Tyranid 'Coconut Crab' Paint Scheme Tutorial (Part 1)

Here's a tutorial on how I paint the Tyranids on my Instagram:
/ catgutpainting
Part 2 to this tutorial is now available here:
• Tyranid 'Coconut Crab'...
The color scheme is based on the real-world coconut crab, and is a lot easier to paint than it looks.
Total paints needed:
-White Primer (I use Badger Stynylrez)
-White (I use VMA White)
-VMC Orange Brown
-VMC German Camo Black Brown
-Army Painter Dark Tone
-Army Painter Red Tone
-Army Painter Light Tone
-Army Painter Soft Tone
-Army Painter Quickshade Wash Mixing Medium
-Varnish (I use Pledge floor gloss and AK Interactive Ultra Matte)
If you have any questions, or if there's anything else you'd like to see more of, leave a comment below!
Because a bunch of people have been asking, here's where I got the brush that I use for the dots: www.amazon.com...

[@cosmicmelon9305]

Don't question it, KZbin Recommendations is just obsessed with Coconut crabs again.

[@tyranitararmaldo]

Crabrawler intensifies...

[@pandapirate25yearsago33]

And again 😂

[@jewishdictionary1715]

That's one HOT, original color scheme right there, I love it. 10/10

[@ThePlayplay64]

This may be my favorite style of painting a tyranid. I may do something like this for mine, but im thinking a greenish/ brown jungle scheme. Awesome video and job on them!

[@prezzeruk4054]

How about a marine paint scheme, marine as in the sea? Could have ur figures, covered in stringy seaweed type stuff and barnacles!

[@ThePlayplay64]

​@@prezzeruk4054 I painted a few up, I the one I like the most is a dark brown /red/orange with a crimson wash. it came out looking a little like a crab shell. I've been looking at pic online of different crustaceans and im going to try to get the fades they have. With luck my models look like redish sea crabs coming to eat you. The jungle one I did was a brown / dark green tan color and it looked awful .

[@mangogoat8195]

@@ThePlayplay64 is there anyway I can see them? i want a kindve poisonous jungle insect scheme

[@ChimpingBulldog]

One of the best schemes ive ever seen for 'Nids.

[@BeeWaifu]

"His coconut gun, fires in bursts."

[@megamanpwn3dmario]

if he shoots ya, it's gonna hurt!

[@billwilson6248]

"He has no style, he has a coconut gun."

[@Nortic111]

"He's bigger, faster and stronger too. He's the first member of the D. K. crew. Huh!"

[@TheHouseCommunity]

@@Nortic111 D.K. Donkey Kong

[@Andrew-yl7lm]

Inflate himself just like a balloon...

[@PeteTheWargamer]

Came here from Reddit. Awesome tutorial, very clear and concise and the result is fantastic!

[@brigandboy1425]

This is a gorgeous and easy technique. I've been wanting to make a nids army, and I think that, with a different set of colors, I will be using this technique for my models. Absolutely lovely effect man. Thanks for this :)

[@PunchieCwg]

You've started an epidemic! All I see is coconut crabs now, even the Tau are doing it! It looks amazing though, so I get why 😄

[@martinthewarrior5016]

I love colour schemes like this! Make one area/detail of the model look amazing (in this case the carapace) then just use really simple, fast techniques to paint the rest. Gives you a fantastic looking end result, without the need to spend a stupid amount of time painting every surface 😁

[@3ggh3ad]

This is really cool, gonna try it on some of my slaanesh demons ( but in purple, pink, and lavender)

[@JuanHidalgoMiniatures]

That was SUPER GOOD! Please keep making videos they are great, you have a new subscriber.

[@saximaphone]

I was thinking of doing something like this with a vehicle for a camo-like appearance. Might look great!

[@laurencepenfold]

That's really great, beautiful natural scheme. Rumour has it 10th edition comes with Tyranids, I'm much more likely to buy it now. GW should send you a cut.

[@SgtTeddybear66]

2:00 - Leave it just like that, and you have Vanilla with Chocolate and Caramel Ice Cream Tyranids.

[@adamr6621]

Yummy

[@pervyturtle2673]

Oh no. The hive fleet ate Candyland!

[@CBRN-115]

The eating is the Tyranids' job, but with that color we can eat them XD

[@gotwaaagh7010]

Great editing and sound quality for your channels first video, and don't forget the awesome paint job.

[@shoreknightseer3152]

Came here because of the recommendation from Miniature Mash-ups and, honestly, not disappointed! truly outstanding work.

[@CatgutPainting]

Thank you! Would you mind linking the page that led you here?

[@MercKilsek]

@@CatgutPainting Same guy vid brought me here to check out your stuff. Here is the link you wanted: watch?v=oOh14ER8gis

[@TheSnow16]

this video is an absolute gem for us hobbyist. please make more tutorials

[@christopherbonner4454]

Simple yet amazing! Working on a Tyranids army currently. May cross this technique with a grim dark color scheme. It would come out perfect I think.

[@Thandox]

Thanks for all the tutorials, it made me switch to a tyranid army! Best tyranids Ive seen so far just perfect!!

[@vincentperon2950]

this is one of the nicest scheme I've seen for tyranides so far.

[@BaijoGosum]

That is super cool. Now I want to paint some space bugs lol. Great video, thanks!

[@serendal]

They are so fucking beautiful.

[@Detson404]

Great paint job, excellent tutorial.

[@lowfuture4856]

A really nice coulour scheme, and very clear explanations Gg

[@TheRonin2120]

WTH....this video just shown up on my YT page. I felt compared to watch. And I am blown away by your painting scheme, style and skill. Count me all in. I am now a subscriber, and I want and need more videos of your painting. As well this video has given me some ideas for my Tron Inspired Stormcast Eternal models. Keep up the awesome work. Dammit I have watched this video 4 times. And I have loved it every time.

[@goddessbraxia]

this is a fantastic paint scheme. I have a similar scheme that I have been working with, I am relatively new to the hobby, so I can definitely use some of your techniques from this to futher improve my process for my Nids.

[@marcellacerda4734]

I can´t thank you enough for posting this and your original pic tutorials on FB. I spent years with my Nids on the shelves because I was unable to find any color scheme that made me WANT to paint them up. After I saw your posts, it clicked and I already have most of my models painted in this scheme.

[@vaettra1589]

Personally I'm waiting for rules that make me WANT to paint models up so I can field them in a game and not be embarrassed.

[@CatgutPainting]

@@vaettra1589 These things take time. I've accepted that I might not win much under the current rules (I especially avoid meta lists, so I'm not using Swarmlord, Genestealers, or Kraken), but by the time I have a decent-sized army painted up, who knows what the rules might be. I've been in and out of this hobby for two decades now, and I've learned to be happy with the hobbying and consider the game to be a fun bonus. YMMV.

[@vaettra1589]

@@CatgutPainting I respect that there are different takes on this hobby, personally I'm in it for the game. These days I can't be bothered to paint a unit that sucks in-game. I have monsters in unopened boxes, waiting for decent rules. Swarmlord and Genestealers are mid-table ok, but the competitive Nid build currently is Leviathan Gant carpet (like 200 fearless critters) with morale protection from infantry characters. Boring as hell to assemble, paint and play.

[@maxbrandt6]

Great job, looks much more natural!

[@dreadgarr]

Simply fantastic!!! I might do something with this technique thinking coral snake colors hmm

[@MarkPiggy79]

Well at least you're not shellfish!🤣😂 Thanks for sharing. Good job on the paint👍

[@truemind1018]

dont go too coconuts with those puns there buddy.

[@MarkPiggy79]

@@truemind1018 fair enough! I don't want you getting feta up with these cheesy puns. They're just too gouda 🤣😂

[@CBRN-115]

The Ordo Xenos shall see to you with your heretical puns XD

[@merlinsmonkey2001]

What a beautiful kick ass paint scheme ! Exellent job I can imagine many a insectoid army screaming in jealousy as their Carpice isn't as cool. Lol

[@Noel_Whitmore]

Amazing scheme and brilliantly executed- thanks for sharing 🤘

[@LordEsel88]

Stunning technique!

[@danielmunozvillanueva3875]

You really make me want to buy Tyranids, excellent job!

[@petrinafilip96]

Tyranid Battleforce incoming this December. Our collective wallets cry in agony...

[@D00M3R-SK8]

wouldn't mind doing a reverse version with dark colour over most of it and then going up to a fluo pink maybe. I wanted to do some bio-nids. PS: I remember seeing you doing these on facebook with a little beach scene and stuff. I think I learned from you about using FX paste to create shallow water effects.

[@GirlPainting]

that looks awesome. i think i will steal that for one of my gryph hounds ^^

[@neilgooge]

Absolutely love the effect, will be trying something similar with different colors.... lovely job...

[@jameswainwright5880]

Fabulous colour scheme, I'd love to see a tutorial on some of the larger models in the Tyranid range?

[@sludgedisciple]

This scheme is so amazing. I follow you on Instagram and it looks even better on here.

[@Spekd]

AMAZING! 👏👏👏👏 thank you for adding this to the community. GW need to make an hivefleet adaptation just for this scheme.

[@xandermacleod]

Already going for this for my nid army :D

[@badshibari6707]

Thank you so much for doing this tutorial! Have been following you socials for a while now and love the scheme! Hope to see more videos in the future :)

[@makrusnormendez357]

Wow, looks great

[@panhandle99]

Came here from Instagram. Very clear tutorial.

[@blank7508]

Great. Now im gonna have to redo my entire swarm

[@Ruben-vd2hu]

Awesome Tyranids and great tutorial. You are truly inspiring. You have a new suscriber ;)

[@akaikiseki9346]

I would love to see how you magnetize your figs ! That's it, I just want to start a Tyranid army ^^

[@fernlenker]

Hello Catgut, OH so genious! such a super cool desing, and way to get there! AND i learned so much about Coconut Crab now =) ) Thank you for showin us your work! and to teach, if it should look good, do not hurry, enjoy the way =) greetings from germany if there is someting new about tyranids desings, please tell me! maybe i try some Orks like that =) ) im smiling from ear to ear THANKs a LoT

[@Miniocalypse]

Heck yeah, seen this on Instagram! Decided to check out your channel. Amazing stuff so i subscribed. Some day ill paint at this kind of skill any maybe my channel will take off. Keep up the great work, Fight the grey war!

[@carabus0354]

I really like what you have done there! I know you're pain painting dots, I painted a load of Waffen SS WW2 uniforms which is basically dots. As a tip I used a tooth pick, cut the end to the size of the dot you want and just dip it in the paint and dab on the dots, you can get constant size dots.

[@Derpy-qg9hn]

Probably not ideal for display models (size variance is entirely organic after all), but it's worth keeping in mind in order to easily just bap some dots onto the fifteenth gaunt of the day :P

[@Trazynn]

I think the colour scheme is (figuratively) cooler if you leave out the wash or go with a (literally) cooler wash. What I'm trying to say is that the miniature looks more interesting at 4:44.

[@CatgutPainting]

I wanted a warm color scheme, but you can absolutely make this work with a colder one as well. For the all-over wash, I'd suggest using a 1:1:1 mix of AP Dark Tone, AP Quickshade Wash Mixing Medium, and water. That will give you a light grey (rather than bone) for the exoskeleton, and a colder, pale orange on the carapace. You can also swap out the patterning colors, since a black-based wash will work over any color. Feel free to experiment, if you're so inclined.

[@YGOrochi]

Where the HELL! have you been all my life... you painting finesse is insane!

[@garrettharrell5084]

Amazing work dude keep it up! I just striped my whole army to do this scheme, and for anyone who uses citadel paints and wants to do this scheme without having to do the mixing (im not skilled enough to do it either? I found that after priming" base coating with (white scar) then after doing all the other steps, shade with (seraphim sapia) gets super close to this as well. I tryed both ways and found the regular shade looks cleaner vs the contrast paint. Thank you for the video my dude. Thank you for the insperation

[@darkowl9]

This scheme looks incredible, but I'm terrified at the thought of doing a Tyranid-scale army and the time it would take...

[@CatgutPainting]

I'm about to hit 1000pts after about three months of sporadic work. As I often say, it's quicker than it looks, about an hour per Gaunt and four to six for a Carnifex.

[@jeremysaint]

very good job, thanks for the video

[@wap8064]

Really good tutorial ! I'm loving it

[@retrokrempel]

Looks soo sweeeet!!!

[@nonlinear3084]

god that is so impressive.

[@2013Arcturus]

I have great ambitions a few years from now to make a "mantis shrimp" paint scheme. I need to practice airbrushing a lot before I get there though. I'm a pretty good brush painter so I can, I just need time in the seat so to speak.

[@WayneCatlin]

Wow, crazy good!!

[@HornetSilksong1232]

2:18 the look of this somehow made me wonder how a koi fish colour scheme would look on tyranids

[@Mithlinthar]

Woah. This is soooooo good! Please make more tutorials!

[@marcusdahlstrom4883]

Very nice video! Will there be any more comming out soon? Informative video set up step by step! Do you have any other armies besides tyranids? Maybe you can do a video on different ideas for conversions? Or a video on thematic terrain fitting for tyranids? Any ideas on narrative gameplay? Thank you for this awesome video!

[@CatgutPainting]

I'm currently working on a beach basing tutorial, so that'll be up soon. After that I haven't settled on the next topic, so I appreciate the suggestions. I've done a fair bit of painting on different projects- if you check my Instagram link in the description, you can see some of it there.

[@pebblesthecat3625]

This is so cool, and it looks quite easy to follow and not mess up. Could this type of painting be done with other colours, such as a winter camouflage colour scheme ? (I'm not thinking tyranids, but on a Cadian guard army)

[@Bits_Shop]

what make is the brush you used for the dots i can see its a rigger type brush but cant make out the make of it ?

[@CatgutPainting]

It's a D'Artisan Shoppe Minute Series XII, size 4/0- and frankly, the exact brush isn't very important, it just needs to have a flat tip, which you can get if needed by slicing off the end of any old synthetic brush with a knife. That said, if you want the exact brush, it is contained in this pack from Amazon: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7UFLP5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@Bits_Shop]

@@CatgutPainting Thanks for the reply man

[@hallstrimestfoll8775]

Exellent paint sсheme! Love it.

[@Regunes]

if I ever do War40K figurine, i'm def doing the same featuring dark green, green , teal. Unsure about the main color tho.

[@cstengler]

Are there any alternatives for the VMC German Camo Black Brown and Orange Brown? I'd hate to buy a whole set of paints just for 2.

[@CatgutPainting]

Vallejo sells all their paints individually.

[@Bambi_Sapphic]

Brb imma go make some trans flag colour scheme versions of these real quick

[@BEERANID40k]

This is awesome. Makes me want to strip all my guys and give this a shot.

[@AshtraskaPanthera]

That is a wonderful colour scheme and so many good techniques :D

[@wesbrown3831]

Just watched this... Felt compelled to write you and express my admiration for ur skill and creativity on this project... The best paint scheme I have seen... Great job!

[@Nerdypugminatures]

Awesome First! Been following you on Facebook! Thank you so much Fellow Hive mind for sharing !

[@gitgoodpainting6135]

What a really pleasing and different scheme. Massively satisfying to look at I have to say

[@mrtspence]

I like this a lot. You can tell it's a great colour scheme when it's dead simple and manages to look good even with no highlighting at all. Would be a great way to churn out a whole army of good-looking figures. I'd be interested to see how this looks on a bigger figure with some more detailwork and some proper highlights. Might look incredible. Maybe I'll strip one of my models and give it a try. Great work.

[@UmrAl-Tawil4422]

l would love to see you extend this theme to GSC as well

[@adriansmith2639]

Haven’t watched painting vids for a while and this just came up as a random recommendation. Super cool! Absolutely love the style.

[@MonopolyTB]

I have "remade" the sceeme with citadel paints. Here are my picks for colors: Chorax white spray scrag brown - > light brown base Gorthor brown - > dark brown base (might have to darken with black) white scar - > white carapace (chorax white spray is a bit too gray for this part) nuln oil - > crapace shadow and weapons carroburg crimson - > vents and joints contrast sceleton horde - > wash (only used 1 layer). does not achieve the exact same result. it becomes slightly darker, and not as defined (as mentioned in the video). but it is simple. Hope this helped someone :)

[@aikiholic]

I concur with this. I have achieved reasonable results using Rhinox Hide as my dark brown and Seraphim Sepia as my all over wash.

[@Brocklebury]

Absolutely beautiful design and execution. Those 'Nids look stunning!

[@putthebunnybackinthebox9524]

I have joined Hive Fleet COCO CRAB

[@aleksanderolszowka2734]

Hi and thanks for the tutorials. Helped me a lot! Question to anyone here, given the dotting take the lions share of time even with proficiency has anyone experimented with a nail dotting tool lik this?

[@gavinrandall1080]

I like your thinking, I might give this a try.

[@samuelsanfratello4617]

This color scheme is Awesome! These nids must have consumed a lot of crabs in their insatiable hunger for bio-mass!

[@will_of_europa]

God.... dayum........... you got me rethinking my entire army. I have so ma... oh... oh that interesting. I could sell one at a time and replace it. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA SNOW CREB FLEET PHOENIX WILL RISE FROM THE ASHES OF MEDIOCRITY!

[@xraymonx2]

Can we see your whole army on a table? Would to get a impression how it looks like an army!

[@geekchroniclestv]

Juste ouf waouuu impressionnant ^^ ^^

[@maxpayne9253]

your voice and explanation are clear :) thw for the tuto :) keep going

[@thetsarofall8666]

A quick question about the stuff you used to varnish at the end, can they be brushed on if you dont have an airbrush?

[@patrickkeller2193]

How long did it take you to paint the whole model?

[@CatgutPainting]

Without the magnetized arms or base, a little under two hours of total work.

[@patrickkeller2193]

@@CatgutPainting Ok, I either need to paint faster or need more skill ...

[@CatgutPainting]

@@patrickkeller2193 This particular recipe goes really quickly, because the patterning is free-form and any mistakes can be easily cleaned up. If you're following the recipe and still taking longer than you'd like, I think practice and familiarity is really what it comes down to. Everyone can improve with practice.

[@thequeenofnod7338]

I love this scheme so much. You're amazing.

[@TheHouseCommunity]

Love the scheme and made me decide to paint some Tyranids after 10 years away from the hoby and give this a go. Just a question. If you were to paint some wings, how would you do that?

[@CatgutPainting]

I have painted some, actually- I painted them the same as the fleshy bits, but before applying any washes I scrawled some veins with VMC Brown Rose. Here's an example: instagram.com/p/B4Z-oWJHffG/

[@TheHouseCommunity]

@@CatgutPainting Thansk. You are my hero

[@annacooke6343]

I love this so much! Words cannot describe how cool I think this paint job is!

[@quimninja]

Epic paint job and so simple. Great tutorial. Earned a sub easily

[@craigjones7343]

Fantastic paint scheme. This was exactly the technique I was looking for to paint a tiefling devil character for a friend’s DnD character.

[@therickspears]

Hey man! Love this color scheme! I have a question regarding the Pledge Floor Gloss big, how does it run through your airbrush? Any issues at all? I need to varnish some terrain, and the more bullet-proof, the better.

[@CatgutPainting]

Absolutely no issues running it through an airbrush- no dilution needed and it sprays fine with a 0.35mm needle/nozzle at anywhere from 15-25PSI. I use it to seal my terrain too and it's perfect for the task.

[@therickspears]

CatgutPainting Dude, thank you, so nice to hear. I’m working on the new Zone Mortalis terrain, and with all the moving around, I need something that’s going to be up to the challenge.

[@Mnkylord]

Man, I do love this scheme! Reminds me of the German WWII "Ambush" camo pattern, where your color outlines are diffused using dots of neighboring colors. Very, very cool and fun to paint... if i bit time intensive. :P

[@HiveMind3006]

Over from Reddit, thanks for the link. Appreciate it. Definitely need to get back to my Tyranids. I've done them in a cockroach style, each unit slightly different so this scheme should fit right in.Thanks again and awesome work. Subbed and a big thumbs up.

[@TheHouseCommunity]

When you paint the white dots. Do you use VMA air white and if so, dillute it with water aswell?

[@CatgutPainting]

Occasionally Air White (diluted just a bit), but more usually VMC Cold White when painting with a brush.

[@raphaelsilvestro1710]

HELLO CatgutPainting i need your help do you have a way to be joined? let me explain, i live in French Polynésia in the south pacific and fell in love with your idea of coconut crab, I would like to reproduce it but i came back to the warhammer 40k world after 15 year of stop and my old army is painted in an bad amateur's manner. Could you, maybe, help me in my quest and advise me how to clean off the paint and then what citadel paint i should use and how ? i only have citadel paint here sadly...and everything has to be order on internet there is no local shop...and i got no one that can help me or advises me. Thank you for your amazing vidéos.

[@ruex1234]

Looks so good. I'm just starting nids, and I am tempted to try this. Just looks so good.

[@twitchybristles]

I'm gonna try and do this with some Corax White, Scrag Brown and Rhinox Hide, and see if I can thin down some Agrax Earthshade or Seraphim Sepia with matte medium to get a similar effect. Guess we'll see how that goes. Awesome tutorial!