- The Crimson Court – Complete Painting Guide
Introduction
The Crimson Court are an elite band of Soulblight vampires from the Mortal Realms, each reflecting different aspects of vampiric power. Prince Duvalle, the regal and cunning leader, is a master of strategy and charm. Vellas von Faine embodies graceful lethality, her sleek armor and flowing hair reflecting her swift, deadly combat style. Gorath the Enforcer is the brute force of the group, his massive frame and dark armor reflecting his relentless power. Ennias Curse-born strikes from the shadows with his bat-like wings and feral, predatory nature. This painting guide will walk you through each model’s specific elements with efficiency, providing both narrative inspiration and tactical insight to bring these vampires to life.
Model Preparation
Cleaning: Carefully remove all mold lines and flash from the models using a hobby knife or file. This step is critical to achieving a clean, professional finish.
Assembly: Assemble the models with plastic glue. Consider leaving certain components—such as Ennias' wings or larger weapons—separate until after painting for easier access to detailed areas.
Priming: Use Chaos Black or Grey Seer primer. Chaos Black is recommended as it provides deeper shadows and suits the dark vampiric aesthetic, ensuring rich reds and stark pale skin tones pop against the armor.
1. Skin (All Models)
The skin of the Crimson Court is cold, pale, and ghostly, emphasizing their undead nature. This step will unify all models with a spectral skin tone while allowing for subtle variations.
Basecoat:
Use Pallid Wych Flesh across all skin areas. This cold, off-white base serves as the foundation for the vampiric pallor.
Shading:
Grey Shadows (Deep Muscle Recesses and Jawline): Thin Drakenhof Nightshade with Lahmian Medium (1:1 ratio) and apply it in deep recesses such as jawlines, under the cheekbones, and in the muscular recesses for a cold grey-blue tone. This creates a sharp contrast, reinforcing their undead nature.
Pink Shadows (Eyes, Lips, and Cheeks): Apply Carroburg Crimson, thinned with Lahmian Medium (1:3 ratio), around the eyes, nostrils, and lips to introduce a subtle hint of life and warmth without overpowering the cold look.
Layering:
Reapply Pallid Wych Flesh to the raised areas—cheekbones, nose, and knuckles—leaving the shaded areas for contrast.
Highlights:
Use White Scar on the highest points (tips of the cheekbones, knuckles, and nose) to emphasize the stark, gaunt features of these vampires, giving them a sharp, otherworldly look.
Optional Glaze:
To enhance the spectral quality of their skin, apply a thin glaze of Fenrisian Grey mixed with Lahmian Medium (1:4 ratio). This gives the skin a faint bluish hue, heightening the undead feel.
2. Armor (Prince Duvalle, Gorath the Enforcer, Vellas von Faine)
The armor across the Crimson Court varies in style, but all follows similar techniques for shading and highlighting. This approach ensures both efficiency and consistency.
Prince Duvalle – Red Armor
Basecoat: Apply Mephiston Red to the armor panels, capturing the regal intensity of Duvalle’s presence.
Shade: Use Nuln Oil in the recesses to deepen the shadows.
Layer: Use Evil Sunz Scarlet on the raised areas, leaving the recesses darker to add depth.
Highlight: Edge highlight with Wild Rider Red on the prominent edges, ensuring the armor catches the light.
Extreme Highlight: Apply Fire Dragon Bright on the sharpest corners and edges for a vibrant final highlight, symbolizing Duvalle’s brilliance as both a leader and warrior.
Gorath the Enforcer – Black Armor with Blue-Grey Highlights
Basecoat: Apply Abaddon Black evenly over all armor plates.
First Highlight: Use Dark Reaper along the armor’s edges, mimicking the cold, brutal nature of Gorath’s personality.
Second Highlight: Apply Thunderhawk Blue for sharper highlights, emphasizing the armor's ridges and contours.
Extreme Highlight: Use Fenrisian Grey on the sharpest edges to give his armor a stark, cold finish, reflecting his unrelenting force.
Vellas von Faine – Black Armor with Teal Highlights
Basecoat: Apply Abaddon Black evenly over the armor.
First Highlight: Use Incubi Darkness for edge highlights, giving the armor an ethereal, spectral appearance.
Second Highlight: Apply Kabalite Green on the sharper edges for a striking teal highlight.
Extreme Highlight: Use Sybarite Green on the most prominent points for a crisp, final highlight, mirroring her swift and deadly combat style.
3. Red Cloaks and Cloth (Prince Duvalle, Gorath the Enforcer, Vellas von Faine)
The crimson cloaks and flowing cloth of these characters unify their aesthetic and add a rich contrast to their pale skin and dark armor.
Basecoat: Use Khorne Red to cover the cloaks and fabric.
Shade: Apply Nuln Oil into the recesses and folds to create deep shadows.
Layer: Use Wazdakka Red on the raised folds to brighten the fabric.
Extreme Highlight: Apply Wild Rider Red on the sharpest edges for a vibrant finish, enhancing the flowing, dramatic appearance of the fabric.
4. Hair (Prince Duvalle, Vellas von Faine, Ennias Curse-born)
Each model’s hair is a defining feature, ranging from stark black to ethereal gradients.
Prince Duvalle – Black with Subtle Highlights
Basecoat: Apply Abaddon Black evenly.
First Highlight: Use Eshin Grey for subtle edge highlights.
Extreme Highlight: Apply Dawnstone on the tips for a sharp, ghostly finish.
Vellas von Faine – Black to Teal Gradient
Basecoat: Use Abaddon Black for the base.
Layer: Apply Incubi Darkness at the tips, blending upward.
Second Layer: Use Kabalite Green at the midpoints, blending toward the ends.
Extreme Highlight: Use Sybarite Green for sharp highlights at the very tips for a spectral, teal finish.
Ennias Curse-born – Dark Blue to White Gradient
Basecoat: Apply Dark Reaper across the hair.
Layer: Use Thunderhawk Blue for the midsections.
Highlight: Apply Fenrisian Grey toward the tips.
Extreme Highlight: Use White Scar on the ends for the brightest highlights.
5. Weapons and Metallic Details (All Models)
Their weapons and armor trims are dark, cold, and sharp, reflecting their deadly nature.
Basecoat: Apply Leadbelcher across all metallic areas (weapons, trims).
Shade: Use Nuln Oil in the recesses for shadow and depth.
Highlight: Edge highlight with Stormhost Silver for a crisp, sharp metallic finish.
Optional Glaze: Apply a glaze of Guilliman Blue to give the metallics a spectral, cold tint.
6. Leather Details (All Models)
Leather straps, belts, and boots add warmth to the otherwise cold palette of the Crimson Court.
Basecoat: Apply Rhinox Hide across all leather areas.
Shade: Use Agrax Earthshade for shadows.
Highlight: Use Skrag Brown for the edges and raised areas.
Extreme Highlight: Apply Gorthor Brown sparingly on the sharpest edges for a worn, rugged look.
7. Wings (Ennias Curse-born)
Ennias Curse-born’s bat-like wings are a focal point of his model, transitioning from dark outer membranes to pale inner flesh.
Outer Wing (Dark, Black-Grey Tones)
Basecoat: Apply Abaddon Black to the outer surfaces of the wings.
Shade: Use Nuln Oil to deepen the shadows in the recesses.
Highlight (Outer Membranes): Apply Eshin Grey to the raised areas.
Extreme Highlight: Use Dawnstone on the sharp ridges for contrast.
Purple Tint: Optionally glaze with Druchii Violet to add a slight purple hue.
Inner Wing (Pale Flesh with Pink Undertones)
Basecoat: Use Rakarth Flesh on the inner membranes.
Shade: Apply Carroburg Crimson in the recesses for a warm, fleshy tone.
Layer: Use Pallid Wych Flesh on the raised areas.
Extreme Highlight: Use White Scar on the sharpest edges and thinnest sections for a translucent effect.
Pink Glaze: Glaze with Carroburg Crimson to enhance the warm, pinkish tones.
8. Gold Accents (All Models)
Tarnished gold trims and details give these models an ancient, regal look.
Basecoat: Use Retributor Armor for all gold areas.
Shade: Apply Agrax Earthshade to tarnish and darken the gold.
Highlight: Use Liberator Gold on raised edges.
Extreme Highlight: Apply Stormhost Silver sparingly to create a bright reflection on the sharpest corners.
9. Basing (All Models)
To match the ancient, gothic feel of the Crimson Court, the bases should emphasize weathered stone paving, steps, and rubble. This approach will enhance the dark and mysterious narrative of the vampires stalking through ruined cities or ancient castles.
Stone Paving and Steps
Basecoat: Start by applying Mechanicus Standard Grey to all the stone paving and steps on the base. This provides a solid foundation for the stone, mimicking the look of weathered masonry.
Shading: Apply Nuln Oil across the entire stone surface, allowing it to settle into the recesses between the stones and around the steps. This adds depth and enhances the details of the stone texture.
Layering and Highlighting:
First Layer: Drybrush the stone with Dawnstone to bring out the raised areas. This step will start to give the stones a more natural, worn look.
Highlight: Lightly drybrush the stone again with Administratum Grey, focusing on the edges of the steps and the corners of the paving stones.
Extreme Highlight: For the final, sharpest highlights, use Pallid Wych Flesh or White Scar sparingly on the highest points and sharpest edges of the stones. This gives a stark, weathered appearance, as if the stones have been worn down over centuries.
Optional Weathering:
For an even more weathered look, apply Agrax Earthshade in patches to create dirtier, more worn sections of the stone. This works well to mimic the grime that would gather in the cracks of ancient stonework.
For a mossy, aged effect, lightly apply Typhus Corrosion in recesses or between the stones, then drybrush Nurgle's Rot or Deathworld Forest for hints of moss creeping through the cracks.
Rubble and Debris
Many of the Crimson Court bases also feature rubble or broken masonry that will tie in with the stone steps and paving:
Basecoat: For any rubble or broken stones, use Mechanicus Standard Grey to match the stone paving.
Shade: Apply Nuln Oil to darken the recesses.
Highlight: Drybrush the rubble with Dawnstone and Administratum Grey to match the steps, ensuring the textures are consistent across the base.
Extreme Highlight: For large pieces of rubble, apply a final highlight of Pallid Wych Flesh or White Scar on the sharpest edges.
Skulls and Bones
The bases may also include skulls or bones, adding a sinister, ancient feel:
Basecoat: Use Rakarth Flesh on all bones and skulls.
Shade: Apply Agrax Earthshade to deepen the recesses and give the bones a weathered appearance.
Highlight: Use Ushabti Bone on the raised areas and edges of the skulls to bring out details, with a final highlight of Screaming Skull on the sharpest edges to create a bleached effect.
Metal Debris
Some bases may also feature metal debris like broken weapons or armor, providing an opportunity for subtle metallic contrasts:
Basecoat: Apply Leadbelcher to the metal debris.
Shade: Use Nuln Oil to darken the metallic areas and add depth.
Highlight: Edge highlight with Stormhost Silver to give the metal a worn, battle-damaged appearance.
Optional Corrosion: For a more weathered look, use Typhus Corrosion followed by a drybrush of Ryza Rust to create an old, corroded metal effect.
Final Drybrushing and Weathering
To unify all the elements of the base, apply a light drybrush across the stone, rubble, and debris:
General Drybrush: Use Administratum Grey to drybrush the entire base, focusing on the stone paving and steps. This will help blend the stone, rubble, and debris together, creating a cohesive look.
Extreme Highlight: For the final highlights, use Pallid Wych Flesh or White Scar on the sharpest edges of the stone steps, corners of rubble, and highest points on the base.
Additional Details
Edge of the Base: Paint the rim of the base with Abaddon Black or Steel Legion Drab for a clean, polished look that frames the model.
Optional Additions:
Add tufts of grass or dead foliage to represent overgrown ruins.
Use Blood for the Blood God technical paint to create blood splatters, tying into the vampiric theme.
Conclusion
This guide ensures the Crimson Court will shine with dramatic contrast between their cold, undead skin, vibrant reds, and rich metallics. By following these techniques, you’ll bring each character’s unique traits to life while maintaining cohesion across the unit. Whether they’re striking fear on the battlefield or standing as centerpieces in your collection, the Crimson Court will make a powerful visual impact.
