How to Paint High Fantasy Relic Armour with Combat Se7ens

Quick answer

To paint high fantasy relic armour, start with a clean, primed model, then build the scheme in layers using Combat Se7ens: High Fantasy Relic Armour. Apply smooth basecoats, shade the recesses, and highlight the edges to make the ornate details pop. The seven-paint set gives you a cohesive palette of rich blues, radiant metallics, and natural skin tones, so you can achieve a legendary look without mixing custom colours.

Step-by-step relic armour painting process

1. Prime and basecoat the armour: Apply a thin, even coat of primer. Once dry, use the rich blue from Combat Se7ens as your base colour for the armour plates. Apply two thin coats rather than one thick coat to preserve detail. Checkpoint: The basecoat should be opaque but not clog the finest details.
2. Paint the metallic areas: Use the radiant metallic paint from the set to cover trim, filigree, and weapon parts. For large areas, you can use Warpaints Air: Dark Sky through an airbrush for a smooth, even finish. For small details, apply with a brush using thin layers. Common mistake: Applying metallic paint too thickly, which can obscure sculpted details. Keep layers thin.
3. Shade the recesses: Use a darker blue or a mix of the base blue with a touch of black to shade the recesses of the armour. Focus on the areas where light naturally wouldn't hit, such as under plates and in deep folds. Checkpoint: Shading should define the shapes without creating harsh lines.
4. Highlight the edges: Take a lighter blue or the metallic paint and carefully highlight the edges of the armour plates. Use the side of your brush for a crisp line. For an even quicker highlight, use the Speedpaint Marker: Metallics Set to add instant metallic shine to raised edges. Common mistake: Over-highlighting, which can make the armour look flat. Keep highlights focused on the most prominent edges.
5. Paint the skin and details: Use the natural skin tones from the set to paint any exposed faces or hands. For gems and eyes, use a bright blue or metallic for a glowing effect. Apply thin layers to build up intensity. Checkpoint: Skin should look natural and blend with the armour's colour scheme.
6. Seal and finish: Once all paint is dry, apply a matte varnish to protect the paint job, especially if the model will be handled during games. If you want a shiny finish on the metallics, you can skip varnish on those areas or use a gloss varnish selectively. Final step: Let the model dry completely before gaming.

Product facts

• Combat Se7ens: High Fantasy Relic Armour: Ready to use seven-paint colour scheme with rich blues, radiant metallics, and natural skin tones. Provides a cohesive palette for high fantasy armour without mixing, saving time and ensuring colour harmony.
• Combat Se7ens: High Fantasy Relic Armour: Smooth coverage and dependable shading. Essential for painting ornate details where uneven coverage can obscure fine sculpted elements.
• Warpaints Air: Dark Sky: Airbrush-ready paints right from the bottle, no thinning required, with pre-loaded mixing balls. Simplifies basecoating large armour areas with an airbrush, reducing prep time and clogging.
• Speedpaint Marker: Metallics Set: Instant metallic impact with a precision flow felt-tech tip for streak-free application. Allows quick, controlled metallic highlights on ornate details without setting up a brush and palette.