This article examines the techniques and colours used by the 'Eavy Metal team when painting the Gimli model from both the Fellowship of the Ring and Heroes of Helm's Deep boxed sets.

The red overcoat, glove fingers and weapon shaft were painted with a basecoat mix of equal parts Scab Red and Scorched Brown. Scab Red on its own was used as the first highlight stage followed by adding a small amount of Bleached Bone to this for the final highlight stage.

These sections were then given a wash with a thinned mix of equal parts Brown Ink and Black Ink.

The chain mail coat, axe blade and metal sections of the helmet were painted with a basecoat of Boltgun Metal. This was then highlighted with Chainmail. The helmet sections were then given a wash with thinned Black Ink.

A basecoat of Scorched Brown was used to paint the boots, gauntlets, belt and helmet. Small amounts of Bleached Bone were added to this for each successive highlight stage. These parts of the model were given a wash with a thinned mix of Brown Ink and Black Ink. The gauntlet was then re-highlighted with the original mix in a criss-cross pattern.

The inner metallic part of the axe was painted with a basecoat of Tin Bitz, which was highlighted with Beaten Copper.

A basecoat of Bestial Brown was used to paint the flesh. This was highlighted with Dwarf Flesh, then given a wash with thinned Chestnut Ink. The final highlight was an equal parts mix of Dwarf Flesh and Elf Flesh.

Gimli's beard was painted with a basecoat of Scorched Brown. This was highlighted with Dark Flesh before being given a wash with a thinned mix of Black Ink and Brown Ink. A second highlight of Dark Flesh was applied before finishing the beard by painting a highlight mix of Dark Flesh, with a small amount of Bleached Bone added to it.

The backpack was painted with Chaos Black and highlighted by adding an equal quantity of Codex Grey to Chaos Black.

The cloth attached to the backpack was painted with a basecoat mix of equal parts Regal Blue and Chaos Black. Small amounts of Ultramarines Blue were added to the basecoat mix for each successive highlight stage.

ELVEN CLOAKS

Gimli and Legolas have alternative models with Elven cloaks, which can be bought in the Ambush at Amon Hen boxed set. These cloaks were painted with a basecoat of Chaos Black. An equal quantity of Bleached Bone was added to this for the first highlight stage. Small amounts of Bleached Bone were then added to the mix for each successive highlight.

BASING

Sand was glued onto the base with PVA and then, once dry, given a Brown Ink wash. This was drybrushed with a mix of Snakebite Leather and Fortress Grey, and was finally flocked with static grass.

Next: How to paint Gimli from The Heroes of Helm's Deep Boxed Set.
Previous: Introduction.