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This particular scheme is a bit of a departure; not really a canon fleet in the Warhammer 40,000 universe but instead modeled after the iconic “Solo Jazz” design that was often featured on disposable cups (made by the Solo company) in the early 1990s.
Starting from a White Scar primer, apply Apothecary White across the skin. This step doesn’t need much precision, as any spillage onto the chitin will be covered up later. Once that’s dry, give a liberal drybrush of White Scar across the skin.
Basecoat the chitin with Akhelian Green, and the claws with Doomfire Magenta. While that’s drying, apply Carroburg Crimson into all the vents in the skin, all the cracks between the joints, and into the mouth. This helps break up the model, without too much work. Next step is to do a quick drybrush over the chitin with Screaming Skull, looking for a dusty finish to help tone down the color underneath a little. This is also a great way to cover up any tea stains from contrast on the large parts of big bugs.
Next we apply the purple patterning that’s signature of the cups from the 90’s, starting with Naggaroth Night. Prepare it like a drybrush, as we’re not trying to slather paint all over the bug. Pick a point near the center of the chitin, and make a vaguely S shape across the body. I do this with a Citadel Medium Base brush, the rounded tip lets me get a lot of motion without too much fuss. After that’s dry, highlight with Xereus Purple. Onto the pink, this is layered with Emperors Children and then Fulgrim Pink.
Finally, pick out the teeth with Screaming Skull and the eyes with Tesseract Glow.
Some other examples:
This article is part of a larger series on How to Paint Tyranids. To return to that series, click here.