Paint Your Ancient in Terminator Armour: Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer

Paint the Ancient in Terminator Armour by working from the inside out: assemble and prime, basecoat the armour, block in the banner and details, then apply targeted highlights and a wash. Finish with the banner freehand and a protective varnish.

Step-by-step painting process

1. Assemble and prime: Build the Ancient, leaving the banner separate if possible. Prime the model with a thin, even coat of grey or white spray. Common mistake: spraying too close and filling detail; keep the can 20–30 cm away and use short bursts. Check that the banner fits without forcing before you prime.
2. Basecoat the armour: Apply a basecoat of your chosen Chapter colour over all armour panels. Use a large brush and thinned paint; two thin coats are better than one thick coat. Checkpoint: the primer should not show through, but detail should remain sharp. Let each coat dry completely before adding the next.
3. Block in the banner and details: Paint the banner cloth with a base colour, then block in the banner pole, seals, and any purity seals with their main colours. Use a smaller brush and avoid overlapping the armour. Common mistake: rushing the banner edges; steady your hand by resting your wrists on the table. Keep a clean, damp brush handy to tidy any slips immediately.
4. Apply washes selectively: Wash the armour recesses with a dark shade, then wash the banner folds with a slightly darker tone of its base colour. Do not flood the whole model. Checkpoint: the wash should pool in recesses, not on flat surfaces. If a wash pools on a flat area, wick it away with a dry brush before it dries.
5. Highlight the armour: Edge highlight the terminator armour with a lighter version of your base colour. Use the side of the brush and thin paint. Common mistake: highlighting every edge with the same thickness; vary the line weight and skip deep recesses. Focus highlights on the top and front edges that catch the light.
6. Paint the banner freehand and final details: Once the banner is dry, add any symbol, text, or design with a fine brush. Then paint the eyes, seals, and any remaining details. Checkpoint: keep the banner design simple and bold; thin lines are harder to correct. If you make a mistake on the banner, let it dry and paint over it with the base colour.
7. Varnish and attach the banner: Apply a protective varnish to the whole model, then attach the banner if you painted it separately. Use a small amount of superglue or plastic glue on the contact points. Common mistake: using too much glue and frosting the banner; apply glue with a toothpick. Test-fit the banner before gluing to ensure it sits straight.

Product facts

• Warhammer 40000: Space Marines: Ancient in Terminator Armour: A plastic miniature for Warhammer 40,000 with four head options, two right arms, and a pair of banner toppers. The head and arm options let you choose a simpler or more detailed painting project, and the banner toppers give you a place to practise freehand.