3 Ways to paint Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine Power Armour | Duncan Rhodes

In this tutorial, we show you not one but three ways to paint Space Marine Power Armour for Warhammer 40,000 by Games Workshop! We start off with a technique that is perfect for speed painting so you can get your army looking good and on the tabletop in no time at all. It's also great for beginners starting their painting journey. Then we move on to my personal go-to method for painting Space Marines, one that will make your miniatures look awesome and 'pop' on the tabletop, often labelled 'table-top standard', this method is a great way to practice and master edge highlighting. Finally, we show you a little more advanced method similar to the style of 'Eavy Metal, with some great advice on wet-blending and fine-lining. Even though we show you how to paint blue power armour, the video is all about the techniques, not the colour palette so feel free to swap around as much as you want, from Blood Angels to Imperial Fists, these techniques will have you covered. And of course, feel free to mix them to suit your aims 😊
00:00 Intro
01:35 Speed Painting / Beginner
11:43 'Tabletop' Method
20:57 'Eavy Metal Style
If you enjoyed this tutorial, please feel free to Subscribe to the channel and leave a Like as well as a Comment below, we'd love to hear from you and if you have any other techniques you'd love to share.
If you really enjoyed the content, then why not check out the Academy (www.duncanrhodes.com) where we have over 300 tutorials.
Instagram: duncanjrhod...
Facebook: / twothincoats
Download the Paint Conversion chart here: www.duncanrhodes.com/ttc-paints/
#warhammer
#spacemarines
#duncanrhodes

[@mybladeismylife]

The more I watch these videos the more convinced I am that Duncan left GW because he wanted a wet palette

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

😂😂😂

[@fuzztsimmers3415]

He may not be employed by gw but he basically works for free for them since all he does is paint their models.

[@ladouceurmatt]

@@fuzztsimmers3415 I mean they would rather people watch their channel vs his channel.

[@fuzztsimmers3415]

@@ladouceurmatt still basically an advertisement for them and, their over priced models and rules.

[@TechbotALPHA]

@@fuzztsimmers3415 If you don't like it, don't watch? >_>

[@MarieAvora]

The loveliest thing here is that the "beginner tutorial" never starts off with busting out the airbrush :D

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks for watching everyone. We really hope you enjoyed this tutorial as much as we enjoyed making it. Please feel free to leave a Like and a Comment below, we'd love to hear from you. 😊

[@tastefulavenger]

I paint ravenguard how would I do something like what you did in part 3 on black armor? I use corvus black as a base btw!

[@KaiAzure]

Mans putting Eavy' metal team out the job by teaching folks how to do their style but better! =D

[@chaoticpainting1507]

Really glad you're making videos like this! It's easy to follow along and while it may only be a 30m video, you're giving us so much information! I really appreciate you sharing the knowledge with us bro, keep on keepin on! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@kogeki9443]

Could we see some Nurgle daemons stuff? Would love to see what you can do with all the wounds and gross bits!

[@thomascruise4966]

@@tastefulavenger this is something I’m interested in as well. Trying to highlight and shade black armor without making it look grey or blue is tricky…

[@tychoMX]

This is the most non-nonsense, approachable description of feathering blending I've watched. Nicely done, and much appreciated.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks 😊 Glad you enjoyed it

[@Dracobyte]

Yup!

[@Drakefance5]

As a beginning painter and space marine player, This feels like the exact video i'm looking for :)

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome, we hope it helps :-)

[@Black_Blow_Fly]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA can you even ‘EAVY METAL bro ??! 😂

[@geoffreyhebel2438]

Welcome to the hobby best of luck

[@imbetterthanyou5745]

This video is so off putting

[@godmode9913]

@@imbetterthanyou5745well don’t put it on then

[@TrickysFlyingBurrito]

Probably the best painting tutorial I've come across in my first month in the hobby. Thanks for clearly and simply explaining so many concepts that others gloss over.

[@HEADLESSKROGAN]

A video like this was what first got me into painting warhammer. Years later, Duncan still inspires.

[@OGDTO88]

I've been waiting for a simple wet blending video that shows this technique with a brush... thank you for the content, you make it look so simple!!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

It's our pelasure

[@s2korpionic]

Might be time for you to stop using water and start using acrylic thinners as your thinning medium. It's not necessary, but it helps a lot with making the blending process more forgiving. With water the drying time is significantly quicker.

[@ChimaeraTom]

I just started painting my Grey Knights but I've been a bit intimidated by the Force Weapons. The wet blending technique is exactly what I've been looking for! I've watched a few tutorials and kinda got it, but this explained brilliantly and showed it perfectly in real time.

[@SlapInTheFaceForMora]

For my Ultras I use a modified version of what Duncan uses here for speed painting the armour by putting the wash straight over the primer coat, then I use the intermediate method for other details. It's quick but with an extra punch.

[@MrZauberelefant]

I just have to point anyone interested in drybrushing to artis opus' video, because he is a master of that technique and with very small upgrades (a sponge, something with a textured surface and a make-up brush), you can get very smooth and gentle accentuations on your models.

[@guerillanextdoor]

I have watched countless video on painting it seems. This is the first one that has clearly explained these 3 different techniques in a way that I am able to understand how they are different and how to properly do each one in a single video. Thank you so much!

[@maraken]

This is the single best tutorial on how to wet blend that I've watched!

[@SimoneRistori]

I think the added value of videos like these is the clear explanation of what type of errors we can encounter while doing the technique. Understanding what can go wrong with too wet brushes or too dry or even moving pools of washes away from panels, all these little details are well explained and very useful to know. If you know in advance what kind of error you can make it's easier to avoid or correct and this remove frustration. Thanks for the excellent video.

[@tacituskilgore6752]

I just found your channel 2 days ago.I have been binge watching since then.My God this brings back so many good memories from my youth.Iam 47 and looking to get back into the hobby. Just dug out all my old miniatures from the early 90's.I even found all my old issues of White dwarf from the mid 250's.From an unpainted Green knight to unbuilt Dark Angels metal Dreadnought. Sometimes it pays to be a bit of a hoarder. Any way thank you for the content that you provide .Just subscribed.

[@reddragon4482]

Thanks Duncan, your videos have been an absolute life saver getting back into wargaming and painting. There is that much out there that it almost makes me freeze when thinking where to start lol, tutorials like this helps me just start and learn all the techniques. Thanks again :-D

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

That's fantastic! Thank you for the comment. This is why we do what we do 😊

[@shanelanford]

I agree 100%

[@PelinalDidNothingWrong]

This is interesting! I love using a mix of the first and second methods for my Heresy Era-Iron Warriors

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Ohhh....that'll work nicely 😊

[@pointandshootvideo]

One of your best videos. Love the brush loading and stroke tutorial on the wet pallet. Turning the model to stroke in the downward direction is also a great tip. Well-done! Thank you!

[@crayzeewhorse]

Awesome, thanks Duncan, you're a real one! - all new painters everywhere!

[@Xiv2022]

Seriously the single best tutorial I've watched in many years!

[@malyxxplays7949]

Does anyone else get scared when he's like 'easy as that' then follows up with.. 'now we can take it further' after the first step was already a challenge

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , DRPA . 🐺

[@emv5289]

Brilliant tutorial, I've just done a tactical squad of Blood Angels & this is perfect for getting the finished look. Thanks!

[@j.sternmercedes-benz2754]

Duncan.. the King of Paints... the Emperor of Brushes... you are the Best Painter here on YT... greetings from Vienna 🇦🇹🇦🇹🤘

[@PrimalGemini85]

Getting back into WH40K for the first time since 2003. A little older and slower, but I want to take my time and do it right. Thanks for your videos.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

No worries 😊

[@keirenroberts2588]

Holy cow that ‘eavy metal technique is pure wizardry. Duncan makes it look so easy but that is some crazy technique

[@napalmmachete]

I must have watched every wet blending video on KZbin twice over and had many mediocre results with practicing, but this is the first time it's just clicked and all the details made sense. Thank you, good sir

[@zi0]

Dunnie never ceases to amaze me. I saw a 5 year old video from GW the other day with him painting a Marine captain in gravis armour... Some of the best painting i've seen. He's just Godly.

[@light-wolfred741]

Holy cow! I was always confused how they did the blending for the hevay metal style but watching the video makes it alot easier to comprehend. I'll have to try this out with my own guys. Thanks for showing

[@wesleyruff4997]

i dont even paint warhammer models, this is just the most relaxing thing to watch, duncan is great

[@kitharrison8799]

Duncan, your method is eye-hand as the avatar of natural light. My man.

[@dembeku346]

Always a delight to see your videos

[@Dracobyte]

Thank you for this awesome painting tutorial!

[@jamesonstalanthasyu]

I can't domostnof it, but I appreciate how you teach with the listing of brushes and paints in the corner.

[@Obi1979]

After years of hating drybrushing, I now see finally how to do it right. Thank you good sir!

[@lepszykomentator3757]

Yaaaaay! Crimson Fists!✊

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

✊✊✊

[@cyberdan42]

Amazingly useful video really lays out the basics and techniques to develop more advanced styles well. Excelsior.

[@Rookie40K]

This was a fantastic tutorial! Marine Blue looks like a much better blue tone for……the marine than the “official” base color often used. Thanks for sharing.

[@fernandozavaletabustos205]

As always, a great tutorial guide!

[@callumhenry7420]

Ah fantastic, I’ve been looking for ages how to get a nice gradient from dark to light on the armour instead of just edge highlighting. This is a great explanation and it makes wet blending seem doable where before I’d thought it very out of reach!

[@Tygragdas]

Hey this is really can't wait to try it more with edge highlighting. Since it is one of the steps I have the most difficulty with specifically when it comes to picking out creases in cloaks, and robes.

[@Ethanjayc]

I've painted about 7,000pts worth of AoS models, a bloodbowl team, some terrain and other stuff since the start of the pandemic.. but my dark imperium boys haven't been touched since 2018... I've never been good with painting spess mahreens, but now 10th is coming I wanna get them ready... and this is a huge help. Cheers mate!!

[@Adunapheth]

That medium base brush has seen things people wouldn't believe.

[@Juanmacm]

Fantastic video, I wish I had seen it before starting because it took a long time to get to that point. Very instructive.

[@godmode9913]

Duncan is soooo damn wholesome, you just know old people love him. 👍

[@crazyshak4827]

Considering my buddy just helped me prime my first batch of Space Marines today, this will be timely for ideas while I paint up my Iron Hands. Thanks!

[@fatrhino]

Love this video.gonna have to try the advanced level.

[@foreverfornever1124]

Top tier video! This has to be one of the best tutorials in figuring out where a painter stands in terms of painting space marines for an army or display quality. I would say I fall in between beginner and intermediate, more so approaching the intermediate level at a comfortable pace

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Amazing. We always say as long as you are having fun and are enjoying the process, then it's a win.

[@qix1t]

Three for the price of one! Great video.

[@jakekharn9741]

I couldn't quite understand how to wet blend properly but this video explains it so well. Thank you :D

[@markclifton859]

This is the first time I've been shown how to wet blend in a way that clicked... I'm going to have to put this into practice now!

[@michaelpatton4012]

Thanks for the content. It's perfect timing, and I am about to start painting my custom company.

[@DaXiS1987]

This was an amazing video! Im doing the eavy metal one right now

[@brendonsorenson344]

Great vid! Keep em coming!

[@theforrestree]

So so helpful. Thank you for the great tips!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Kedzke]

Just got a whole pile of Two Thin Coats paints. They are excellent!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Awesome, we are so glad you like them.

[@KrishnaBheemul]

Levels to this. Infernalbrush is god tier.

[@Horrorclause00]

Dude fire intro, and thank you for getting me back into painting after 20 years

[@caspos1987]

Duncan Rhodes is the dying calmness within me

[@ryanmurray6269]

This makes so much sense! Thank you, highlighting has been my bane, ill be so glad to go back and be able to finish some of my minis now!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

That's great! Glad we could help a little 😊

[@Lolomlas]

I just started painting my first space marines as blood ravens, based on your older vid on the warhammer channel, but I will try this dry brush, beginner style as well.

[@ryanhocking6416]

Thanks for this video I’ve wanted to recreate the 3rd technique but had no idea it was called wet blending definitely going to be trying this out, cheers Duncan.

[@Prawnstar91]

Great video - thanks!

[@cordial001]

Filing this video away to use for those nice new terminator minis hopefully coming with the new 40k box, whenever that comes out. I'm really looking forward to painting those guys

[@mirage809]

A great set of steps upwards. All three ways are ways I find myself using regularly. The drybrushing technique is excellent for my Horus Heresy army, where I find myself throwing around marines like they're guard models. The middle technique is the standard I aim for with most of my painting. The 'Eavy Metal techniques are something I try to utilize on characters, big centerpieces and that sorta stuff. Some handy ones to keep in mind: Citadel's Contrast paints are also excellent for recess shading. They're a little thicker than washes and behave quite nicely for panel lining. Basilicanum Grey and Black Templar are excellent choices here. And don't be afraid to mess up. One of the best parts of painting like this is that you can always go back to previous colours to touch up the paint job. Is your drybrush a little too chalky? Just go back to your mid tone and touch it up. Highlight went thicker than you like? Same story! A wet palette helps a lot here too, since the paint is right there for you to pick up and use.

[@benbrown3778]

Thanks for making it accessible to everyone!

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

That's what we aim to do 😊

[@CH0S3NXONE]

This is the exact kind of video a newbie like me was looking for! I really appreciate it and I will be subbing

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Omgdonut297]

I'll finally get around to painting those Dark Angels I've had for a few weeks now.

[@heirwolf6929]

Thanks for the inspiration, I'm now convinced I can pull off some wet blending on my marines.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

You sure can. Just give it a go and practice a little and you'll get there before you know it.

[@table-rdy]

I recommend this bloke, good stuff

[@Templar666]

Good video! Can you tell me, please, what colors for painting black armor with the first method?

[@adamkimberley2575]

Really great tutorial. Thanks. Hope you cover some other blending techniques in the future. I still get muddled between them all.

[@Daktangle]

Round makeup brushes are excellent for the first drybrushing step, as they are very soft and work well with a rounded motion. They're also pretty cheap too, especially compared to paint brushes.

[@argyristsoukatos4093]

That was an amazing video Thank you

[@madmerlinsart]

That was very helpful. I might try that third method, I have a spare Blood Angel I can practise on. I'm pretty solid with my method for the second technique so well worth a try. Who knows if I like it, he may become the model I enter into a small painting competition at my local store.

[@RevanR]

From simplistic techniques to the advances, this is a -God- Emperor's send

[@SilentWanderer1990]

I don't even play space marines, I just enjoy watching Duncan's painting tutorials

[@jasonthornton8349]

I love the han solo-esque pose of the first model

[@apollux012]

Thanks for that Video. Your colours really have a good saturation. I like the last one the most. Using a airbrush will never give you that effect, It will always look more 'chalky'. I will go with a more French Blue and purple in the shadows! Thanks Duncan. Next: Dark Angels with a Cold-Warm contrast.

[@zpopinfresh]

And here is me just finished building an Intercessor Kill Team, what timing!

[@comontoshi]

I just recently bought the Space Marine Intersessor box set and need some ideas on how to paint them . . . I’m 79 and don’t want to have my minis look like everyone’s. I don’t plan on using all the shoulder armor . . . my squad will be a fast moving interdiction team and they already have a man down. I don’t intend to play, just build a set for my own enjoyment. Thanks for the tutorial! 😘😎

[@SarithenVol]

Wonderful.

[@goforitpainting]

Cool as always.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks 👍

[@danielmang6109]

I really would like to know how you Duncan can manage to hold the Miniatures so steady. My hands are a shaky and i am very astonished how steady you hold your brushes and Miniatures 🫶🤯

[@tomchatfield9217]

What sort of colors should I use for black power armor? I am looking for ideas for the speed painting method in particular.

[@adrianreister]

I'd like to see you cover different slap chop type methods.

[@jonathan2950]

Thanks for this. I’d definitely be happy with the 2nd method, so that will be my goal. The 3rd method looks too much effort for me. I think the 2nd method still looks fantastic. I’ll be going for brighter colours and brighter undercoat as I prefer the 90s look, but these are the techniques I’ll be using. Thanks!

[@ramblingbadger]

Awesome stuff. Almost makes me want to finish painting my Indomitus box :-D

[@dennishorror142]

Just wait to 10th Ed. Starter Box and Paint both. :D

[@MJWhitto]

For the blending on the power armour what colours would you suggest for black armour if possible? That final blue looked stunning.

[@Itsallover57]

Im definitely somewhere around the intermediate-advanced area. Maybe ill grab one of my MANY space marines sitting unbuilt and give it a real try

[@biperfuture]

I remember watching and old video from you on the warhammer official youtube page where you also speed painted an Ultramarine but the wash was after the drybrush. In which cases would you recommend washing before or after the drybrush? Thanks for this great tutorial!

[@ipwnIRLyah]

Duncan has insane amounts of swag

[@prime3967]

Welp with 10th coming out i think I'm gonna be a mad bastard with my Salamanders and go for the 'Eavy Metal style bc honestly that looks a lot more manageable than it was expecting!

[@godmode9913]

I love painting blue armour, probably one of the easiest to get looking good

[@randylahey77]

Is wet blending preferred over glazing for any particular reason? I'm assuming it's faster, but does it produce better results?

[@collegeoffoliage6776]

Omg, that last one is gorgeous and you made it look so effortless! I really enjoy it when you flex your skills like this. Have you ever considered doing competition painting for a video, putting 100+ hours into a project for instance?

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Thanks, but the challenge is simply time. 100+ hours would be tough to make a great tutorial for 😊

[@collegeoffoliage6776]

@@DuncanRhodesDRPA For sure, it would have to be a different kind of content and probably wouldn't pay off hours-to-views wise. Just a thought I had and I'm sure others would be interested to see you push your skills to the max as well!

[@ovidiudiumea4012]

This just convinced me to try wet blending. The thought of it scared me until now.

[@DuncanRhodesDRPA]

Go for it. It's not that difficult, it may take a few goes to get it to where you are happy, but you'll do it and then think...'That's all it is? Awesome!'

[@RoboZombi]

Love that marine’s RoboCop pose 😂

[@bee-beargaming]

Eavy metal style was my favorite painting method from this video

[@TomppaESG]

Would you suggest tissue paper or other material to brush off extra when drybrushing? I heard that tissue paper may absorb too much liquid off from the paint in the brush and therefore result in more chalky result on drybrushing and one should use less absobing, slightly textured surface like cardboard or something instead of tissue paper.