This article is part of a larger series on How to Paint Tyranids. To return to that series, click here.
Hive Fleet Ouroboris are considered an anomaly even among hive fleets, with what appears to be an older, earlier strain of Tyranid bioforms. As a result, many modern methods of war and fighting simply do not work against them, as they haven’t yet developed some of the same hyperadaptations that the other hive fleets have, paradoxically making them stronger in some ways. They favor aerial assaults in combat.
Step 1. Basecoat the Skin
I start by priming the model black, then I paint the flesh with a coat Kantor Blue, and follow up by shading that with Nuln Oil before one more highlight of Kantor. I wait on basecoating the plates, as I’m going to drybrush the model next.
Step 2. Drybrush the Skin
Next I drybrush the skin, using a mix of Kantor Blue and Lothern Blue. I want something a little paler here than Caledor Sky. I’ll do a few mixes, going progressively lighter on the areas around the exposed vents and the mouth/teeth, and I’ll shade up toward the tip of the tail.
Step 3. Chitinous Plates
Standard procedure here. I paint the plates with Abaddon Black, then highlight them with Corvus Black. Then I edge highlight with Mechanicus Standard Grey and paint stripes coming in from the back of the armor. I do a second edge highlight and smaller stripe set using Celestra Grey.
Step 4. Final Details
For final details I paint the bone talons/claws and teeth with Rakarth Flesh and wash that with Agrax Earthshade before another layer of Rakarth and a Reaper Polished Bone highlight. The tongue is Bugman’s Glow highlighted up to Emperor’s Children.
The final scheme is pretty easy and looks great. The bone talons/claws definitely help it pop, and adding more grey highlights to the armor gives it more of a wild look that isn’t too dark.
This article is part of a larger series on How to Paint Tyranids. To return to that series, click here.
