Alright, folks, gather 'round the hobby bench—it's time to talk paint chemistry with a dash of battlefield flair. We'll tackle the faction's red armor (for that blood-fueled evolution vibe), black fabrics (shadowy resistance roots), and those slick blue-to-red fading weapons (overheating alien tech, anyone?). I'll break it down into three acts: classic Vallejo layering for the purists, GW Contrast for one-coat wonders, and Army Painter Speedpaint for speed demons. Total time per mini? 4–6 hours, but we'll shave that with smarts. Let's prime and proceed!
Prep: The Foundation of Finish
Before we dive into the recipes, let's talk priming—like salting your pasta water, it sets the stage for everything that follows. Airbrush or rattle-can a neutral base: Vallejo Surface Primer Grey for versatility, or go zenithal (black base with white overspray) for built-in shadows that make your paints work harder. Let it cure 24 hours—patience prevents pooling, people. Why grey? It balances warmth and coolness, letting reds sing without muting blues. Now, onto the main courses.
Recipe 1: Vallejo – The Layered Symphony for Depth and Control
Vallejo's like your grandma's slow-simmered sauce: builds flavor (or opacity) through patient layers, rewarding you with customizable vibrancy. We're using Model Air for airbrushing efficiency and Model/Game Color for brushwork precision. Aim for 3–4 thin coats per step—thinner than a credit card—to avoid obscuring details. Why thin? Acrylics dry fast, and thick layers crack like overcooked meringue.
Faction Armor (Black: Shadowed Stealth)
Base: Airbrush Vallejo Model Air Black. Pure carbon black absorbs light, creating a void that's perfect for contrast.
Shade: Vallejo Game Color Black Ink wash overall. This deepens without dulling, like adding espresso to chocolate.
Layer Up: Brush Neutral Grey on mid-tones, Light Grey on highs, and edge with White for subtle wear. Why layer? It builds texture, making armor feel worn, not flat.
Fabric (Red: Blood-Red Progress)
Base: Airbrush Vallejo Model Air Scarlet Red (diluted 1:1 with thinner). This mid-tone red grabs light without overwhelming—think hemoglobin under a microscope.
Shade: Brush Vallejo Game Color Red Ink into recesses. Inks flow like liquid silk, pooling where gravity (and sculpt lines) demand for natural shadows.
Highlight: Drybrush Vallejo Model Color Vermillion on edges, then mix Sunny Skin Tone with Scarlet Red for sharp peaks. Add Fluorescent Magenta dots on enhancements—why? It mimics plasma glow, tricking the eye into seeing energy.
Weapons (Blue Fading to Red – CCWs: Tech Overheat Effect)
Base: Airbrush Vallejo Game Color Electric Blue for blades. Cool blues evoke cold steel, setting up the thermal drama.
Transition: Wet-blend or airbrush (low PSI) Vallejo Game Color Bloody Red upward. Blending mimics heat gradients—science says warmer colors advance, cooler recede.
Shade/Highlight: Blue Ink in shadows for depth; White drybrush on vents for spark. Seal with Satin Varnish—why? It adds that oily sheen, like fresh-forged metal.
Finish with Matte Varnish and urban rubble bases (Vallejo Earth Texture). These hues? Red for relentless advance, black for unyielding grit, blue-red for volatile power.
Recipe 2: GW Contrast – The One-Pot Wonder for Instant Impact
Switching gears to GW Contrast: Imagine if Vallejo was a slow braise; Contrast is your pressure cooker—translucent magic that shades, saturates, and highlights in one go. Why? The medium's high flow exploits capillary action, pulling pigment into recesses while leaving raised areas lighter. Prime light (Wraithbone or Grey Seer) for vibrancy—dark bases mute the mojo. Thin with Contrast Medium if needed, but one coat rules here.
Faction Armor (Black – Harbingers & Ironsides)
All-in-One Coat: Black Templar all over. It's not just black; it's abyss-deep with subtle sheen, pooling like ink in a quill for instant texture.
Enhance: Basilicanum Grey on folds for mid-tones. Why? It desaturates without flattening, mimicking armor's light play.
Edge: Drybrush Administratum Grey sparingly—Contrast handles most highlights, but this adds wear like aged metal.
Fabric (Red – Cloaks & Sashes on Raindancers)
All-in-One Coat: Slather on Flesh Tearers Red. This crimson beast delivers deep shadows and fiery highs—perfect for evoking blood-soaked evolution without the fuss.
Enhance (Optional): Dot Baal Red on edges for extra pop. Why optional? Contrast already gradients; this just amps the drama like adding chili to stew.
Glow-Up: Fluorescent accents? Mix in a touch of White Scar for alien flair, but keep it subtle—overdo and you'll lose the one-coat zen.
Weapons (Blue Fading to Red – CCWs)
Base Fade: Start with Aethermatic Blue at the cool end, blending into Flesh Tearers Red toward the hot tip. Wet-blend while wet—Contrast's long open time lets you fuse like a mad alchemist.
Shade/Highlight: Leviadon Blue in deep spots for chill; edge with White Scar for heat vents. Satin Varnish seals the thermal illusion.
Boom—meta-ready minis in half the time. Contrast: Because life's too short for endless layers.
Recipe 3: Army Painter Speedpaint – The Turbo Boost for Hobby Heroes
Finally, Army Painter Speedpaint: This is your nitro-fueled drag racer—reformulated for no-reactivation speed, delivering shading and saturation faster than you can say "Hegemonic charge." Why? The binders grab primed surfaces like Velcro, flowing into nooks for effortless contrast. Use over light primers (Matt White or Ash Grey) for punch; one coat, done. Speedpaint Medium thins without chaos.
Faction Armor (Black)
One-Coat Glory: Grim Black for that inky abyss. It shades itself, creating folds that whisper "stealth mode."
Boost: Gravelord Grey on edges for subtle lift. Why boost? Adds realism without overcomplicating the speed.
Edge: Quick drybrush with Uniform Grey—minimal effort, maximal texture.
Fabric (Red)
One-Coat Glory: Blood Red straight from the bottle. It settles into rich, velvety shadows with fiery tops—evolution in a dropper.
Boost: For extra depth, layer Pure Red on highs. Why? Speedpaint's opacity builds without mud, like stacking flavors in a rub.
Flair: Dab Fluorescent accents with a bright red mix—keeps the energy humming.
Weapons (Blue Fading to Red – CCWs)
Fade Fast: Highlord Blue at the blade, transitioning to Blood Red at the tip. Blend wet—Speedpaint's flow makes gradients a breeze.
Shade/Highlight: Add Dark Tone in cools; Ashen Grey on vents for heat. Satin Varnish? Yes, for that weapon-grade gleam.
Speedpaint: For when the meta calls and your brush is on a deadline.
Wrapping Up: Seal, Base, and Battle On
No matter the brand, finish with a matte varnish to protect your masterpiece—think of it as the lid on your paint pot. Base with rubble for that occupied-territory grit (Army Painter Battlefield Rocks work wonders). These schemes? They capture Next Wave's essence: red for progress's pulse, black for defiant depths, blue-red for tech's tempest. Experiment—paint science rewards the bold!
Shoutout The Infinity Combined Army Paint Set – Your Hegemonic Hue Hero
Listen up, before you let those Next Wave minis hit the tabletop looking like they just crawled out of a generic sci-fi catalog, I’ve got a game-changer that’ll make your faction sing like a well-tuned plasma rifle. Enter the Infinity Combined Army Paint Set from Corvus Belli. This isn’t some slapdash kit; it’s ten meticulously curated Warpaints Fanatic colors tuned to the Combined Army’s alien-human hybrid vibe—think deep voids for shadowy Shasvastii lurkers, corrosive greens for biotech horrors, and metallic pops for Next Wave’s cybernetic swagger. (Exact shades? They’re faction-matched straight from the studio, perfect for blending with your Vallejo, GW, or Speedpaint recipes without a hitch.)
But here’s the kicker: It bundles an exclusive Harbinger Paramedic miniature—a fresh sculpt you can’t snag anywhere else—plus a step-by-step guide breaking down techniques like a masterclass in molecular gastronomy for minis. Why shout this out? Because if you’re knee-deep in painting those Tekdrakens or Juggernauts, this set’s your shortcut to pro-level results without hunting shades like a desperate scavenger in a Shasvastii raid. Slap it on your bench, and suddenly your army’s not just painted—it’s alive with that Ur Hegemony menace.
Hungry for more hegemony? Stock up on these paints via Corvus Belli, WARSENAL, Interstellar Gamez, or your LGS. Comment below: Which recipe's your jam, and why? Subscribe for unboxings, lore dives, and more—let's paint the stars!
