Dark Angels Intercessor — Painting Recipe

1. UsualPrime startingthe point: prime with model.
   Colour Forge Renegade Green.
   Use this dark green primer as the usual starting point.
2. SprayHighlight from above.
   Colour Forge Salamander Green
   Spray froman above to create aoverhead zenithal highlight, leaving the lower surfaces darker.

Black-primer alternative:
Replace Usethe initial green primer with Colour Forge Matt Black or Colour Forge Raven Black instead of the initial green primer.. Either works for this recipe;works; follow with the same overhead green primer pass.

Tabletop

Thisstopping provides apoint:

BlackAirbrush Greenthe base,green zenithal & restrained volume highlightsarmor

1. AirbrushApply the dark foundation.
   AK 3GEN Black Green over
   Cover the green armor, including the belt buckle and the sergeants’ pauldron rims and tilt shields,shields. thinnedThin 1:1 withpart paint : 1 part AK Airbrush Thinner,; usuallyuse atthe usual 15–20 PSI.
2. MixBuild a generous overhead highlight.
   1 part AK 3GEN Black Green : 1 part AK 3GEN Color Punch Greenskin Punch.
   Airbrush athe generousprepared zenithal highlightmix from above over the armor, leaving the lower areas darker.
3. SwitchPick toout the bottledbrightest volumes.
   2 parts AK 3GEN Color Punch Greenskin Punch : 1 part AK 3GEN Color Punch Slime Green mix.— Addbottled volume mix
   Keep this pass restrained but brightbright. volume highlightsFocus on prominent points: the tops of shoulders, backpacks, heads, and anyother otherprominent features that call forneed emphasis.

For both highlight passes, thinpasses:
Thin 1 part prepared paint mixture : 1 part AK Airbrush Thinner and use the usual 15–20 PSI. This dilution is separate from each paint-to-paint ratio above.

Keep the finalbrush 2:1edge passmix focusedfor on the prominent volumes. later:
Reserve the bottled 1:1 Greenskin Punch /: Slime Green mix for the layered brush edge highlights in Step 8.8.

TargetedLine panelthe liningarmor recesses

1. Let the greenacrylic armor paint dry, then use dry.
   AK Precision Panel Liner Sepia.
   Use Sepiathis givesenamel liner for the preferred shadows against thisthe green armor;armor. useThe itacrylic forpaint-thinning theratios armorabove lining.do Blacknot panelapply linerto is reserved for the forward grips and awkward black details described in Step 4.it.
2. Apply small, targeted amountsamounts.
   Place the liner directly to the dry armorin panel lines and cavities,cavities. lettingLet the linerit flow along the recesses to createfor defined shadows.

This is an

Cleanup ifStray needed: Spiritsmarks can dry and be usedpainted over during Step 8: armor cleanup and highlights; there is no need to liftperfect every line now.

Optional spirits correction:
Lift excess liner with a cotton bud (Q-tip) barely dampened with white spiritspirit. andUse a very gentle touch; avoid scrubbing or soaking the surface. No extra varnish stage is required in this workflow.

Finish the ground, gold street features, and rim before the marine’s small details. Work across the squad one color at a time, allowingletting each layer to dry before the next.

GroundScenic —ground Ash& Grey into Graphite Greystone

IfOptional brighter foundation:
Replace the ground reads too dark, replace Ash Greybasecoat with Army Painter Fanatic Company Grey or Army Painter Fanatic Brigade Grey forif athe brighterresult foundation.reads too dark. These are alternatives, not extra layers.

Previous test:
Avoid Citadel Wraithbone here; it made this ground treatment too bright in previous tests.bright.

Gold street features

1. Apply thin, opaque coats of
   AK 3GEN Silver Grey
   Apply thin, opaque coats over the entire feature, including its sides, recesses, lettering, and lettering.remaining surfaces. Let the foundation dry.

Base rim — Eshin Grey

Base painting complete.complete: 
Leave pigment weathering for Step 12,12, after the protective varnish coats. AnyCorrect any stray marks on the green armor can be corrected together in Step 8.8.

Forward grips — Ironclad Grey & Black liner

Other black details & awkward spaces

Use

1. Paint the non-metallic black areas.
   Citadel Contrast Black Legion
   Use forwhere its flow helps on exposed rubber armor joints, sword and knife handles, and other non-metallic black gripsgrips. whereBatch itsmatching flowareas isby helpful.the chosen paint.

Hard-to-reachcramped black details:details. where brushing Black Legion into a cramped space risks making a mess on the surrounding green armor, use a small, targeted application of
AK Precision Panel Liner Black
Use instead.a small, targeted application where brushing Contrast into the space risks marking the surrounding green armor. Keep it on the intended black detaildetail. to reduce avoidable armor cleanup. Use Sepia for theThe green armor panel lines.

lines use AK Precision Panel Liner Sepia.

PistolExposed pistol handles:
Leave leave exposed pistol handlesthese for Scale75 Black Metal in Step 7, including handles protruding from holsters. Keep the leather holsterholsters in the leather batch below.

Leather — optional Sepia pin wash

AquilasChest aquilas & optional bone shield stripes

Apply thin, opaque coats of Citadel Ushabti Bone to all chest aquilas and any chosen vertical bone center stripes on the green tilt shields. Batch these foundations across the squad. Work carefully around weapons crossing the chest and let the paint dry.

Use
undiluted Citadel Seraphim Sepia
Use inundiluted. Apply small, controlled amounts alongbetween the feather separationsfeathers and around central details. On an optionala bone shield stripe, shade only physical recesses crossing theit. stripe. Do not wash the whole aquila or shieldstripe. stripe. KeepLeave the raised faces in Ushabtithe Bone;bone wickbasecoat.

Pick out selected raised feather ridges, the central device, and any upper-facing edges crossing an optional bone shield stripestripe. with Citadel Screaming Skull. Keep the highlights narrow and leaveLeave most visible bone in Ushabtiits Bone.basecoat. Use a controlled pointed brush near the armor;armor. completeComplete this bone batch before the weapons and protective varnish.

SilverPrepare Greythe — purity-seal wax

Oath paper — Light Earth, Dark Brown & writing

1. Basecoat all purity-Purity-seal oath paper
   with
2. Basecoat the paper.
   AK 3GEN Light Earth.
   Build smooth, opaque coverage on all oath paper with thin coatscoats. and letLet it dry.

Batch any stray marks on the surrounding green armor into the shared cleanup in Step 8.8.

Sergeants — normal recipe, red skullSergeant tilt shields

UseSame unit recipe; one rank identifier.
Sergeants, including veteran sergeants, use the normal unit recipe in every area, includingfor the helmet, chest aquila, pauldron rims, weapons, and every other details.area. AddTheir sole sergeant rank identifier is a tilt shield withbearing a red skull waterslide decal as.

Greenwing:
Paint the sole sergeant rank identifier. This also applies to veteran sergeants.

For Greenwing, paint the tilt shield green with the armor.armor. An optional vertical bone center stripe down the center uses the Ushabti Bonebone treatment above. ApplyFinish painting and highlighting the shield before applying the red skull decal in Step 9, after painting and highlighting.

Deathwing:
Invert the shield.

Deathwingpattern: the shield uses the inverse shield pattern: the same bone color as its armorarmor, by default,optionally with ana optional vertical green center stripe,stripe, plus the red skull decal. TheThis shield convention does not chooseselect a new Deathwing armor recipe.

Purity-Color the purity-seal wax — Doomfire Magenta

Eye lenses

1. Basecoat the eye lenses neatly with
   Pro Acryl Bold Titanium White.
   Basecoat Letthe eye lenses and let the white dry.

Work across the squad one paint at a time. Paint the larger red casings before their metallic fittings to minimize later metal touch-ups.

1. Basecoat the red areas.
   AK 3GEN Wine Red
   Cover the weapon casings and the 3rd Company marking on the model'model’s left kneepad. withLet AKthe 3GENbasecoat Wine Red.dry.
2. Highlight thesecasings redand areascompany with knees.
   Pro Acryl Bold Pyrrole Red,
   Leave leavingthe Winedarker Redbasecoat visible in the deeper areas. The weapon highlights can be broad; keep the knee marking neatly defined.

Company-marking

Work acrossplacement:

Paint the larger red casings before their metallic fittings to minimize later metal touch-ups. For company-marking placement, consult the supplied Dark Angels marking reference. Left and right refer to the model'model’s own sides.

Steel details

1. Basecoat the exposed steel.
   Scale75 Black Metal

   
   Apply an even coat of Scale75 Black Metal to allgun appropriate exposed steel details:
2. Gun barrels andbarrels, metallic weapon hardware.hardware, grenades, and similar metal details. Paint other metal handles and fittings separately from the black or near-black grips in Step 4.

boundaries.
Keep the belt buckle green withand the armor. Keep the upper armor shell of each backpack exhaust green.green. Use the rear and side reference photos to identify thisthe exhaust boundary.

Scale75blades Blackand Metalchainsword teeth.
Use the same steel basecoat. It normally needs no additional shade in this recipe. For

Brass ammunition

1. Paint the ammunition..

   Blades and chainsword teeth: Default to Scale75 Black Metal. Add a brighter metal over that basecoat only where highlights or wear patterns call for it, using Scale75 Heavy Metal or Citadel Dry Necron Compound.

   
   AK 3GEN Rusty Brass

   
   Use

   Painton bullet shells, magazines, and other projectile ammunition with AK 3GEN Rusty Brass.

   ammunition.

Vallejo TMM Imperial Gold — remainingRemaining marine gold

1. Basecoat

   Usethe selected gold ornaments.

   
   Vallejo True Metallic Metal Imperial Gold Base (77.123)
   Paint on:
2. Knifeknife and sword pommels and guards.

Sergeants use the same gold placements as their peers. Their rank marker is the red skull decal on the tilt shield; the helmet, chest aquila, pauldron rims, and other details follow the normal unit recipe.ornaments. Let the gold basecoat dry before shading.

After all varnishing, add optional dry.

Imperial Gold Shade — shade, then clean up only as needed

Shade the dry gold with gold.
1 part Imperial Gold Shade : 1 part Vallejo Xpress Medium.
Avoid pooling and let itthe shade dry.

Sergeants: use the same gold placements as their peers. Helmets, chest aquilas, pauldron rims, and other details follow the normal unit recipe. The red skull decal on the tilt shield is the rank marker; apply it in Step 9.

BoneKeep the batches separate: bone aquilas and any optional bone shield stripes were completed in Step 5, red casings and knees in Step 6, and the base’s Old Gold details in Step 3.

Gold Thehighlights sergeant’scome redlater: skullafter decalall belongs invarnishing, Step 9.13 Marineuses goldoptional highlights1:1 followImperial allGold varnishingBase in/ StepLight 13.highlights, then 1:2 Base / Light for selected brighter final accents.

Optional white chapter &and weapon symbols

ForUse this selectively for chapter wings or other sculpted symbols chosen to be white instead of gold, use this treatment selectively—gold—for example, a Chaplain’s pistol emblem or Azrael’s combi-bolter symbol.

1. BasecoatBuild witha smooth, opaque white basecoat.
   Pro Acryl Matt Cexwish Heavy Titanium White (S21), building smooth, opaque coverage.
   Let it dry.
2. ApplyAdd blue-grey recess shading.
   undiluted Vallejo Xpress Color Templar White (72.401)
   Apply undiluted over the white symbolsymbol, tocontrol create blue-grey shading in the recesses. Control poolingpooling, and let it dry before varnishing.

Complete these symbols here, before the protective varnish. Keep the standard bone aquila and the eye lenses’ separate Pro Acryl Bold Titanium White recipe in Step 5. White symbols do not receive the metallic accents in Step 13.

Repair stray marks

The

1. Repair dark, lower armor areas with areas.
   AK 3GEN Black Green.
   

Why cleanup comes here: The base and detail colors are now finished, so correct stray shading and paint marks together in one armor-color batch before adding the edge highlights. This avoids repeatedly touching up the same areas as you work through earlier steps. The belt buckle follows the green armor treatment for cleanup and any edge highlights.

Layered brush edge highlights — bottled 1:1 mix

1. Use the bottled edge-highlight mix.
   1 part AK 3GEN Color Punch Greenskin Punch : 
   1 part AK 3GEN Color Punch Slime Green mix for the layered brush edge highlights.
   Build the highlights in controlled layers along upward-facing green armor edges. Keep the lines narrow, crisp, and strong enough to read on the tabletop, with emphasis towardemphasizing the head and shoulders.
2. Include

   Includethe small green details.

   
   Highlight the green pauldron rimsrims, belt buckle, and helmets on all marinesmarines. and the green areas of the sergeants’ tilt shields. HighlightInclude the upper helmet rim and ear detailsdetails.
3. Finish normally.the sergeants’ tilt shields.
   Use the same cleanup and highlights on their green areas. Keep the green mix off any optional bone shield stripe.

   Greenwing sergeants: Complete the same armor cleanup and highlights as the squad. Finish all shield painting and highlighting the tilt shield before applying itsthe red skull decal in Step 9.

Apply the chapter or Battleline transfer first, then layer the squad number where needed. ApplyBatch the sergeants’ red skull decals towith theirthese painted tilt shields during this same transfer batch.transfers. The timing windowstimes below are practicalcheckpoints: checkpoints;continue when the surface readinessis determines when to continue.ready.

Sergeant tilt shields — red skull decal

Use a red skull waterslide decal on each sergeant’spainted tilt shield. ForGreenwing Greenwing,shields thehave defaulta green field is green with an optional vertical bone center stripe; forDeathwing Deathwing,shields the default field matchesmatch the bone armor with an optional vertical green center stripe. These shieldBoth variations sharemean the same rank meaning. Apply the skull usingrank.

Use the preparation, placement, conforming, drying, and sealing process below.below for the skull. Squad numbers retain their normal unit placement.

Prepare withthe complete decal area

1. Check the paint and mix the clear coat.
   Pro Acryl Gloss Varnish
2. 
   Make sure the paint is dry and thoroughly mix the varnish.
3. Pro Acryl Gloss Varnish.

Use Pro Acryl Gloss Varnish for both clear coats in this transfer stage. Continue with two thin coats of AK Ultra Matte Varnish in Step 10; a separate initial satin coat is optional, not required. Attach any vegetation in Step 11 and let its glue dry. Step 12 then uses a light final application of pure AK Ultra Matte Varnish after pigments.

Place the Battlelinechapter or chapterBattleline transfer

Conform the first transfer

Layer the squad numbernumber, where needed

For a squad number placed over the Battleline symbol:

1. Place
   it
2. Applydirectly over the settled lower transfer.

Dry, clean if needed, and seal

1. Allow
2. After the final decal solution, give the transfers a few hours before sealing when practicalpractical.;
   3–4 hours after the final decal solution is a same-day checkpoint

Handling: before proceeding to Step 10.

Useuse small amounts of Microscalethe Microdecal Set and Microscale Micro Solsolutions rather than saturating the decal area. Favor natural drying;drying. ifIf using a hairdryer or air blower, keep it low and gentlegentle, andwithout do not let airflow disturbdisturbing a softened transfer.

The Microscale Micro Sol instructions likewisealso emphasize leaving the softened decal undisturbed until dry.

Finishing order: both clear coats here use Pro Acryl Gloss Varnish. Step 10 adds two thin coats of AK Ultra Matte Varnish; a separate initial satin coat is optional. Attach any vegetation in Step 11 and let the glue dry. Step 12 adds pigments, then a light final application of pure AK Ultra Matte Varnish.

Check the finished paintwork

1. Inspect the base rim and rim.
   touch up Citadel Eshin Grey — touch-ups only if needed; the
   The initial rim coat was completed in Step 3. 
2. Let all paint,surfaces dry.
   Paint, transfers, and sealing gloss must be dry before varnishing.

   OPTIONALOptional /initial INITIALsatin SATIN COATcoat

   If desired, apply one thin, even all-over coat of AK Satin Varnish. and letLet it dry before the Ultra Mattematte coats below. This is an optional precaution, not a required layer, including for models handled by thetheir shoulders during games.games; it is not a required layer.

   Default protectionprotection: — AKtwo Ultra Matte coats

   1. Thoroughly mix the bottlevarnish.
      Pure of AK Ultra Matte Varnish.
      Use itthis as the default protective finish, without mixing in satin.
   2. Airbrush the first thin, consistent all-over coatcoat..
      Aim for a continuous film that lands lightly wet;wet. avoidAvoid pooling or aand dry, dusty spray. Let itthe coat dry before continuing.
   3. Apply athe second thin, consistent coat of AK Ultra Matte Varnishcoat.. Let this coat dry before attaching optional vegetation in Step 11, then adding pigments in Step 12.
      Work across the squad coat by coat, allowing each model to dry between applications. Let this coat dry before optional vegetation in Step 11 and pigments in Step 12.

   Drying checkpoint: checkpoint

   Check each coat after about 10–20 minutes in this humidity-controlled basement, with relative humidity kept below roughly 45–50%. Continue only when the surface is dry, stable, and no longer tacky;tacky. allowAllow longer whenever needed.needed; Thisthis is a working pause, not full cure.

OnceAfter the protective coats from Step 10 are dry, attach any grass tufts, flowers, andor similar ready-made vegetation.vegetation. Let the glue dry fully before pigment weathering and the final Ultra Mattematte pass in Step 12.

1. Dry-fit the vegetation.
   Use tweezers to position a few tufts or flowers with tweezers.flowers. Leave the finished stonework and gold street lettering visible where possible.
2. ChoosePrepare a clean, firm contact pointpoint. on the finished base.
   Clear any loose dust from thatthe small contact spot so the glue bonds directly to the finished base.
3. ApplyAttach with a small drop of glue.
   PVA or suitable basing glue
   Apply beneath the tuft or flower and press its base into place with tweezers. Keep glue out of the fibers and petals;petals, and follow the adhesive instructions for the material.
4. Let the glue dry fully before continuingfully.
   Continue to Step 12.12 only when it is dry. The controlled final Ultra Matte pass will includeincludes the vegetation; avoid soaking the tufts or flowers.

Painted scenic pieces: resin plants orand other additions thatneeding need primingprimer and paintingpaint belong with the earlier base-painting work. This step is for ready-made vegetation and similar finishing details.

1. Once

   Apply the battle dust

   1. Check the preceding layers are dry.
      The protective coats from Step 10 and any vegetation glue from Step 11 aremust dry,be applydry.
   2. Dust selected areas of the base.
      Vallejo Pigment FX Natural Iron Oxide to selected base areas to suggest
      Suggest dark battle dust, ash, and scorched debris.
   3. Add smaller amounts to the feet and shins to tie the marine into the base.
   4. Remove
   5. excess pigment.
      Use gentle airbrush airflow
    to remove excess pigment until the armor color and weathering are balanced.

Secure the pigment and finish matte

1. AfterMix pigments,the thoroughlyvarnish mixand apply a light final pass.
   purePure AK Ultra Matte Varnish and apply
   Apply light, thin passes. Aimpasses for an evenly wetted film:film. It should land lightly wet,wet without soaking the model or leaving a dry, dusty spray.

2. Preserve the pigment texture:texture and vegetation.
   Use use athis light final application to secure the pigmentspigment and establish the matte finish. Avoid saturating the pigment or building a heavy varnish layer over it.layer. Keep the spray light over attached grass and flowers too;flowers; do not soak them.

3. Include the metallic areas:areas. keep
   Keep the main metallic paint and shading beneath the protective varnish. Step 13 optionally restores selected reflections after this final Ultra Matte pass.

Before Leavegaming or transport: leave about about 24 hours after the final varnish coat before gaming or transport in this workflow;workflow. theAny added paint and glue must also be dry.

Use a lightly loaded pointed brush and short, controlled strokes. Preserve the shaded, aged gold andgold; avoid drybrushing the assembled aquila.

1. WaitCheck untilthat all varnishing is completecomplete., including
   Include the light pigment-fixing pass in Step 12,12. and theThe finish ismust be dry, stable, and no longer tacky.
2. Optional —Optional: restore selected steel and brass shine:shine. re-layer selected, easily accessible faces with
   Scale75 Black Metal or AK 3GEN Rusty Brass.
   Re-layer selected, easily accessible faces with their matching metal. Preserve recess shadows and wanted weathering. Let these selected layers dry.
3. OptionalOptional: add general gold highlights:highlights. mix
   1 part Imperial Gold Base (77.123) : 
   1 part Imperial Gold Light (77.103)
   Apply for general highlights onto raised edges and upper-facing details of the remaining gold ornaments. Keep the shading visible and let the highlights dry.
4. OptionalOptional: add brighter gold accents:points. step up to
   1 part Imperial Gold Base : 
   2 parts Imperial Gold Light
   Use forthe 1:2 mix sparingly on selected sharp corners, feather tips, and small upper-facing points. Use this 1:2 mix sparingly.
5. OptionalOptional: add steel and brass accents:edge accents. use
   Scale75 Heavy Metal or Citadel Dry Necron Compound for selected steel edges, and steel;
   AK 3GEN Rusty Brass for matching brass edges. 
   Keep these accents off the surrounding armor and batch them by metal color.
6. Keep the highlights narrow and selectiveselective., with
   Use a few tiny points on corners. Let them dry and leave them above the varnish. Another overallall-over Ultra Matte coat would dull these fresh reflections again.reflections.

Protection: the underlying metallic paintmetal retains its varnish layer. Any freshFresh re-layered areas and edge highlights sit above the varnish and are unvarnished; touch them up if they wear.