How I Paint: Word Bearers

Well, here it is, the first of my little "How I Paint" tutorials; though I use the word 'tutorial' loosely, it's much more of a "This is how I did it", rather than a sit-you-down-and-show-you-how-it's-done  kind of thing.

Word Bearer Chaos Space Marine Warpsmith

I'm also running under the assumption that you either have a copy of "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures" (preferable, and available here or at your local Games Workshop Hobby Centre), or are at least quite familiar with the terms used within this awesome tome of painting. More after the break!

I say that it's preferable to have a copy of the book firstly because it is an exceptional book that taught me a lot, and that's with seventeen years of hobby (two of which as a GW employee) behind me.  The DVD especially is useful for showing you in video format exactly how to do what we'll be doing. Secondly, I will occasionally reference direct pages and images from the book, so having a copy with you will be useful for flicking to it whilst you read.

So, why Word Bearers?

I love Chaos. I love the story behind Chaos, I love the tragedy and emotion, the image and the feel, and moreover, I love to play the bad guy or anti-hero. Word Bearers epitomise these values, as the first legion to fall to Chaos, and ultimately the ones who seeded it's words throughout the rest of the traitor legions, they orchestrated it all.

Word Bearer Chaos Space Marines

...and they're red.

When I worked in Games Workshop Kingston, I had a nickname, Mr. Mechrite, because every damn army I painted seemed to use a lot of Mechrite Red as a primary colour for the force. Interestingly enough, going with the closest equivalent (and the new most-used paint in my collection) this would now earn me the nickname Mr. Khorne, which I quite like.

I'd dabbled with the idea of building and painting them for quite some time, but it was only when Aaron Dembski-Bowden's "The First Heretic" hit the shelves that I finally cast my lot in with the Ruinous Powers and damned my eternal soul to the darkness that lays within the warp. Since then, with the "Word Bearers Trilogy" by Anthony Reynolds, and "Know No Fear" by Dan Abnett, I have worked hard on converting and painting up many units of the religious zealots and their tabletop prowess is slowly rising!

The unit pictured above, as an example, uses parts from the Chaos Space Marines box, the Space Marine Devastator Squad box, the Dark Angels Veterans box, MkIV "Maximus" Armour from Forge World, Phobos Pattern Boltguns from Forge World and parts from the Chaos Space Marines Possessed box. Just so you understand that this has been a labour of love... and healthy hatred for my wallet.

Without further ado, onto the painting!

The Helbrute from Dark Vengeance

Red Power Armour:

Basecoat: Khorne Red - Large Drybrush*

Wash: Carroburg Crimson - Wash Brush

Layer: Khorne Red - Basecoat Brush**

Layer: Wazzdakka Red - Detail Brush

Layer: Squig Orange - Fine Detail Brush***

*I actually drybrush the entire model from head to toe quite heavily with the large drybrush as this basecoats the entire model very quickly and leaves the crevaces nice and dark.
**The first layer is actually pretty much a "neaten up anywhere that has tidemarks from the wash" step.

***An extreme highlight, almost like a highlight of the highlights.

Silver Trimming:
Basecoat: Leadbelcher - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Nuln Oil - Wash Brush

Layer: Ironbreaker - Standard Brush

Bone and Horns:

Basecoat: Rakarth Flesh - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Agrax Earthshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Pallid Wych Flesh - Standard Brush

Layer: White Scar - Fine Detail Brush

Turquoise Details:
Basecoat: Incubi Darkness - Basecoat Brush

Layer: Sotek Green - Standard Brush

Layer: Temple Guard Blue - Standard Brush

Pick out any eye slits in a 50/50 mix of Incubi Darkness and Abaddon Black. Little dot of White Scar to finish the eyes.

Cream Robes:

Basecoat: Steel Legion Drab - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Agrax Earthshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Tallarn Sand - Standard Brush

Layer: Kazak Stone - Detail Brush

This follows the example on page 37 of "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures"

Word Bearer Chosen Champion

Flesh:
Basecoat: Bugmans Glow - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Reikland Fleshshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Cadian Fleshtone - Standard Brush

Layer: Kislev Flesh - Fine Detail Brush

Much the same as page 97 of "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures"

Capes and Tabards:
Basecoat: Caliban Green - Basecoat Brush

Shade: Nuln Oil - Wash Brush

Layer: Warpstone Glow - Detail Brush

Layer: Moot Green - Fine Detail Brush

Both layers are edge highlights as shown on page 35 and 36 of "How to Paint Citadel Miniatures"

Text:
Layer: Abaddon Black or White Scar - Fine Detail Brush

Converted Word Bearer Havocs

Parts from Chaos Space Marine Possessed, Space Marine Devastators, Dark Angels Veterans and Warriors of Chaos (horns clipped).

Black Robes:

Basecoat: Abaddon Black - Basecoat Brush

Layer: Dawnstone - Detail Brush

Layer Administratum Grey - Fine Detail Brush

Wash: Nuln Oil - Wash Brush

Word Bearer Cultists

The cultists are painted much in the same way, except the metal is highlighted with Leadbelcher again, rather than Ironbreaker; and they have two additional colours:

Grey Cloth:

Basecoat: Skavenblight Dinge - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Agrax Earthshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Stormvermin Fur - Fine Detail Brush

Leather:
Basecoat: Dryad Bark - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Agrax Earthshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Gorthor Brown - Fine Detail Brush

The Cultist Champion Pictured also has brassy epaulettes which are painted as below. A few other models across the range use this too.

Brass:
Basecoat: Brass Scorpion - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Agrax Earthshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Runelord Brass - Fine Detail Brush

Chaos Lord from Dark Vengeance

Warp-Tainted Weapons: 

(As seen on the Warpsmiths Axe and on the Chaos Lord, above, including his cape)

Basecoat: Incubi Darkness - Basecoat Brush

Wash: Coelia Greenshade - Wash Brush

Layer: Sotek Green - Detail Brush

Layer: Temple Guard Blue - Fine Detail Brush

Layer: Runefang Steel - Fine Detail Brush

The final two layers are extreme highlights, like highlights of a highlight. This means the Runefang Steel is a highlight of a highlights highlight...

Plasma:

Exactly the same as page 95 of "How To Paint Citadel Miniatures"

Daemonforge and Soulforge on Weapons and Neck:
As seen in White Dwarf (October '12)

Word Bearer Symbol Fire:

Basecoat: Averland Sunset - Standard Brush
Layer: Firedragon Bright - Detail Brush

Layer: Troll Slayer Orange - Detail Brush

Layer: Squig Orange - Fine Detail Brush

Glaze: Lamenters Yellow - Wash Brush

The fire starts by painting the flames, then working inwards leaving the previous layer showing towards the top of the flame.

Bases:

Sand, painted with slightly thinned Incubi Darkness, then drybrushed Sotek Green, before a light drybrush of Templeguard Blue.

I think that just about covers it all! If you have any questions or comments, you can EMail me at: 

bkelly dot cs at gmail dot com

Or you can hit me up on Twitter: @BKellyCS
Or leave comments below and I'll try and get back to you!