No-Fuss Ultramarines: Everything You Need to Know! [How I Paint Things]

[@davidsaunders2200]

Just want to let you know that this video is still helping people (me) 2 years later

[@TheeMrRasmus]

The thing I enjoy the most about your approche to mini painting is the no fuss and fancy wetblending, highlighting in 17 diffrent layers and everything. Just good old easy painting that still get great results for table top gaming!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

There's a lot to be said for practicing a skill to mastery, whether it's painting, archery, cooking or what have you, but most of us mere mortals aren't aiming to be masters - we just want toys on the table! :D

[@maxbacon3564]

literally the single best tutorial for painting space marines on the internet

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I don't know that I'd go quite that far, but I'm glad to hear it's at least useful! :D

[@therealgingerwhippet]

One of the best tutorials I've seen. Really simple to follow and very well done! Great mini

[@davidgpeterson]

Now THAT is a proper Ultramarine blue! I think so many people paint them to bright. This is just right to me.

[@j.sternmercedes-benz2754]

Oh yeah.. i pushed the like Button.. great great Paint Job.. greetings from Vienna 🇦🇹🇦🇹

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Gruß Gott aus Bayern! :D

[@j.sternmercedes-benz2754]

@@SonicSledgehammerStudio du bist aus Bayern?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I live here, though I'm from New Zealand originally. Far closer than you might have thought, though! 😂

[@tavo9716]

I am relatively new to the hobby, and I couldn't paint a straight line if my life depended on it. This guide is a lifesaver. Best ultramarines I've ever painted were done with this technique and I can't believe I actually painted them. Thank you!

[@jdliefting8926]

I felt like only edge highlighting took relatively long compared to the other steps and that completely took away my moitivation. i roughly followed this guide ( mainly the drybrush method ) and i was finally able to finish a marine in 1 evening which gave me the motivation to continue with 40K. Thank you!

[@justinkotrba2197]

I love the finish on the armor that Munitorum varnish gives. Great video

[@philloynes]

Was having a crisis, looking at my 20 year old minis and looking at my Macragge blue and not knowing how to reconcile it all. Drybrushing the etherium blue is the key! THANK YOU!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Can't beat a quick drybrush once you've got your eye in for how much ought to be on the brush. :D

[@Inconvenient_NPC]

They look as though they have stepped in straight out of the 90s! I love it!

[@davidgpeterson]

I absolutely love the look of dry brushing, especially for marines. For me it’s the perfect blend of edge highlight, and depth but still tends to look a bit worn - just like armor should look.

[@MountainKing88771]

Just started the hobby and a lot of techniques here are alternatives to many other guides. I can't imagine trying to edge highlight everything individually but I will try the dry brushing way of hitting most highlights on my next unit of Space Wolves. Awesome guide man!

[@alexandreclement9399]

I usually don't leave comments on videos but I really enjoyed this video in particular. The technique is very good and accessible, and your tone and rythm are particularly enjoyable. On top of that, the result speakas for itself. Congrats !

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Much obliged!

[@Mensch777]

"... if you do struggle with painting a straight line.." thanks for that! Getting something that looks edge highlighted without actually doing it is great!

[@Narfynarf]

Best guide for beginners. Thanks!

[@robisonwells1]

Looks great. Love the longer-form, in-depth video style. Start to finish.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Glad to hear it! This took an age longer to put together than the usual, so it's nice to know it stands out.

[@philloynes]

YES! Me too!

[@bangboats3557]

very nice finish using good basic techniques . great stuff

[@SamEricEdge]

Gonna put some money down on a year old video. I’m a beginner and really liked your approach, even having watched a ton of video on how to paint miniature armor dudes. Gonna use this as a reference on my next armor dude.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Awesome, thank you! Good luck with him!

[@RussellGuldin]

Wow, that new camera does the job! I never had a problem with your video quality before but what a great difference!

[@philloynes]

This is actually amazing in how simple it is and yet how amazing the result is. Bravo.

[@JC.Denton.]

Probably the best tutorial I found yet.

[@superego13itch]

This video really helped me. I've always liked the Ultramarines since I was a kid. Now at 37 and able to afford the hobby, when I returned 3 years ago Ultramarines were my first stop. But after trying a few painting attempts, I got frustrated. I tried a few other chapters that were simple and even some that weren't. Each time I was frustrated at either the scheme or the fact they just weren't Ultramarines. It got to the point last week where I was ready to swerve Space Marines altogether (upsetting as I'd just got HH: Age of Darkness). But this video has really changed my mind. Thank you so much for uploading this. It may just have saved my hobby.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Really glad to hear it! :D Good luck taking another swing!

[@nrais76]

Very cool, thanks. The basics of this I worked out, still picked up a few tips and its good to get validation as it were. I used to paint Ultramarines back in the 90s and I got back into the hobby with the launch of 8th. I have kids armies to paint, more models and old models to update, and there are way more tools and techniques nowadays.

[@Marshal976]

Great video mate. Fantastic for army painting, and a table of these would look brilliant!

[@scottnewson6533]

Just painted some intercessors after trying the contrast method and being left underwhelmed. followed this method exactly and even as a newbie got some amazing results! Thank you so much for this video!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Glad it helped! Contrast is a useful tool for stuff which has a lot of detail and texture, but on Marines... eh, I don't know. It doesn't really do it for me compared to traditional methods. It's not as if they don't have a purpose, but I prefer the old ways for bigger, flatter panels like you get in power armour.

[@hewlett-packardlovecraft2297]

Wow man- very nice tutorial. And just the right length to paint along to, as well. Not sure why YT didn't recommended you to me before, but I'm glad I've found your channel. Very easy and confident break down of the steps, and great results for the effort. Gonna go dive in to your back catalog of videos, and get lost in a new sub. Thanks for the upload, and enjoy the rest of your weekend.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Thanks for the sub, and really glad to hear you found this interesting! Some of the earlier videos are a little sketchy by today's standards, but I think there's some good stuff lurking back there if you can manage to sit through my fledgling editing attempts! 😅

[@hewlett-packardlovecraft2297]

@@SonicSledgehammerStudio Absolutely, and thanks for the reply. Have a great week.

[@Lothi66]

Damn, you convinced me to try contrasts. I've already had some success with Kislev Flesh and Bugman Glow as a skin color, but the contrast you showed looks great and requires much less work. Apart from that, a great and clear guide.

[@korrp196]

Thank you for this guide! Returned to the hobby after some 20 years and this really helped getting my minis to a standard where I felt good to display and play with them!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Really pleased to hear it! :D

[@firieltindomerel]

Thanks a lot. This reminded why I started following you and why I loved your videos!

[@Mad_mountain05]

Thank you so much for going to the time effort and trouble of creating this awesome resource. I have struggled painting ultramarines for the past 1.5 years. After seeing your wonderful video I went out and bought your recipe and I am so so happy with the results I’ve had!! Deeply grateful to you sir!!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

You're very welcome! Really glad to hear it. :D

[@oswaldbastable4139]

Awesome as ever, love the plasma!

[@89AUSNJO]

Great job. Lovely method to create the edge highlighting. I will paint a tester model and see if I can finally finish all my Ultramarines in that way.

[@johnkelley9877]

This was a great update to the Space Marines figures! Thanks for sharing this.

[@Grithertime]

Excellent! Well done as always!

[@oricalco555co9]

That was a great video. Picked up a couple of really good tips. Thanks very much. 👍

[@DarkWatch-Ian]

Hello again. Really enjoyed this one! I've been working hard trying to paint faces. Now I have a technique to use and I have the paints you used too. I've got sister of battle to build and prime. I wasn't sure if I could do justice to the heads/faces but again you have instilled the confidence I need to make them look good etc. Thank you so much, and I eagerly look forward to your next one. Thank you, kind regards Ian.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Thank you! Faces are something which can be pretty daunting, but the best thing to do is clip a few spare heads off a sprue, glue them up to something you can hold and just start painting to experiment. The best way to overcome those nerves is practice, and there's so many spares in most GW boxes that you're not short on material.

[@stevepickering5978]

Never painted Ultramarines Yet on the to do list, Brilliant work as usual.

[@TheGmjoze]

Really nice paint job, great video to, very clear to follow.

[@stevenrussell8820]

Brilliant thanks I’m going for it soon for my next army

[@torros1839]

I do like the Instar Varnish +

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It's really rather good!

[@andysmith2235]

A really great tutorial, agreed, that flesh contrast is superb too!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Thanks a ton! The Contrast does half the painting for you, it's brilliant. Just a couple highlights and you're golden!

[@AdamK5958]

Looks fantastic! I can't wait yo use this on my Ultramarines, just waiting for the paints to arrive :) I enjoyed the different format on this video :D.

[@alrethianscraftsbattles]

I still paint my ultramarines according to your 1st video and they still look fantastic 😉👍. I will try this method aswell. Cool video my friend 👍

[@paulkielty8385]

I actually like the chalky effect that drybrush gives. I don't want too much on there but it gives a nice ear effect to the armour. As if the lacquer has been derived via damage. I only touch up models that I think should be newer to the field or stealthy ones like Intercessors.

[@Level30Commoner]

Awesome video. Thank you very much! :-) This is the kind of video I love to link to beginners: Easy techniques, executed skillfully and clearly explained.

[@scroggie_mini_painting3983]

Awesome scheme. Will try the dry brush highlights on my next marine 👍🏼

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It can take a bit of practice to get it settled the way you like, but the best part of that is that you're planning to tidy up after the drybrush anyway - go nuts and see what you like the look of!

[@MikePhumanaut]

I really don't enjoy painting straight lines so I love finding folks doing more dry brushing techniques.

[@tacticalheresy5701]

I haven't done it myself, qnd I'm a little slower painting my stuff but if you prime the shoulder pads separately you can get the trim from the outside and not have to worry too much about messing up. This is def more useful on models that are white or colors that are harder to touch up. I'm sure you already knew that but that's for the newer folks here. Happy painting guys!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Definitely worth it if you can prime them separately! It's a bugger for the easy to build kits that're stuck with those shoulder pads on, is all.

[@craigwall5865]

Well painted,well presented..Really enjoy your channel. It has helped my painting a lot..Many thanks.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Great to hear!

[@phyreztorm]

Great video, I love your no/low fuss guides and also adding in the names of citadel alternatives is really appreciated. I would love to see an updated Grey Knight guide similar to this one, if you would do anything different to your last GK video.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Honestly, in the case of Grey Knights I'd actually still do them in exactly the same way. Don't worry about that Grey Knights Steel base paint, you're not gonna need it!

[@danielturner444]

Great video! i think you’ve created the perfect tutorial for newcomers, i shared this in a fb group to a new painter and they found it super helpful. even as a seasoned painter i enjoy your techniques and vids 👍

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Thanks for sharing! It really makes a difference, and I hope it helps whoever ends up watching as well. :D

[@barrylewis3937]

Very helpful for when I attempt mine

[@jeffwiese4037]

Ooh think I'll use the Etherium then Drakenhoff steps from this, then Altdorf with a little Calgar on areas where the light would hit.

[@mbrower22]

Another amazing video as always. I was wondering if you could do a series of this style of video. I would love to see how you handle Imperial Guard, Sisters of Battle and possbily Imperial Armour- Leman Russ or Chimera. Thanks for the amazing content as always.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It'll be something which takes a little while to cycle back around for, but I do have plans to try and fill out these 'one stop' videos for most of the major factions I can get miniatures for.

[@AcrobaticRex]

Great vid as always! I've actually been recently using contrast paints in a similar way to the shades used here, contrast tends to bring the colours together more as they're more pigmented (so it's worth thinning them down more!), but it's a great way to get really vibrant base coats for iconic colour schemes... like for Ultramarines!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I've seen some really interesting results using Contrast and medium to get a glaze effect. I haven't been brave enough to try it myself, yet! 😅

[@AcrobaticRex]

@@SonicSledgehammerStudio They're just gloopier washes :P

[@shaunboast3867]

Gooday! I have done a battle brother and a sargeant using your method and the results are spectacular. Would like to send you some pictures if possible. Great video, really instils confidence.

[@justanothercaptain6566]

Good video as always! Thank you Sir!

[@bluedotdinosaur]

FYI one very easy additional step you can add to brighten up large power armor panels that are too stained by the wash: thin down the base armor color with water in a 50/50 (or more) ratio and brush it back on the wide flat areas like a thin glaze. This requires no fine skill and goes very quickly. It will be very translucent but it's JUST enough original color to return richness to the base - and tone down unwanted coffee stains or splotches.

[@colinb9884]

Thanks for another great video. I'm painting an Ultramarine army at the moment 👍🏻

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Excellent choice! :D

[@JohnR1298]

Very nice job, thank you 👍

[@buzzardbeurling]

Fantastic video!

[@vladimirpotrosky7855]

May the emperor's light shine on you, dude. So many painting channels on here are super pretentious, or else they adopt obnoxious youtuber eNgAgEmEnt personas. So wonderful to see a channel that's good-natured, practical, and shows the accessibility of the hobby while getting amazing results.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to bump some of the metrics by going for the content and style KZbin wants to push, but then it wouldn't be me - and then what's the point? 😅

[@alwo9297]

Appreciate the start to finish approach and what varnish is used. Now, how about those new Black Templars? Black scares me! I've seen so many dark models on the table top and they just don't "snap". Keep up the good work.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I've done quite a few guides on black power armour, now! Sisters of Battle, Deathwatch and even an ancient video showing both Black Templars and Iron Hands in different methods alongside one another. I'm sure you'll find what you need out of one of them!

[@Reddevil-cu8fj]

Keep up the amazing work !!!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I'll certainly try! :D

[@franksanchez1974]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@cameronlane3567]

So I have a question in general. Would priming/ base coating some of that rhino paint you see for jeeps on a miniature make it more durable? Just thoughts I have because I've had printed miniatures break a few times

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I couldn't really say, I've never tried it. I can't imagine it'd make a big difference; you'd be better to print in a mix of semi-flexible resins I guess, so they bounce a little?

[@carltonbirds]

Looks really nice 👍

[@owenepicgamer077]

What should I do if I want the blue to be a lot more saturated ?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It depends a little on how you mean. For the most part, just using straight Drakenhof Nightshade will give you a deeper, more rich blue. Otherwise it might mean using a different blue base entirely.

[@tp6498]

Sonic Bravo! 👏 This is one of the best, highly detailed, space marine paint jobs that is actually doable by a beginner like myself that I've seen here on youtube. One teensy weensy critique if I may...the gun barrel, it's just screaming to be drilled out lol.

[@Rookie40K]

Have you ever tried air Calth Blue clear as a glaze? Just wondering if you know if it will brighten and blend the colors. Love your technique. Thank you for sharing.

[@Scubasgamecorner]

Wow this looks awesome, very well explained too.....Also I have a question if anyone can help me. What is the best way to store my paints in between uses ? standing up ? angled down ? , flat? I see a lot of people do it differently and it confuses me. :)

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It depends a little on what bottles you're using. For the most part I store mine standing upright, I haven't really had much cause to turn them upside down. I'm sure everyone will tell you a different reason why their way is better! 😅

[@MartinJamesLittle]

So long as you make sure the lids are closed, it shouldn't really matter which way up you store your paints. It's far more important to make sure you properly shake your paints before use. Any sludge left at the bottom means you haven't shaken it enough. A ball bearing (that doesn't rust) or glass bead in the pot can really help agitate the pigment through the medium. Once I added agitators I found a lot of my paints applied better and had better coverage as I wasn't shaking them enough.

[@Scubasgamecorner]

@@MartinJamesLittle Thank you for this info :)

[@BDOGreatSaiyanMan]

I love this tutorial! Brought my partner and i the Space Marines + Paint Kit along with some better brushes to see if we are interested in taking the hobby further :) I definitely prefer the look of the dry brush over highlighting edges directly. Ill be using a watered down Agrax Earthshade for the recess shading, will that look ok? Any tips for a newbie??

[@Guru_Swami]

And somehow Sonic just knows that I’ve been staring at future Ultramarines on my table pondering how to slap paint on. 😜

[@artless303]

Very detailed, and yes watched to the end! Do you ever pierce part of the decal to assist with application? For a future video would you be able to do an Emperor’s Children CSM (HH era colours) and…. a Slaanesh follower Traitor Guard?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I tend to find that with the decal solvents out there - Vallejo or MicroSol or whatever you're using - you don't ordinarily need to pierce or cut the decal to get them to sit properly. There will be some areas which stay lifted as it dries, but a couple patient applications of solvent will do the job every time. More Horus Heresy stuff is planned, I've just got my eyes out for more information on the rumoured reboot as it appears!

[@georgekennedy4559]

What's the best substitute for Instar Varnish+ I can get in the US?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Without knowing what you can get in the US, I can't really answer! AK Interactive does a good ultra-matte, but it might be worth checking with local hobby stores or groups to find out what others are using.

[@btdw-mikecooper3961]

Great vid. Would this approach work on vehicles?

[@adamsboringvids]

Is Fenrisian grey a decent alternative?

[@thegrahamsullivanshow566]

I am scared for the day there isn't a "very special how I paint things", I couldn't handle the rejection

[@patimusprime72]

Great tutorial as always. Is there an alternative to etherium blue? That ones not in the toolbox. Would baharoth blue work or is it too bright?

[@Fluffykeith]

Hey mate. Awesome video as always. Can I ask a really dumb question? The cork and spike setup you have for painting the head, how did you actually set up the head on the spike? Was it just a simple drill thingy? What's the spike made of? I just tried to paint a Stormcast with an exposed face and it was a pain in the ass and turned out pretty grim, so looking to try doing the heads seperately.

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

It's not a dumb question if you can't spot how it's done! I buffed the bottom of the neck joint a little flatter with a nail file and then just drilled a hole into it. I have a bunch of corks set aside for the macabre duty of painting heads; just push a dressmaker's pin into them, then clip the head of the pin off. You'll be able to use the 'head spike' again and again with a tiny dab of superglue to hold the head in place while you're painting.

[@Ben-ns7bv]

Did you varnish him for the end shot Sonic?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Yup! Munitorum Varnish is the way forward for Marines.

[@Sheezar]

Absolut perfect 🖌️

[@thanasisgeronimos9124]

at 12:38 where you show the ''mistake'' ...i have to say....i would leave it as it is...BECAUSE...it makes the illusion that the metallic gold part of the shoulder pad is larger and thicker over there for any number of reasons...1..more armor...2 as a way to suggest he is a lieutenant...or a seargent ...someone important on the battlefield....

[@yagsipcc287]

This is brilliant :-)

[@TheEr910]

Looks good

[@mikeogden6239]

Updated Salamander painting guide!!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Not much point, honestly - it'd look like this with different paints. I wouldn't change anything in it, since there hasn't really been any stunning developments in the new field of painting Salamanders. 😅

[@barrylewis3937]

Do you do commissions?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I haven't the time, I'm afraid!

[@madsrahbek6668]

Greatly appreciated :-)

[@yoyoyo9669]

woohoo new video!

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@tjw139]

Great video. I think this might be the Kiwi you've sounded thus far, eh

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Could be! I think I've been the only one around here speaking English for so long it's reset my accent. 🤣

[@АндрейБондарев-о3к]

Why are you don't drilling holes in the guns?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

Because I don't want to. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@АндрейБондарев-о3к]

@@SonicSledgehammerStudio , but if you do it, it could look much better

[@michaeltrivette1728]

I gave this a like just for pronouncing decals correctly.

[@DailYxDosE]

All that for one mini? I feel like I’ll never get my first game in 😭

[@primalconvoy]

Actually, it's good to varnish a model before you apply decals, as it makes the surface better to apply to. In some cases, depending upon the final finish, some model makers use a matte or gloss varnish FIRST, and then the opposite varnish AFTER applying the decals. This acts like a "colour filter" in Photoshop, whereby all of the the model has the same "colour/texture" outdoor to the final vanish application. Anyway, why didn't you paint the eyes? He looks blind...

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

If I'd been thinking about it at the time, I'd have used the brush-on varnish first where the decals were going to be, then spray varnished later. Citadel's decals are generally pretty good, though, and especially with those made in the last couple of years you don't see the film backing once they're dry - even more so with the solvent layer! As for painting eyes, I generally don't bother for anything destined for the tabletop. You just don't see them at arm's length! With the scales involved, once you put one of these guys on the table he's standing about 300 yards away - difficult to spot a real person's eyes at that range, anyway. There comes a point where you've got to pick some corners to cut if you want to finish something the simplest way possible, and eyes are usually the first to go!

[@hitoshidoth3503]

Dear sir, when are you going to paint his guide dog. Because he looks a little visually impaired. Otherwise a very impressive video.

[@Steve_Keen]

TIL I pronounce gorget incorrectly.

[@Kubrzesz]

I have some issues. When you've started painting his hair, for a moment I thought he looks like Trump 😱. Urgh 🤢 . Space Force = Space Marines 😂?

[@SonicSledgehammerStudio]

I don't think he's got a monopoly on blond hair just yet...!

[@russellpeters6393]

Great video, very helpful!