This free video shows the Plastic Leviathan Dreadnought from Games Workshop and shows how to paint it using Imperial Fist Contrast paint and oil paint.
Video: How to Paint the Leviathan Dreadnought
Materials and Paints Used:
- Airbrush with a 0.4 needle
- Paints from Games Workshop (GW), Vallejo, Winsor and Newton, and P3
- Winsor and Newton Sansodoor mineral spirit
- Vallejo Mecha Varnish (Gloss and Matt)
- Abteilung 502 Desert and Sand Pigment set
- Micro Set for decals
- Various brushes, including a small dry brush and a size 2 brush
- Water jar and wet palette
Paints:
- GW: Mournfang Brown, Yriel Yellow, Sotek Green, Mephiston Red, Evil Sunz Scarlet, Wild Rider Red, Imperial Fist (Contrast), Rhinox Hide, Abaddon Black
- Vallejo: Neutral Grey, Black, Dark Blue Pale, Exhaust Manifold, Chrome
- Winsor and Newton: Burnt Sienna (oil paint), Black
- P3: Morrow White
Step by Step Guide to Painting the Leviathan Dreadnought
1. Base Coating:
- Start by airbrushing Mournfang Brown on all armor panels. Thin the paint with Tamiya X-20A thinner for better flow. Airbrush at around 30 PSI.
2. Adding Highlights:
- Mix some P3 Morrow White into the Mournfang Brown along with a bit more thinner. Airbrush areas you want to appear brighter. This will affect the final yellow hue after applying Imperial Fist contrast paint. Precision is key for this step.
3. Final Highlights:
- Use P3 Morrow White (thinned) for the last layer of highlights. Aim for a smooth application, although some speckling is tolerable as the contrast paint will cover minor imperfections.
4. Applying Contrast Paint:
- Apply Imperial Fist Contrast paint over the armor. This will tie in all the layers and give a vibrant yellow finish.
5. Painting Black Areas:
- Start with Abaddon Black, gradually adding small amounts of white and thinner for highlights. Focus on curved areas for a natural lighting effect.
6. Metallic Sections:
- Paint all metallic areas with Vallejo Metal Color Exhaust Manifold. Apply it directly without undercoating in black to save time.
7. Adding Decals and Chipping:
- Apply decals using Micro Set on gloss-varnished areas. Then, paint chipping using Rhinox Hide. Be mindful of the order; it’s easier to apply yellow glazes before adding decals and chipping.
8. Weathering with Oils:
- Use Burnt Sienna oil paint for streaking effects. Apply the paint in blobs and streak down using a brush dampened with mineral spirits.
- For pin washing, use a mix of Burnt Sienna and Black thinned with mineral spirits. Focus on recesses and rivets.
9. Painting the Head:
- Airbrush the head with Mephiston Red. Freehand a stripe using Vallejo Dark Blue Pale mixed with white. Highlight the red areas with Evil Sunz Scarlet and Wild Rider Red.
10. Eye Lenses:
- Paint the lenses with Sotek Green, followed by a mix of Sotek Green and white for highlights.
11. Glazing Yellow Highlights:
- Use a glaze of Yriel Yellow mixed with water (4-5 parts water to 1 part paint) for bright highlights on the top of shoulders and other upward-facing surfaces.
12. Highlighting Chips:
- Mix Yriel Yellow with white and highlight the lower edges of chips. This is time-consuming but adds depth.
13. Claw and Exhaust Weathering:
- Dry brush the claw using a mix of Vallejo Chrome and Exhaust Manifold. Focus on the blade edges.
- Apply the same mix to the exhaust sections.
14. Applying Weathering Powder:
- Use the Abteilung 502 Desert and Sand Pigment set for the base and lower parts of the Leviathan Dreadnought.
15. Sealing with Varnish:
- Finish by covering the entire model with Vallejo Mecha Matt Varnish for a uniform and protected finish on your Leviathan Dreadnought.
More Free Video Tutorials
Free videos for logged in members – just sign up as a ‘friend’ to view and click any of the thumbs.
To explore all of these, visit this page!
If you don’t have an account, please sign up here! The website currently has over 350 video tutorials, plus step by step guides and PDFs. You can explore more free videos with a free “freebies” membership, or take the plunge and become a full subscriber for full access.
If you’d prefer to support me on Patreon, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/RichardGray