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Warpfire Miniatures

The Paint Codex

This page is a heavy WIP. Expect it to be broken or appear broken until I find the time to create all entries. Thank you! A living reference of colour recipes, paint steps, and techniques — built as each army leaves the desk. For clients, hobbyists, and anyone who wants to know exactly how it was done.

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Ironjawz Age of Sigmar commission painted by Warpfire Miniatures
Age of Sigmar

Ironjawz

A brutal, hulking force built around contrast — vivid orange-yellow armour punching through dark iron and deep green skin. The challenge here was keeping the yellow saturated and luminous without losing depth in the shadows, while making the skin read as genuinely alive.

Models in this scheme

Ironjawz model 1
Ironjawz model 2
Ironjawz model 3
Orc Skin
Base & Shadow
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Recesses and undersides
Highlights
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Raised muscle edges only
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Sharpest points only
Yellow Armour
Base & Shadow
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Panel lines and deep recesses
Highlights
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Black Armour
Base & Shadow
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Highlights
Drybrush YOUR PAINT NAME
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Basing
Ground & Texture
Base Texture YOUR PAINT NAME Apply thick, stipple with an old brush
Drybrush YOUR PAINT NAME
Light Drybrush YOUR PAINT NAME
Finishing
Static Grass YOUR PRODUCT NAME
Rim YOUR PAINT NAME Coat rim to hide texture paste spillage
Helsmiths of Hashut Age of Sigmar commission painted by Warpfire Miniatures
Age of Sigmar

Helsmiths of Hashut

The Helsmiths demand a palette of industry and damnation — scorched black iron, burnished bronze, and unholy fire. The purple cloth provides a rich, saturated counterpoint to the metallic cold of the armour, and the fire effects tie the whole force to the corrupting touch of Hashut.

Models in this scheme

Helsmiths of Hashut model 1
Helsmiths of Hashut model 2
Helsmiths of Hashut model 3
Dark Armour
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME Full coverage in thin coats
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Deepen recesses
Drybrush YOUR PAINT NAME Catch raised edges
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Sharpest corners only
Bronze Trim
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Recesses and joins
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Upper surfaces
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Sharpest points
Purple Cloth
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Fold recesses
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME Raised folds
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Uppermost folds
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Crisp fold peaks
Flesh
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME Raised areas
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Nose, cheeks, knuckles
Fire Effects
Steps
Base YOUR PAINT NAME Core of flames
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME Mid flames
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Outer flames
Layer 3 YOUR PAINT NAME Tips and hottest points
Glaze YOUR PAINT NAME Thin glaze over tips to blend
Space Wolves Warhammer 40,000 commission painted by Warpfire Miniatures
Warhammer 40,000

Space Wolves

Sons of Fenris — cold blue-grey armour, ice tundra basing, and the warm contrast of yellow heraldry. The challenge is keeping the blue desaturated enough to feel northern while the yellow punches with enough saturation to read as a focal point across the table.

Models in this scheme

Space Wolves model 1
Space Wolves model 2
Space Wolves model 3
Blue Armour
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Panel lines and recesses
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Raised surfaces
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Sharpest armour edges
Yellow Armour
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Recesses only
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Upper surfaces
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Flesh
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Raised facial features
Point Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Nose tip, brow ridge
Snow Basing
Steps
Ground Texture YOUR PAINT NAME Apply thick across base
Drybrush YOUR PAINT NAME
Light Drybrush YOUR PAINT NAME
Snow — Settled YOUR PAINT NAME Bicarbonate & PVA mix
Snow — Fresh YOUR PAINT NAME Top layer for texture
Snow — Shadow YOUR PAINT NAME Thin blue-grey glaze over shadows
World Eaters Warhammer 40,000 commission painted by Warpfire Miniatures
Warhammer 40,000

World Eaters

Khorne's chosen — Red and Bronze caked in the blood of a thousand worlds. The basing leans into war-torn rubble and black earth amidst a sea of enough demonic blood and skulls to please the Blood God himself!.

Models in this scheme

World Eaters model 1
World Eaters model 2
World Eaters model 3
Red Armour
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Deep recesses
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Upper panels
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Point Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Sharpest corners
Brass Trim
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Upper surfaces
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Flesh
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer YOUR PAINT NAME
Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Blood Effects YOUR PAINT NAME Apply selectively — mouth, wounds
Basing
Steps
Texture YOUR PAINT NAME
Drybrush 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Drybrush 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Light pass
Rubble YOUR PAINT NAME Cork or slate chippings
Rim YOUR PAINT NAME
Death Korps of Krieg Warhammer 40,000 commission painted by Warpfire Miniatures
Warhammer 40,000

Death Korps of Krieg

Grim, muted, and relentless. The Korps wear a dark Prussian blue that sits halfway between grey and navy — desaturated enough to read as utilitarian, but deep enough to hold interest up close. Heavy weathering and mud basing complete the trench warfare aesthetic.

Models in this scheme

Death Korps of Krieg model 1
Death Korps of Krieg model 2
Death Korps of Krieg model 3
Blue Armour
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Heavy into recesses
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Raised areas only
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Weathering YOUR PAINT NAME Stipple chips on edges
Word Bearers Horus Heresy commission painted by Warpfire Miniatures
Horus Heresy

Word Bearers

The XVII Legion paint their armour in the deep burgundy of devotion and damnation. The colour sits between purple and red — a muted, desaturated crimson that rewards close inspection. Gold scripture and dark metallics complete the aesthetic of a Legion consumed by faith turned to ruin.

Models in this scheme

Word Bearers model 1
Word Bearers model 2
Word Bearers model 3
Burgundy Armour
Steps
Basecoat YOUR PAINT NAME
Shade YOUR PAINT NAME Recesses and panel lines
Layer 1 YOUR PAINT NAME
Layer 2 YOUR PAINT NAME Upper panels
Edge Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME
Point Highlight YOUR PAINT NAME Sharpest corners
Glaze YOUR PAINT NAME Thin glaze to unify and desaturate