How to Paint Blood Angels Space Marine Tanks
- 1). Build the tank model by following the included model instructions. Make sure all pieces are fitted tightly together, leaving no gaps between joints, and that you remove any excess glue from the model surface. Wait one hour after completing the model for all of the glue to dry completely.
- 2). Prime your model by painting it in a layer of flat black modeling paint. Use an airbrush to coat the model, diluting the paint with thinner to a mixture containing about 3 parts paint to 1 part thinner. Make sure the thinner is appropriate for your paint type. Hold the airbrush parallel to the tank about 6 inches from the tank surface and use steady strokes of the paint to build up a solid layer of primer by making multiple passes over the model with the primer laying a light layer of paint with each pass. Prime a single side of the model and allow the tank to dry for two hours before handling it to prime the other model side. Allow the model to dry an additional two hours before applying the base coat of paint.
- 3). Airbrush your basecoat of paint over the hull and barrel of the tank. Use a deep red paint color for the base coat, airbrushing the tank as you did with the primer. Create a coat that conceals the primer while still allowing the dark primer to tint the red coating darkly in shadowed areas of the tank, such as panel lines. Allow the basecoat two hours' drying time.
- 4). Apply a wash of black model ink over the tank to bring out detail highlights and to create a slightly dull-looking sheen. Dip a brush into the ink wash and then lightly go over the tank body, keeping the brush only mildly damp with ink. Wait two hours for the ink to dry.
- 5). Drybrush the tank body with a coating of blood-red paint color. Dip the brush into the paint and then wipe the bristles of the brush onto a paper towel to remove the majority of the paint. Lightly drag the brush over the body of the tank, leaving a slight dusting of the blood red paint to enhance the basecoat color. Wait two hours' drying time.
- 6). Apply a second drybrush paint layer using a blazing orange paint color. Follow the same procedure used with the blood red paint, allowing an additional two hours' drying time.
- 7). Apply a dark red ink wash to the body of the tank over the orange paint. Wait the two hours' drying time.
- 8). Paint the tank treads. Use a steel-colored paint on the threads, covering them in a solid coating and allowing it to dry for two hours. Drybrush a layer of brown paint onto the tracks, to emulate the dulling of the metal from use. Wait an additional two hours, and then apply a black ink wash to the tracks, and wait two hours more.
- 9). Paint the main gun and any metal objects on the tank with the steel paint color. Dry the paint for two hours and then dry-brush with silver paint for a metallic highlight sheen. Wait two more hours' drying time and then wash the metal with the black ink wash, waiting a final two hours.
- 10
Spray matte clear coat spray over the tank to protect the paint job. Allow the clear coat a full night to dry, and then apply any desired decals onto the tank body. Soak the decals in water for about 30 seconds, and then place the paper backing of the decals onto the model surface. Lightly slip the decals from the backing onto the tank model, and use a cotton swab to press excess water from the rear of the applied decals. Allow the decals an hour's drying time before you handle the tank.
Source...