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Painting guides / Warhammer 40,000 / Imperial Fists / Intercessor Squad

How to paint Intercessor Squad

Reference photos, colour schemes with the exact paints for every area, and finished models from other painters — everything you need to start Intercessor Squad for your Imperial Fists force.

Role BattlelinePoints 80Faction Imperial FistsSystem Warhammer 40,000

InfantryGrenadesImperiumTacticusIntercessor Squad

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What Intercessor Squad looks like

Intercessor Squad reference photo

Colour schemes

Imperial Fists — Intercessor Squad

Beginner · 6 areas

The squad most painters start with, and the one that sets the standard for everything after it. Batch-paint the five as one model. Painted in Imperial Fists colours, from primer to based.

Power armour

  1. Undercoat light Primer — Yellow has almost no covering power over black. Starting from a bone primer is the difference between two coats and six.
  2. Basecoat the armour plates Basecoat — Two thin coats, leaving the recesses slightly darker. Thin with water until the paint flows off the brush rather than sits on it.
  3. Shade the recesses Recess shade — Run the shade into panel lines and around raised details only. A full wash over the plates flattens the armour.
  4. Edge highlight the plates Edge highlight — A fine line along the top edge of each plate, where light would land. Stop before the line meets the next edge.
  5. Sharpen the brightest edges Edge highlight — Only the corners and the very top of each plate — this is a fraction of the previous line.

Bolter and metal

  1. Basecoat the metal Basecoat — Leadbelcher over the bolter body, barrel and any exposed pistons.
  2. Shade the metal All-over shade — Nuln Oil across the whole weapon — metallics are the one area that wants a full wash.
  3. Bring back the edges Edge highlight — Ironbreaker on the barrel rim and casing edges, then a spot of steel on the ammo feed.

Shoulder trim and steel

  1. Basecoat the trim Basecoat — Keep the line clean — trim is what the eye follows, so a wobble here is more visible than one anywhere else.
  2. Shade the trim Recess shade — Agrax Earthshade where the trim meets the plate, so it reads as a separate piece of metal.
  3. Highlight the trim Edge highlight

Helmet lenses

  1. Fill the lens Basecoat — Fill the whole lens recess with the darkest green.
  2. Leave a dark rim Layer — Cover the lens again but stop short of the bottom edge, leaving a crescent of the base colour.
  3. Dot the catchlight Detail — One small dot in the upper corner. The dot is what makes the lens read as glass.

Black plates and chapter badge

  1. Basecoat the black plates Basecoat — Imperial Fists break up the yellow with black knee and shoulder plates — paint these before the final yellow highlight so overspill is easy to fix.
  2. Edge the black Edge highlight — A single Eshin Grey line; anything brighter fights the yellow for attention.
  3. Paint the fist Layer — Mephiston Red field with a Flash Gitz Yellow fist, or a transfer over gloss varnish.

Base

  1. Texture the base Texture — Astrogranite straight from the pot with an old brush, kept off the rim.
  2. Drybrush the rubble Drybrush — Administratum Grey, then a lighter pass so only the highest grit catches it.
  3. Paint the rim Detail — Abaddon Black around the rim in one steady pass. A clean rim is what makes a squad look finished.

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