Nothing on the tabletop turns heads quite like a rank of golden giants, and the Adeptus Custodes are gold from head to toe. Painting convincing gold can feel intimidating, but the secret is refreshingly simple: metallic paints do most of the heavy lifting for you. Follow these stages and the Emperor's own bodyguard will gleam like the treasures they are, without needing years of practice.
What You'll Need[edit]
Your core paint for this army is a rich gold basecoat such as Retributor Armour. Around it you will want a brighter gold like Liberator Gold or Auric Armour for layering, a bright silver such as Stormhost Silver for the final glints, and a warm shade like Reikland Fleshshade or Agrax Earthshade to sink into the recesses. Add a deep red for cloth and plumes, a dark metal for spear hafts, and a few colours for gems, and you have a full Custodian. Painting with another range? Our paint converter will match these tones to whatever is on your desk.
Stage 1: Undercoat[edit]
Prime the model black. A dark undercoat is the key to convincing gold, because it lets the metallic pigment settle in the recesses and read as shadow with almost no effort on your part. Spray in light, even coats and make sure every crevice of the ornate armour is covered before you begin.
Stage 2: Basecoat[edit]
Paint the armour with your gold basecoat. Metallics flow differently from ordinary paint, so thin it slightly and expect to need two coats for smooth, solid coverage. Leave the black showing in the very deepest recesses where you can; that natural shadow saves you work later. Take your time to keep the gold clear of the areas you plan to paint red or silver.
Stage 3: Wash and Shade[edit]
Apply a warm shade across the whole gold surface, letting it gather in every groove and around every rivet. A flesh-toned shade keeps the gold warm and lustrous, while an earth shade gives a slightly grimier, battle-worn look; both are excellent, so pick the mood you want. This single step instantly transforms flat gold into metal with real depth.
Stage 4: Layer[edit]
Once the shade is dry, layer a brighter gold over the raised plates, staying clear of the recessed shadows you just created. This is where the armour starts to look genuinely metallic, catching the light on its curves while the depths stay dark. Two or three passes on the broadest, most prominent surfaces give the richest effect.
Stage 5: Edge Highlights[edit]
For the finishing shine, run a bright silver along the sharpest edges and corners of the armour. Use it sparingly; a thin line on the leading edges and a few points of sparkle read as polished metal, whereas too much makes the gold look tinny. This tiny step is what separates a good gold from a spectacular one.
Stage 6: Details and Base[edit]
Bring the model to life with its accents. Paint the cloth and plumes in a deep red, shaded and highlighted for richness, and pick out spear blades and gun casings in steel. Gemstones look striking with a dark base, a bright colour, and a single white dot of reflected light. Black recesses and trim add contrast. Finish with a base that suits your force, whether ruined Imperial marble or the ash of a distant battlefield, then edge the rim neatly for a display-ready look.
Final Tips[edit]
Gold is far more forgiving than beginners fear, because the shade and the metallic sheen hide a multitude of small mistakes. Work through one warrior at a time, and resist the urge to rush the layering, since that patience is what makes the metal glow. The Custodes are few in number, so every model counts, which makes them a perfect army to slow down and enjoy.
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