Painting the Warthog

Ok so I had to share this as I am super proud of it. It's not technically finished as I have not coated it nor have really completed the smart missile system. I'd also like to touch up the stippling but I ran out of scorched brown paint. Here it is when I was finished with my basecoats.

The main color for this model is Vallejo Model Color Khaki. It was then highlighted with a mix of khaki and white. The green paneling was basecoated with Foundation Paint Orkhide Shade, and painted again over that with Vallejo Model Color Luftwaffe Green mixed with a drop of black. This was then highlighted by adding white.

Once I had those two colors down and all of my outlining done, I went to do my stippling. I took Scorched Brown, dipped an old worn out brush with short bristles and then wiped it with a paper towel just as you would do for dry brushing. The I dabbed the areas lightly in circular motions. It is important to note the paint brush is perpendicular to the surface when I do this. (maybe a video would be helpful).

Once my stippling was finished, I touched up the model a bit and then painted the engine part, exhaust, and gun barrel Foundation Paint Astronomicon Grey. I then washed it with Badab Black. Once this was dry I highlighted it with codex grey. The once again with Fortress Grey and finally with watered down white. Note: I always water down my paints, but more so when I applying light highlights with white. I painted the gun barrels to look as if light was coming from the top left, giving it more of a metal look.

Then I started doing some of the detailing. I painted the windows and vision slits with Vallejo Model Color Medium Blue and highlighted by adding white. For the central vision port in the front, I wanted it to look more like an eye to give the vehicle some life. To that end, I highlighted all the way up to white in the center of the slit. That it looks almost like a robotic eye or something.

Oh I almost forgot the seeker missiles. I basecoated those first with Foundation Paint Deneb Stone and then painted them with white. I then applied some transfers make them more interesting.

Once I had most of the model finished, I started to add the sept markings and white stripes. White is an important color in my army. It is used as a "spot color." Almost every model in the army has some white on it, but it used sparingly here and there. Not only does it look cool, it can be used to drag attention to certain parts of the model. Old Shatter Hands has a white helmet. This is because I want everyone to know that he is in charge and having a white head draws your attention to him. I dunno, somehow it works. See how I used the spot color to draw your attention to this model's loadout. (Four hard-points, I know, but I think the shield is more of icon rather than a piece of kit)



I painted the lines with help from some masking tape. That's how I got straight lines. That's also how I made sure the Tau text on the nose of the Devilfish was straight.

After I had painted the Tau text freehand, I was feeling ballsy so I decided to try my hand at painting the Tau symbol. That is not a transfer but it came out well. When painting free hand I try to break it up into parts. So first I painted a circle in white. Then I painted a white line going down the center, and a little circle at the top. Then I outlined and filled it in with Black and then painted a Black dot at the top part. After some touching up here and there it was complete.

When that was done, I figured it was time sit it down and bask in my accomplishment. I haven't coated the model yet so I may go back and add more detail. For now, I'm taking a little break and focusing on finishing the Smart Missile System and alternate Gun Drones for this Devilfish I call the Warthog.



Mostly painting is about choosing a color scheme and methodically applying that over and over with your army. For me, I first base coat, highlight the basecoat, then I go on to doing the detailing. Then I add my spot color. Your army should have two main colors, some additional colors for tech and weapons and stuff, then a spot color. For my army, it's khaki and dark green as main colors, black, grey and blue for details, and white for my spot color.

I hope this has been helpful and if you have further questions feel free to ask.
Oh remember this, the patient hunter always gets the prey...or in other words, be patient and methodical and you'll have better results...