Amazing Looking Armies with ONE TRICK

[@SquidmarMiniatures]

Gosh donkit thats purdy

[@Pbobadomy3]

WAAAARLOOOORRRD TIIIIITAAANN

[@drhapi5308]

Hey I know this guy!

[@travis8106]

Hello Emil and Lukas!

[@davidallen7053]

Quit licking you brush weirdo.

[@BaconLordBear]

No you are ❤

[@Vorpal_Wit]

P3 Coal Black (its a really deep desaturated Blue), Tamiya Black Panel Liner, selective edge highlighting with any warm gray, THEN gloss varnish (I actually prefer a Satin). This is a great recipe for easy black carapace.

[@MaskedRiderChris]

Noted, and this is a capital idea that I'll try on my next major Cryx mini project....

[@elijahhaase5058]

I've really never cared for Tyranids, mostly because of the cartoonish paint schemes you usually see them with, but this was incredible! Honestly the best looking Tyranid paint scheme I've ever seen.

[@exigo2625]

i second this, looks amazing and terrifying

[@adammackrory655]

Thirded

[@gilledgar2243]

Forthed? Almost went from Tyranic sceptic to tyranid curious.

[@andivon8886]

There's a person who does Tyranids on YT that are based on real-life crabs (tiger crabs, I think) which are beautiful and scary. Ninjon's color scheme here reminded me of those.

[@andivon8886]

Which if you liked this scheme, you might like that one.

[@JasonPope989]

This is one of the best schemes for tyranids I've ever seen, organic and realistic!

[@Carbide-1]

Love your direct nature and dry humor Jon, oh and your painting's great too!

[@flowerknight4879]

you make the best miniature painting content by far.

[@01huntingtown]

This was great - I know the purpose of the video was to show a theory, but honestly just seeing you go through the steps of painting a single mini was lovely.

[@chillausmc]

oh man so many prize winners! Ninjon da best!

[@karstedt9987]

I like the gloss black carapace look but you are right that it doesn't quite pop at a lot of angles (when you did the rotation though it looks great at some angles when the light catches it and you can see the detail). I'm curious what it would look like if you tried to highlight it like you would with matte, then use gloss varnish to shine it up.

[@robsilvester6213]

At least an edge highlight feels needed. Could do it in purples, bring in just that small touch of lore-accurate colour to this interpretation.

[@zramirez5471]

Jon those are the best Nids I've eve seen! They really capture the horror vibe! The most I've ever thought of a nid scheme was to do an airbrush color-shift paint over the hard bits to give the kind of effect that a lot of dragonflies and beetles have

[@Withered416]

Watching your videos recently has made me realize the important of light in miniature painting. Also what you mentioned about simplicity strikes deep. My first army that I painted up recently was Death Guard and as much as I love them, and there’s so much to appreciate up close, they definitely look a bit like a blob of green from far away. My next project is going to be an army of Imperial Fists and I plan to delve deep into underground the color scheme before I start painting. Thanks for the great videos!

[@TheLightLOD]

My trick for color schemes is using the older Dawn of War PC games, combined with mods those feature most of the factions and allow you to switch colors in near an instant in their army painter. That said, it is always still a good plan to get some sacrificial models like the Gargoyles from the old Tyrannid start collecting kit to try the scheme out on and make adjustments where necessary since those games are limited in what they can do.

[@EspenShampoo25]

out of all the mini painers i watch you have the best style in my opinion. Your miniatures look great up close while many of the other ones have all these very noticable brush streaks all over the miniaturs

[@bocktordaytona5656]

This is the first time in 16 years since I got to know warhammer that I liked/ loved a tyranid just thanks to the paintjob. Awesome!

[@stephenbutler9432]

I think if you dry brushed some grey/light grey on to the carapace before you added the gloss it would have shown the detail a little bit better. But overall that is super dope! I dub it Hive Fleet Giger.

[@Taller-Tale]

I love it when you use an airbrush! It’s such a time saver and I want to understand how to paint an army as quick as possible!

[@chaoscultist5679]

Absolutely love the addition of that subtle rust color into the depths of the black carapace, makes it SO much more visually interesting and looks great!

[@brooksf-l7619]

I enjoyed watching you strike out on your own and end up back pretty close to the box paint scheme, but in its own way.

[@TimZoet]

I personally love to put a coloured glaze over some of the black; something like a dark blue, or dark green, give it a small bit of highlight on the edges, and THEN put the gloss varnish over it. This gives the armor some good details and more life than just shiny black plates.

[@somethingbatty950]

This looks amazing! I particularly love the wings! If you're still keen to test ideas on the carapace, whilst sticking to the Xenomorph theme from Alien, maybe try adding some blues (particularly metallic blues) as the highlights, restricting the pure black to just the deepest recesses.

[@TheGodOfWarhammer]

THIS is currently the most important video regarding 10th edition. I appreciate the ideas provided here!

[@Gomolon95]

That paint scheme looks even better than I imagined!! Agree about the gloss varnish, something about the current effect makes it look like the paint is too thick and covering the details, maybe a slightly lighter shade of black would help, like a dark dark blue?

[@zentinelable]

amazing model. Just a quick idea. I think that mixing a bit of a dark blue with the black could have been a great idea too.

[@ericskov7296]

Haven't even finished the video yet... THANK YOU for the update on the cheap airbrush! I've been wondering how that had worked out in the long term.

[@oscarjames2004]

The black would look really good with some sort of prismatic effect where it shines purple and green like a beetle's carapace, but that's just my opinion. Nice!

[@byrond1096]

That’s a great idea!

[@hurmly4128]

Man, I'd love to see that carapace get highlighted with a deep violet, or even a violent with some pearl effects in it? Really, really great video. This has got me thinking!

[@ionminiatures]

Yes the overall colour scheme is fantastic, I love it. But maybe a bit of highlights with some medium to light greys on the carapace would help with the definition after (or maybe before?) the gloss varnish.

[@archmeridian8334]

It would be cool of you did a juxtaposition with the Leviathan box, painting the Space Marines like Tyrranids and the Tyranids like Space Marines. Seems like it would be a good way to practice painting both factions while also studying how painting a Tyrannid like a Space Marine could help you paint Marines in the future, and vise-versa.

[@WhatsleftofTom]

Looks rad dude. How about if you just did some normal highlighting and layering on the black before gloss-ing it? Bluey black highlights might provide some fun extra contrast with the warm skin too

[@stefanblackadder5236]

Ninjon I want to thank you. I used your coupon code at Monument Hobby. I bought almost the entire line, including yours and Vinc’s set. It was a birthday present. It helped offset the fact that I’m old and washed up 😂. I’m not a Warhammer/Army genre painter. I’m more of the Kanaev, Shepard Paine, Bill Horan historical figures. I say this because I love your channel, and others (Vince’s) among them, for your dedication to education and learning, and striving to get better. I don’t think I’m the only one in this community who finds this art form as therapeutic. It’s important to me that you know you’re reaching beyond your genre. And thank you for all the hard work you put in to your channel.

[@maddogmadden23]

I can attest that the starter airbrush is a great buy. I still use mine for over a year being my main brush

[@ObsidianCrane]

When painting the insect parts of my Nurgle force recently, I did something similar with the carapice elements. As you mentioned in the video I painted the black carapice as I would normally for black and then I applied a gloss red over them. This leaves the majority looking black (and glossy), but also gives the highlights more interest than just depending on the gloss to do all the work. You could use any gloss for the finish - blue with a bit of green over areas to really push those carapice images for example.

[@abelhernandez2097]

Hey Ninjon, have you heard of the Eastern Hercules beetle. Classification: Dynastes Tityus Scarabaeidae. It matches your paint scheme pretty well. And spots would be a pretty easy addition to the paint scheme. Love you're channel man. Awesome work!

[@Dresden76]

Love the video and message behind it! I don’t know how many times I’ve burned out because I’ve tried to paint an army at just under display level. Table top quality looks great for its intended purpose when done right and coming up with a scheme to get to the table fast is awesome. I like the rust on the carapace but would skip the blood on the wings.

[@maquard3223]

Hey Ninjon! As usual, a nice Paintjob! But here a little clue from me, i had a tyranid army a long long time ago and did painted them in a full Alien style. The way to go to get the realy nice carapax look is to add to the black a tiny little grey metal paint, after that applied and dryed i did added to the shadows some brown glaze and to the highlights some blue glaze, to get the full looklike of an Alien like carapax.

[@brycenovak3880]

Starting Necrons for 10th, really liked your statements on finding inspiration. Looking at older furniture usually does it for me, that’s how I decide what I’m liking. For future videos instead of reinventing the wheel, maybe create a video (or series) that describes how you find the fun in those larger projects to keep going. Less of a how to, and more of a, this is where I keep going without hurting my own enjoyment. Maybe something with specific units too, leaders or monsters, and what you do different? Regardless, thanks for all you do. Sincerely, you and Miniac motivate me to get back to painting every day.

[@mtrox7848]

Looks freakin dope Jon. Will be interesting to see how you approach the more pysker based units

[@sirbobulous]

After that original video on that small airbrush kit I bought one and...you were right, it's very useful. The biggest thing for me was the space required as I just don't have the room for a compressor. While that cheap kit is about a 6 inch by 4 inch box I can stick in a standard drawer. Really make an airbrush a viable option for me. Thanks Ninjon!

[@philhealey2520]

This was a great video, I personally didn't care for the rust at the end... But it did need something. We are all different and that's one of things that I love in your videos.

[@Eldaino999]

The sheer amount of Duran Duran song titles incorporated deserves much more attention. Oh nice painting, too.

[@tryllner0r]

I think that by using a color shift paint as a highlight near the top of the gloss black section before you apply your finish gives it another quick contrasting element as well as helps make the black not feel so flat and more reflective.

[@thomsonelite]

I came up with an awesome carapace effect. Painted the carapace with Phalanx yellow, and a black rim around the edges, then I spot-washed the yellow with reikland fleshshade so that the carapace had this natural gradient from yellow, all the way through a warm orange. Then in top, a thick layer of Mortant earth, wich is a black crackle paint. The result was absolutely stunning for the simple steps. The normally smooth carapace got this rough and bumpy exterior and this sickly/venomous thing poking up from beneath

[@davidmoss9733]

Man, you are a proper professional. Your style is educational, entertaining and good for beginners and veterans alike. Good shit, dude!

[@nicklauswest9274]

Been watching you all of 2022 and now 2023’ and I can say with confidence this is my favorite model you’ve painted.

[@jakublhotan9029]

Thank you so much Ninjon! We are starting tyranid army. I will watch the video several times 😍

[@familymeeple]

I've always loved Tyranids - they were my very first army in 40K and will always have a special place in my heart. Mini looks great (as always!) 😍🥰 I particularly liked the "unfortunately, my toothbrush appeared to be broken..."! 🤣

[@clintmoll9445]

Excellent work. I can see your point about more light values in the black sections. A contrast paint perhaps would've worked better. Love the perspective that its all about learning and becoming a better painter.

[@Lakrizzer]

I love that you went black! But what i would have done is a blue light comming from above, like moonlight. I think that would contrast perfectly with the warm skin tones 😁

[@daxdynamite2750]

In the Alien footage/stills the Xenos had kind of a dark blueish sheen to their carapace. Maybe try recreating that with some highlights or washes? I'm a beginner level painter, so don't ask me how though.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Jon . 🐺

[@RJP0PE1]

My go to for shiny blacks is to edge highlight with Vallejo 309 Periscopes from the Panzer Aces line. It creates a beautiful contrast with black and gives an almost leathery appearance which when covered with a high gloss varnish should give you that nice Xenomorph carapace effect.

[@cam-the-bassist]

The rust colour on the carapace looks awesome to me - and it feels somewhat thematic to the grossness of the nids. Almost like a toxic secretion. I'm currently painting some votann with inspiration from your vibrant zenithal videos - I've done purple from below, rose from above and a final high burst of pink for the very top. Basically they're synthwave Dwarves and I love them. Just need to decide on the actual armour colour over the zenithal - I'm thinking about a vibrant purple or pink to compliment the base shades. Thanks for all the inspiration dude

[@Ian-ph6el]

one of the few content creators who compliments us on our intestinal fortitude😆, quality content fella and one hell of a paint job

[@shelbynichol300]

Looks amazing!! Please do your whole army this way!

[@Opossum_Jenkins]

This video is what got me into mini painting and I’m almost finished with my Tyranid army

[@lawrenceviii4877]

I think that's a solid start for sure. I'm feeling a normal, non-glossy, edge-highlighted carapace instead with a blue tint to feed the color wheel, along with some mottling on the wings. But that's just me!

[@aspectnato8077]

Probably the gnarliest looking 'Nid I've ever seen, the blood effect really does bring it together!

[@MartyBucholz]

I picked up that same air brush, the first one i got crapped out quickly, but after returning it I got a replacement and it has been working great, a really great starter tool

[@strohslights4996]

Love these videos. On my worst days they get me out of bed and at least printing and priming and a on good day painting.

[@Faramous]

I think it came out beautifully. My favourite areas are the wing blends and the carapace.

[@horatio_]

0:09 2 Duran Duran wordplays in under 10 seconds - most impressive

[@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy]

As for my own little inspiration, I have been hanging onto some goblin spider riders for ever, not knowing how to paint the spiders. I then took a picture of a St Johns Cross spider hanging in my garage and now have the colour scheme. These spiders are literally brilliant with a base colour that lifts from a brown similar to Rhinox hide, orange, through to a lighter bunny fur brown, flesh tearers red, fluro white and yellow. And the bonus? The spiders are the same size as the models, so no size adjustment. Now if I can just get the little so and so to model on the table for me , without the cat trying to eat her.

[@part_time_commie]

This is a very nice color scheme, I love it. I think the carapace could be enhanced by using a much lighter black, glossing it and using a black oil wash. Since oil paint dries very matte, you would get a contrast of tone and texture.

[@Alstevens83]

For the Nids while I stuck with the creamy white/purple for the main troops of Nids, when it came to the Genestealers and Broodlord I did a more facehugger like skin and the purples, it actually worked out well. However the Zoethropes I over used the volupus pink and the main head part stands out as a physic troop choice. If I was to start a new army like say Sisters of Battle then I know the colour schemes perfectly. Each element of the army would be differet Samus Arran power suits from the metorid Series so for exampe the basic troops would be in the Varia suit.

[@kiemenhund]

Absolutely - Im planning my second ever 40k army next to my Black Templars - Tyranids. Was thinking of a similar scheme, but with a lot more color in it.

[@uchall4749]

Love the paint scheme.. how would you go about giving the black that oily blueish hue that you find on beetles etc?

[@MaskedRiderChris]

My Giger Cryx army is a good example of how I'm trying something new in the spirit of what you were doing here, attempting to replicate H.R. Giger's artwork in 3-D, and it's going,...ehh. It could be better and it's making me crazy. If I played Tyranids, they'd definitely be Giger/Xenomorph-inspired, like this, for sure. It's me trying to push myself into doing something different in the spirit of what you spoke of here.

[@tanukiworkshop]

Great work ! An idea to make them look even more unsetteling would be to add veins texture / vascularisation to the wings. You could consider those color shift paints on the chitine and eggs to make them look pearlescent ?

[@Bound2Asgard]

Great video. While not planning on anything in 10th edition, I have just recently found interest in Age of Sigmar and have a Nighthaunt army to paint. This video and many of your others are a great inspiration and are giving me much more confidence. Thank you!

[@Jonahfishfighter]

Shout out to that entry level airbrush kit review - been using mine for a year and a half ish and still kicking

[@reallyangrygeese669]

Amazing Vid, I've also been thinking about how to do a paint scheme for the Tyranids in the Leviathan box so this video was right on the money. If you're wondering what to do when the actual box comes out, I've been wondering how I'm going to try and get the most out of all the small bugs without agonizing too much over every single model, and what are the details I should definitely not scrimp on to get the biggest effect at a distance, when painting hordes of absolute chumps.

[@berb_yt]

That scheme will look so good on an entire army, because of the heavy contrast. For the carapace Black Templar Contrast paint might do the trick as it is very slightly blue, and being a Contrast paint, shows some of that nice luminance of the off-white underneath.

[@Trulli9]

Used to have nids all black and shiny like the alien carapace, but with bright yellow lines on the carapace. Looked a bit like wasps and the contrast between black and yellow made them look really agressif.

[@Northman91]

This looks disgustingly amazing! I also really love how that rust effect looks on that gloss black carapace. and for an idea have you ever tried to paint a miniature with watercolors? not sure if it would turn out cool or just like a crappy contrast wash mess.

[@SparklingEyesPhoto]

Loved this video. Just what I needed. Idea for video on the box. How to find a paint scheme and then apply it to all of your army without everthing looking all the same. Mixin and matching the colours within the same scheme.

[@zachbabcock6550]

The thing that really sparked in my brain was doing a blue purple turbo dork paint over the gloss varnish. I think it may add more of the "xeno" shade from the picture you showed. Really cool model though! Inspiring for sure.

[@DrFunkin]

The Black Carapace is a cool idea, I think it could really really pop by making a chromatic black, maybe mixed purple and green paint to give it a subtle contrast from the fleshy bits, with a touch of iridescent medium to make it have a little bit of color shift with the gloss under the light.

[@VASM160689]

Looks awesome! I think that with a black contrast or some lighter edge highlight on the carapace, it would reveal those details and bring it up a notch. The rust effects look cool and like they belong, so probably can keep that one.

[@herbbreymaier6478]

6:20 you mention mineral spirits...what is that? And where can I get them?

[@8triagrammer]

Coincidentally, I just started painting a SM army with gloss black parts like the helmet, elbow plates, etc. I edge highlight and usually have some degree of light/dark modulation before I gloss coat, and it works well.

[@vee_tinymoose]

Love it! I think contrast / translucent paint on the black would be great, or layering and highlighting with some deep blues or purples. Something to allow some light and dark rather than the flat colour?

[@robford1225]

I love this paint job! The only thing I would consider is to use a dark colour-shift on the carapace on top of the gloss black to introduce some of the colour seen in the h r geiger alien images.

[@Lord_Nielsen]

You should’ve used you’re logic for the coella green shade into the carapace recess, a few layers of nurgles rot and a thin wash of a darker green on top could have tied in the green more!

[@ReneeSolomon-i4s]

Looks AMAZING, Jon, as always. I particularly like the addition of the eggs and the bloody strands of gore! You continue to inspire me!!!!

[@Thameno]

The only bugs I ever painted were a small Tyranid army for the store back then, that was 20 years ago. Now I only have the Tyranids from the Space Hulk box on my shelf of shame, which are still only half painted. After seeing this video of yours, I'm thinking about redesigning them completely, this comic book-like color scheme I was aiming for back then seems kind of out of time. So thanks for the idea!

[@Perkustin]

Nice video, there was no sign of Jump Primaris so i'm pivoting away from the Blood Angles to a Drukhari Combat patrol as i already have all the units. So it was good food for thought as i'm still working which colours i'm gonna pick. Great scheme and the model does look very good overall however i think the gloss is a little too, well, gloss, imo it defeats the illusion of scale produced by the rest of the exquisite painting (love the 'rust' in the cracks btw defo an instant win, no need for a rework). I think a more subtle gloss, even satin, effect through an airbrush would be more effective, the brush applied gloss to my eyes creates specular splodges of reflection that look obviously toy like. Although the Tyranid range features some very sharp edges on the carapace that look good gloss, the main hunchback plate common to all of the bugs is softer in it's form, lacks sharp striations, and gives the impression of a more porous bone-like material rather than Giger-esque rock hard silicate, this is where the intense gloss really fails for me.

[@boardgamewoodsman8378]

Not a Ninjon video without some good 80s montage music. Gimme More!😅 Actually liked the matte black better than the gloss but thanks for the video. Exactly what Ive been looking for as I take on some new armies. Had some painters block for a couple of weeks

[@gregmccormack5709]

Adding the contrast with the rust effect looks great. Very noice!

[@deeplystrange0]

Hands down the best Tyranid I've seen, The glossy black looked faboo.

[@Averagejoepainting]

Yep I sure am I found a way to do simple fire style carapace with ghostly blue skin. It’s really cool look. IMHO of course.

[@DiviNazuphus]

Doing A gradient highlight on the carapace before the gloss to give it more character underneath. From Black to a slightly lighter black or to a dark cool color. I think that would improve how the carapace looks and make it match the rest of the model a bit more as it looks too different from the flesh part, like its something added on after from some plastic toy.

[@EridianX]

I go by the rule of when i am painting a group, i have levels of painting i do. For basic normal units i put on the base color scheme, add some detailing to get them in line with the overall look, and that's really it. For more elite units i do the same but then add that extra little bit of detailing here and there, more effort on the base, etc. And then for characters or big units in the army i put as much detailing in as i can, making them the crown jewel of the army. Then if i feel like it i can go back to the normal units and up the quality a little here and there, but i don't stress over it. Making the important units look the best is a good way to lower fatigue when painting a whole army.

[@chillausmc]

I always imagined Tyranids to be glass obsidian black like Xenomorph "Alien". Glossy, slimy and metalic. This emphasizes the hard carapace that can deflect small arms fire and attacks. Super freakn cool

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

I REALLY love how this paint scheme turned out! I'm also not a fan of that white and purple color scheme that is usually on Tyranids. I think the only bit I'd change would be the rust highlights at the end. Bringing back that cool green to highlight the carapace would have been sweet. You could even use the Uhu Glue with some green to give your eggs a nice slimy coat.

[@jamierothfeder]

Really nice scheme for the exoskeleton. Thanks for showing the benefit of an oil wash. Not a huge fan of the glossy carapace. Never trust the tabletop light, paint it instead. What you have there is very close to the leviathan color scheme -- just use a super dark purple instead of the black. Also, I really appreciate your airbrush content.

[@shawnclark1261]

i liked the scheme before the black and this one. the gore effects are nice. maybe some blueish shade on the balck

[@dan_hahn]

At Time Stamp 5:37 you are applying a white paint and... I gotta ask because I adore this scheme and gotta give it a spin on my own leviathan box--what paint is that you're using?

[@drhapi5308]

My nids are well underway! I got a black to shine on my Nids by drybrushing Necron compound on it.

[@Mr.Glitch]

I'm Lovin it! I've been away from minis for 30 years, came back a month or so ago and waiting to get stuck into my fave faction finally. I've been slumming it with Dark Angels. 😂 Im toying with the idea of a paint scheme based around praying mantis, but I'm so out of practice with colour theory etc, I'm worried I'll just be painting dark angels with bigger teeth.

[@ScytheNoire]

I was liking where it was going up until the gloss varnish, sponging, goo, and rust. I think just a clean black with some highlighting in a dark purple or blue. Do love the maggot flesh tones though, they came out great.

[@kmykz]

If I can get my hands on the Leviathan box to I will have a go with the 'nids. I already got me a box of Termagants to try out some schemes. From pictures I like them most in vibrant colours and I might try fluorescent ink for an aggressive acid-y look.

[@PraetorGix]

My man! That color scheme is so amazing that you even made Tyranids look cool! Great job on this one...