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PAINTING·WHITE DWARF 363

Eavy Metal Masterclass: Freehand Design

March 2010·pp. 98–103

THE SHORT VERSION

The Eavy Metal team explains how planned symbols, lettering and patterns can be painted onto undecorated surfaces. Paper drafts, scale-aware spacing and plotted points prepare the work, with examples progressing from Chapter badges to an ornate High Elf shield, embroidered cloak borders and a Deathwing banner. Brush control and a logical sequence matter as much as drawing skill, allowing complex images to be assembled from manageable stages.

AT THE PAINTING DESK

Paints in this article

Every named colour below is searchable across the archive.

Skull WhiteFortress GreyBlazing OrangeRegal BlueSpace Wolves GreyVomit BrownBleached BoneChaos BlackCodex GreyRed GoreBlood RedScorched BrownDevlan MudScab RedMacharius Solar OrangeSunburst YellowIyanden DarksunSnot GreenShadow Grey

All named colours in the constituent shield, cloak and banner tutorials are indexed.

EXPLORE RELATED TOPICS

Freehand & heraldry Painting techniques

Back to the original

Find this article in White Dwarf 363, pp. 98–103.

This is an original summary. Refer to your magazine for the complete article, rules, images and painting steps.

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PaintingWD 363 · pp. 92–97

Army Workshop: Isengard

Adam Troke follows Nick Bayton’s collection built to fight both Westfold skirmishes and major War of the Ring battles. Large Uruk-hai formations anchor the army, while selected heroes and siege units receive extra attention. Fast metallic basecoating, washes, contrasting white hands and lighter bases keep a dark horde readable, and converted mounted characters and a modified tray make the army’s centrepieces practical as well as distinctive.

War of the RingMiddle-earth Strategy Battle GameIsengard11 paint colours
March 2010Read summary
PaintingWD 363 · p. 94

Painting the Units: Uruk-hai

A sprayed mixture of black and metal undercoats many Uruk-hai at once, followed by flat skin, cloth and chainmail colours and a generous black wash. Bright metallic edges and dark straps restore separation after shading. Nick’s lighter grey-brown bases and dry grass counter the army’s dark armour, while a test miniature establishes the scheme before it is repeated across the full collection.

Middle-earth Strategy Battle GameWar of the RingIsengard10 paint colours
March 2010Read summary
PaintingWD 363 · p. 95

Painting the Handprints and Banners

Nick dabs white onto shields, faces and bodies to imitate the rough handprints seen on the Uruk-hai in the films. Separating the palm and fingers keeps the shape recognisable without making it too polished. Banner symbols receive a cleaner outlined-and-filled treatment, with black used to reshape the palm and fingers, providing two different methods for the same allegiance mark depending on the surface and intended finish.

Middle-earth Strategy Battle GameWar of the RingIsengard2 paint colours
March 2010Read summary