How to paint Games Workshop miniatures? In this tutorial we will show you different painting techniques for decorating your Citadel miniatures. In this new guide we will see which steps to follow to paint the model of a Troll of Mordor!
Welcome back to Techigames Painting Workshop! After the last tutorial on the Citadel woodland, which you can view on this page, here we are with a new guide in which we will illustrate how to paint your own miniature of a Troll of Mordor with very simple techniques using Citadel colors and being able to both expand your model collection Games Workshop than undertake the Strategic Battle Game in Middle-earth.
We remind you that the miniatures, the colors and all the tools for modeling are available on the website www.games-workshop.com.
Tutorial 42: Trolls of Mordor - How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
Trolls are monstrous creatures that have lived in Middle-earth for many years. Compared to the more common races, the Trolls of Mordor are stronger and can even walk in the sunlight without turning to stone. Endowed with great strength, these gigantic beings are the strengths of Sauron's armies.
If you are interested in more information on the Trolls of Mordor and Middle-earth, we refer you to Wikipedia page.
To know the different basic painting techniques, useful for all Games Workshop miniatures, we recommend that you visit this page. In addition, we remind you that the Troll of Mordor model can be purchased both individually and with the “Battle of the Pelennor Fields” box.
Phase 1: Cleaning and Assembling the Troll of Mordor | How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
As seen in the previous tutorials, the first thing to do before starting to paint any miniature is to prepare the model, carefully removing it from the frame. Use a pair of wire cutters to help you with this, but remember: with the kit provided by Games Workshop, you have the option of making different configurations, which allow you to get an armored or drummed Troll of Mordor, but in case you prefer to bet on the army of Saruman, you could very well assemble an Isengard Troll.
In this guide we will focus in particular on how to paint the armored Troll of Mordor, but at the same time we will give you the right information regarding the Isengard model. In one of the next releases, however, we will show how to make the Troll with drums, in order to complete all the variants. In any case, look at the legend below to distinguish the numerous components you will need depending on your preferred configuration.
Legend for the different configurations
After you have separated all the pieces from the frame, you need to assemble them with plastic glue, then fill the unwanted gaps with the green matter, in order to create continuity of material. Once this is done, your model is primed ready.
Troll of Mordor assembled
Troll of Mordor after applying the green stuff
Practical tip: To facilitate the painting process, do not glue the armor on the Troll's chest right away, but paint it separately. Once you have finished painting each component, apply some plastic glue to some points of the armor and place it on the Troll.
Phase 2: Mordor Troll Base Color | How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
Once you have assembled the model of your Troll of Mordor, you will need to give a base of color to have a base color to work on and to adhere well the shades that you will apply in the next steps. Always remember that the important thing is to evenly cover the material your miniatures are made of. To get a homogeneous layer of color use Citadel Chaos Black spray, as Trolls are usually characterized by rather dark shades. Be very careful when using the spray and be sure to apply this technique in well-ventilated areas.
Spray Citadel Chaos Black
Practical tip: to ensure that the color reaches even the most hidden areas, fix the model on a sheet of rigid cardboard with repositionable glue or double-sided tape, to be able to remove it easily after painting it; while using the black spray, rotate the cardboard, so as to apply a uniform color base all over the miniature.
Alternative: if you don't have Chaos Black spray available, use Citadel Abaddon Black in a bottle; shake the jar well to mix the color correctly, then use the brush to put a drop on the palette and add a little water to dilute it slightly, as too thick a color would be difficult to apply and ruin your miniatures, covering the details . If the color is too liquid, add a little more to thicken it.
The Troll of Mordor after the black primer
Step 3: Paint the Troll of Mordor Armor | How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
Trolls of Mordor wear very heavy armor, which is why the base color black is ideal for making up the undertone. To give your models' armor a metallic and rusty look, paint all steel parts with Warplock Bronze, then evenly apply Citadel Shade Nuln Oil to create shadows in the most hidden areas. When the ink is dry, apply the Leadbelcher with a dry brush, so as to reveal the dark bronze underneath. At this point, you can always use the Ironbreaker with a dry brush to highlight the outermost parts on the chest, helmet, shoulders and forearms, then for the most prominent areas, such as the edges, use the Runefang Steel with the technique of edging. In this way these parts will be more realistic and you will be able to give a depth effect on the model.
To decorate the wooden parts, instead, apply Rhinox Hide as a base, then create the shadows with Nuln Oil and finally lighten everything with Gorthor Brown and Baneblade Brown.
Citadel paints to decorate the armor of a Troll of Mordor
Step 4: Paint the Skin of the Troll of Mordor | How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
The skin of the Trolls of Mordor can be a seemingly difficult challenge to overcome, but fear not. First apply Bugman's Glow everywhere as a background of color. Once this is done, evenly shade with Reikland Fleshshade and let dry. To achieve the highlights, it is advisable to use Cadian Fleshtone as the first layer, applying this shade in the following way: take a drop of color and put it on the palette, then add a little Lahmian Medium, mix well and download the brush so that that you can apply color to fine lines, as if you were to draw with a pen. Use this technique, similar to that of the ruling, on the whole model, then repeat the operation with the Kislev Flesh, in order to create a second layer of highlighting.
Citadel Shade Reikland Fleshshade
To paint the scabs along the back and legs, you can use Baneblade Brown or a similar shade, also playing with your imagination. The nails are initially decorated with Mechanicus Standard Gray as a base, shaded with Nuln Oil and lightened with Dawnstone and Administratum Gray with a dry brush. For the eyes the Pallid Wych Flesh is good, while for the teeth the Screaming Skull and finally for the tongue the Cadian Fleshtone, followed by Kislev Flesh.
Citadel paints to decorate the skin of the Troll of Mordor
Step 5: Paint the Leather Parts of the Troll of Mordor | How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
You can decorate rags and leather parts using many shades of brown of your choice among those available, but obviously without mixing them all. For example, for armor leather you can apply XV-88 as a base, shade with Agrax Earthshade, and then perform several layers of highlighting with Tallarn Sand and Screaming Skull using layering and beading techniques. However, we recommend that you use different shades than the ones you applied to your Trolls' skin, in order to differentiate the different parts of each model.
In the case of leather straps, you can apply shades of gray: then start with Eshin Gray as a background of color. Then create the shadows with Nuln Oil, spreading it everywhere. When the ink is dry, you can lighten the details using Mechanicus Standard Gray with a fine-tipped brush, such as the XS Artificer Layer, proceeding with the edging technique on the straps that hold the armor together. For further highlighting apply Dawnstone. Of course this is an example, no one is stopping you from experimenting with new combinations.
The Troll of Mordor at the end of phase 5
Step 6: Decorate the Troll of Mordor's base | How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures
The last step to complete your Mordor Troll model is to decorate the base: to do this, you can paint it evenly with Mournfang Brown and then apply a small amount of static grass or modeling flock with the vinyl glue. with the aim of recreating a turf. If you prefer, add some crushed stone for a classy effect.
Static modeling grass
Practical tip: to apply the static grass or flock, first spread the glue on the upper part of the base, then immerse the latter in a jar containing the grass, so as to make it adhere perfectly.
Alternatively you can apply a Citadel Texture such as Stirland Mud or Astrogranite to create a rocky brown or gray effect. Whichever you choose, paint the edges of the base with XV-88 or Mechanicus Standard Gray accordingly. When the Texture is dry, gently drybrush a lighter color to highlight, such as Terminatus Stone (Dry) in the first case or Slaneesh Gray (Dry) in the second. Finally, to complete you can add the Clods of Mordheim or Middenland, available on the website, in order to enrich the base with tufts of grass to remember, for example, the Wild Lands.
Citadel Texture Stirland Mud e Astrogranite
Clods of Mordheim and Middenland
With this completed, your Troll of Mordor model is ready to go to war against the Free Peoples of Middle-earth!
How to paint Games Workshop (Citadel) miniatures - Tutorial 42: Troll of Mordor
This tutorial from the Techigames Painting Workshop dedicated to decorating Games Workshop miniatures (eg Warhammer or Lord of the Rings) also ends here. For any questions or requests we are available via the comments box below!
Have fun!
We remind you that the new tutorial will be released in 14 days, so don't miss it!
