Painting 15mm Wolfriders

[Pattus Magnus]

Several people asked about how I painted last year’s 28mm wolfriders. I used the same techniques this year on some 15mm versions, so I took some pictures to illustrate the stages in the process I use.

Stage Zero - preparation and primer

I expect I am preaching to the choir here on LAF, but taking the time to clean up mould lines and put down a consistent base layer makes everything that follows easier. No pictures of that stage. For the wolf riders I used white primer, since washes and semi-opaque contrast paints are the basis for the technique.

Stage 1 - dark wash on the rider

I do this to help differentiate the rider from the wolf and make the details on the rider easier to see. I used GW Agrax Earthshade thinned slightly because it gives a neutral dark brown in recesses. The whole rider got the same treatment- skin, clothes, equipment, all of it.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 2 - base layers on the wolf

I used GW Reikland Flesh to wash the wolf’s eye sockets, lips and mouth, tip of the nose, and any paw pads that are showing. The idea is to give those areas a little warmth.

Then I used GW Apothecary White on the rest of the wolf. It is fine if the white overlaps the flesh tone areas a bit. The idea is to give the light coloured under-fur on the wolf’s coat. I would do this even for wolves that will end up being nearly black and just put later washes over a larger part of the light fur.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 3 - tan bits

In this stage, I applied GW Skeleton Bone contrast paint to the upper parts of the wolf’s fur. Top of the nose and head, the shoulders, the back and most of the flanks, the hips and upper legs, and the tail all get that treatment. It gives the fur that tawny undertone wolves usually have. Again, I would do this even on a wolf intended to be near black. The tan goes on the cheek fur under the ears, too, but not the whole area.

I also paint the tan onto parts of the rider that have light brown equipment, such as wood of light leather.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 4 - darker browns

Next, I used a couple of the darker contrast paint browns on the upper surfaces of the wolf - a strip on the nose and head, a bit on the cheeks, back, shoulders, etc. I didn’t quite cover all of the tan, and thinned the paint a little so that a hint of the undercoats showed through.

The browns also went anywhere suitable on the rider.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 5 - blocking in the rest

At this point, the wolves are nearly done and I block painted the rest of the spots on the riders - flesh areas, uniforms, etc. I did not paint the metallic areas yet, as the figures were going to have a dry brush first.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 6 - off-white drybrush

I nicked this trick from Hobgoblin a few years ago and have used it ever since - the whole figure gets a drybrush with Vallejo Silver White. That colour is a warm off white and the drybrush gives a stark highlight to pretty much anything. It gets tamed down a bit in the next stage.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 7 - metallics

Now I painted in the metallic bits. I like gunmetal for steel and Vallejo Old Gold for brass/ bronze.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 8 - washes

I washed flesh tones, reds, and the muzzles of the wolves with Reikland Flesh. The other areas got Agrax Earthshade, thinned down a bit. These reduce the starkness of the drybrushed highlights.

[Pattus Magnus]

Stage 9 - final details

At this point, they’re pretty well done. I like to hit some details with a highlight or touch up, such as teeth, fangs, etc.

I also paint the cast on bases in the undertone I will use in the bases, to keep basing simple.

[Pattus Magnus]

Wrap up

Then it is just a matter of gluing them to whatever base they are going on (40x30mm in this case), texturing, and painting the bases. Add some greenery, to taste, and you’re done. A pack of wolfriders ready to tear the lives out of whoever they’re thrown against!

[batu]

They look nice! Great work!

[Pattus Magnus]

Thanks Batu!

If you haven’t already seen them alongside the goblin hordes and skirmishers, the pics are in my fantasy thread: https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=132213.195