This video shows how to paint a NMM Axe belonging to the Chaos Champion from the Slaves to Darkness army box. The axe head is painted in NMM steel to a display level standard with coloured reflections. The trim of the axe is painted in NMM Gold.
Video: How to Paint a NMM Axe
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Materials:
- Paints: Mournfang Brown, Rhinox Hide, XV-88, Balor Brown, Barroth Blue (Games Workshop); Ice Yellow, Neutral Grey, German Grey, Black (Vallejo); Morrow White (P3)
- Fine detail paintbrushes
- Wet palette (optional, but recommended)
Steps for NMM Steel Effect on the Axe Blade:
- Base Colour: Start with Neutral Grey. Block in the areas where you anticipate highlights, but don’t worry about precision at this stage. This step is about mapping out your light and dark areas.
- Adding Reflections: Employ a ‘Sky Earth’ technique, but avoid a mirror-like chrome finish. Instead, aim for a less reflective surface with smoother transitions. This will differ from the steel look on the armour.
- Colour Integration: On downward-facing surfaces, integrate a bit of Mournfang Brown into your Neutral Grey. For the top of the blade, use a lighter mix, incorporating a bit of Ice Yellow into Neutral Grey.
- Brightness and Shadows: Apply Barroth Blue to represent the sky’s reflection. It should be brighter but not overly stark. Add Rhinox Hide to darken and desaturate certain areas, especially on downward curves.
- Blending and Transition: Focus on blending your colours. Use a stippling or cross-hatching technique to create smooth transitions between the different tones. Pay attention to the balance between the bright and dark areas to maintain the metallic effect.
- Final Highlights: For the brightest points, use Morrow White, especially on the uppermost curves and edges. This step is crucial for selling the metallic effect. Remember to keep these highlights sharp and focused.
Steps for NMM Gold Effect on the Axe Trim:
- Base Coat: Start with XV-88. Outline the areas you want to appear as gold. This will be the foundation for your gold effect.
- Layering: Gradually build up layers with Balor Brown, focusing on areas that would naturally catch more light. Be mindful of the shape and texture of the trim.
- Adding Highlights: Use Ice Yellow for the brightest highlights on the gold sections. Apply it sparingly to the most prominent areas, like the edges and raised details.
- Refining Details: Introduce Mournfang Brown and Rhinox Hide in the darker areas for deeper shadows, creating contrast and depth.
- Final Touches: Use Morrow White for the brightest spots on the gold trim, emphasizing the highest points of light reflection. This will enhance the metallic illusion.
Key Tips:
- Brush Control: Use the tip of your brush for precision. The quality of your lines and blending directly impacts the realism of the NMM effect.
- Light Source Consistency: Ensure that the light source is consistent across the model. This affects where you place highlights and shadows.
- Patience and Layers: NMM is about building up layers gradually. Work slowly and allow layers to dry before applying the next.
- Blending: Smooth transitions between colours are vital. Practice stippling and glazing techniques for seamless blends.
- Reflections and Realism: Study how light interacts with metallic surfaces. Incorporate reflected colours and environments subtly into your NMM work for added realism.
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