This article is part of a larger series on how to paint Dark Angels space marines. For more on painting Dark Angels, you can return to that series by clicking this link.
The elite members of the Dark Angels first company have, in my opinion, some of the coolest terminators in the game, with Deathwing Knights just being incredibly cool models and the added feathers and bone armor giving them a distinct look. That said, their scheme is pretty simple. I think I knocked this guy out in an hour, but I also went with a look that is on the whiter side for the faction – if you’re looking for something bone colored there are some things you can do to achieve that, however.
Step 1: Prime and Basecoat
I started by priming these guys with Wraithbone primer. Ultimately that’s going to be most of the base color here, though I’m going to touch it up in spots to make sure it’s even before I start doing the shading.
Step 2: Shading
Now comes for the shading. I shade the armor plating with a mix of Wraithbone and Rakarth Flesh. This gives the armor a bit of darker bone shade in its recessed areas. On the whole this model is lighter than the official GW Deathwing scheme, so if you wanted something darker I’d recommend basecoating Rakarth Flesh here and shading that down with a bit of Rakarth mixed with Agrax Earthshade. Then you can highlight that with Wraithbone instead of white.
Step 3: Washes and Lining
Next comes the lining, for which I use a small brush with Agrax Earthshade. I run this trough the crevices on the model and around the aquila and other details to create sharp, dark brown lines on key details.
Step 4: Details
Now it’s time to basecoat the rest of the details on the model. These colors are the same as the ones I use on my standard Dark Angels – Leadbelcher for the metal bits, Mephiston Red for the bolter and chainfist blade. Retributor Armour for the gold. Caliban Green for the aquila.
Where I deviate a bit is I use Basilicanum Grey for the shoulder wing and the Crux Terminatii, and I used Skeleton Horde for the ropes.
Step 5: Washes and Highlights
Then it’s time to wash those parts and highlight them to finish the model. The aquila, shoulder wing, and metal bits are washed in Nuln Oil, while the gold bits getting a wash of Agrax Earthshade. The red parts get washed with Carroburg Crimson.
The Aquila is highlighted with Caliban Green, Warpstone Glow, and Moot Green on the very tips. The red parts are highlighted with Evil Sunz Scarlet, and the Aquila is washed with Nuln Oil and highlighted back up with Mechanicus Standard Grey and Celestra Grey.
The final step is doing some edge highlights – these are done with Reaper Polished Bone and Reaper Pure White.
It’s a pretty easy scheme on the whole and it paints up quickly. I think it could stand to be darker but it works very well like this.
This article is part of a larger series on how to paint Dark Angels space marines. For more on painting Dark Angels, you can return to that series by clicking this link.
