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​Hi everyone, it’s Amy here showcasing my first finished miniature of 2016 – Archaon Everchosen, the Exalted Grand Marshal of the Apocalypse. I think this one of the best miniatures I have ever painted and probably my favourite, click to view more photos!

​Archaon is, without a doubt, the biggest and most complex miniature I have ever painted. I have never really liked any of the Chaos models before, and have always painted the good guys when it comes to miniature painting. However, when I first saw this model I instantly fell in love. I was lucky enough to get it for Christmas and started him during the New Year break.

The detail on this model is incredible, it is such a beautiful sculpt. It was an incredibly daunting prospect painting him, I also wanted to make him look the best I possibly could and really wanted to challenge myself with him. It was already a challenge being the biggest model I’ve ever done.


I painted the model separately, leaving the three heads and Archaon himself off, if you are painting or are going to get this model I highly recommend this, it makes it so much easier. I followed the video tutorial on the Warhammer TV YouTube channel adding bits in myself. I really took my time with him and believe that was worth it.

​I’m really happy with how the wings turned out. They were painted Rakarth Flesh, Pallid Wych Flesh and then Agrax Earthshade mixed with Lahmian Medium was stippled on using a drybrush getting gradually darker towards the edges. The golds on the model were painted Retributor Armour, Reikland Fleshshade, Agrax Earthshade, and then Runefang Steel edge highlight.

​I wanted to go for a dark Chaos feel to the base, adding cracks revealing fiery lava underneath. I applied texture paint on the base, and then added clear crackle glaze on top. Once all of this was dry I painted it all black then drybrushed greys. The fire was painted Mephiston Red, Troll Slayer Orange, Yriel Yellow, White Scar then glazed Bloodletter and Lamenters Yellow. I’m really happy with how it came out. I bought a box of the Varanguard and the Tzeentch Gaunt Summoner so I’m interested to see how the bases will look together!


​As I mentioned above, I left Archaon off for painting to make it easier. Before I put him on Dorghar I took two photos of him finished on his own. I really took my time with him and tried to be neat as possible, especially with the blending. I’m especially proud of the horns, they were painted Zandri Dust, washed Reikland Fleshshade/Lahmian Medium, and then I applied lots of thin layers of Karak Stone blending it into the Reikland recesses. I then edge highlighted them with Screaming Skull. I much prefer this method of painting bone, it is shown in the Warhammer TV video, I really like the Reikland wash I feel it’s not as harsh as Agrax. I also used a similar blending and glazing technique for the sword which I’m very happy with. A lot of the model was painted using multiple thin layers, so much so I finished my pot of Lahmian Medium for the first time ever! I also wanted to make Archaon’s eyes stand out, I chose green because this would contrast nicely with the lighter and more reddish colours around him, so I painted them white and then applied a few glazes of Waywatcher Green and Lamenters Yellow and added the white back in, I feel this makes them glow nicely and quite menacingly.

Overall, I am very happy with how the whole model came out. It was so much fun painting him, and I highly recommend getting it, it is totally worth it! Let me know in the comments what you think, and have you bought or are you painting this fantastic miniature, how are you finding it? 🙂

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