones, and small scratches or dots to simulate wear and prevent flat surfaces.

What is the core formula repeated across most materials in this style?

A clean base coat, a wash to establish shadows, and multiple passes of edge highlights to restore and enhance definition.

Why is dry brushing used on the base instead of smooth blending?

Dry brushing quickly creates texture and contrast on rough surfaces like sand, making the base visually effective with minimal effort.

What makes this painting style effective for tabletop miniatures?

Its strong contrast, sharp definition, and readable shapes ensure the miniature looks good both up close and from a distance during gameplay.