How to Paint Red Armour on Warhammer 40,000 Miniatures

Red is one of the most popular armour colours in Warhammer 40,000, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Painted straight over black it looks dull and brown; over white it can turn pink and streaky; and highlighting it with white produces a chalky salmon colour. A few small changes to your undercoat and highlight mix fix all three problems.

The short answer: undercoat with a dark red, red-brown or mid grey, build up two or three thin coats of a strong mid red, shade with a dark red or brown wash, and highlight by mixing in orange or a warm skin tone rather than white.

Why does red paint look patchy?

Many red pigments are only semi-opaque, so whatever sits underneath shows through. Over black the result is dull, and over white it's streaky. Building red up in thin coats over a suitable undercoat gives even, rich coverage.

What primer should I use for red armour?

A mid grey or dark primer works well for deep reds, and a dark red spray primer is a real time-saver for a whole army. White primer gives the brightest result but needs more coats to avoid a pinkish tinge. Our guide to priming properly covers the options.

Should I use an undercoat colour?

Yes. A dark red or red-brown basecoat gives a deep, rich red in fewer coats, while a mid orange undercoat gives a warmer, brighter red. Either works better than red painted straight over black or white.

How many coats of red do I need?

Usually two or three thin coats over a good undercoat. Let each coat dry before the next and keep the paint thin enough to flow. A wet palette keeps the consistency the same from the first coat to the last.

What should I shade red with?

A dark red or reddish-brown wash keeps shadows rich, while black washes over red tend to look dirty and brown. Apply the shade into recesses and panel lines rather than all over, so the flat panels stay vibrant; our guide to washes explains recess shading.

How do I highlight red without it going pink?

Mix orange or a warm skin tone into your red instead of white. That keeps the highlight warm and saturated, and a final, very fine edge highlight of pale orange catches the light without turning chalky. Our edge highlighting guide covers the technique.

How do I paint a deep crimson red?

Start from a very dark red basecoat, layer a mid crimson onto raised areas only, and keep highlights small and sparing. A thin red glaze over the whole panel at the end ties the layers together and deepens the colour.

How do I paint a bright, fiery red?

Use an orange undercoat, or a white primer with a warm red on top, and highlight towards orange. Bright reds suit dark trims such as black or gunmetal, which make them look even more vivid.

Can I use one-coat paints for red?

Yes. Over a white or zenithal primer, a red one-coat paint shades itself into recesses and gives a fast tabletop result. On large flat panels, thin it with medium so it doesn't pool. See our guide to one-coat paints.

How do I paint red on vehicles and large panels?

Large flat areas show every streak, so use several very thin coats brushed in the same direction, or switch to an airbrush for a perfectly smooth finish. Our airbrush beginner's guide explains the basics.

How do I fix patchy red?

Apply another thin coat rather than one thick one. If the patchiness is stubborn, a thin glaze of the same red over the whole area evens out the tone. Our guide to fixing painting mistakes covers other repairs.

Which colours go with red armour?

Black trim, bone, gold and gunmetal all pair well with red, as do small spot colours such as white or turquoise lenses. Our guide to choosing a colour scheme explains how to balance a strong main colour.

Is there a simple red armour recipe?

This works on almost any model.

  1. Prime mid grey, or use a dark red spray primer.
  2. Basecoat with a dark red-brown.
  3. Apply two thin coats of a strong mid red, leaving the darker colour in the deepest recesses.
  4. Recess shade with a dark red or brown wash.
  5. Tidy the flat panels with the mid red.
  6. Highlight with red mixed with orange, then edge highlight with a pale orange.

How do I keep red consistent across an army?

Write the recipe down, use the same paints and number of coats on every model, and paint in batches. Our guide to batch painting an army covers the workflow.

Does red work with battle damage?

Very well. Dark chips and scratches show clearly on red, and a little rust or grime makes the armour look battle-worn. Keep chips small; our guide to painting battle damage explains how.

Does red armour need varnish?

A matt varnish once the paint has cured protects red from rubbing on edges, where wear shows most. Gaming models benefit most.

More hobby guides

Warhammer 40,000® is a registered trade mark of Games Workshop Limited. This is an independent hobby guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Games Workshop.