Hi, I have started painting a vampire counts army for warhammer and wish to pain the metal on my models so they have a rusted/corroding look to them. i have painted a basic boltgun metal over a chaos black undercoat and wondered where i could progress from there.

Any tips would be appriciated. thanks
Blackcherry

Stipple or drybrush your choice of brown, vermin brown or scorched brown work IMO. Then stipple/drybrush Fiery Orange. Gives a very good effect.

You can use a brown ink wash. This has the effect of making it look old, rusty and dirty. It doesn't however imterfere with the metal colours. Once the ink is dry you can always apply a light drybrushing of metal paint ontop of that and then add more brown ink to taste.

Several layers of ink and paint work best to give a deeper more realistic look.

I paint the whole metal area scorched brown first. Next I stipple on vermin brown followed by fiery orange stippled on top. Then I paint all of the edges and some other random parts with chainmail. Last I highlight the edges with mithril silver. In case you aren't sure what stipling means, it is when you just dab the paint on at random. Use an older brush for this and wipe some of the paint off the brush first, kind of like drybrushing but with a little more paint on the brush. Check out these pics to see how it looks.
http://www.librarium-online.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93040

There are some GW articles about painting rusting metal
IMO this is one of the best. Click! (http://us.games-workshop.com/games/warhammer/painting/metal/default.htm)
This one about rusting Necrons might be helpfull for structural more complex areas. Click! (http://oz.games-workshop.com/games/40k/necrons/painting/rusty/default.htm)

Yes - starting from a brown(ish) base plus using brown(ish) inks over the metal paint is the best and easiest way to go if you do not want to spend a ton of time! If you want a challenge and best results - go the "stippling" route!

I've been painting the exact same models recently and have had some good results with a base of Boltgum Metal and then a thin wash of Tin Bitz. The results aren't as good as many of these other tips will get you but it works well for rank and file

Look in the Ogre Kingdoms Army Book. They have a really good paint scheme for rusted metal.


Begin with a base coat of Dark Flesh
Then Stipple on layers of Vermin Brown and Blazing Orange.
Then finish off with flicks of chainmail on the edges.
OPTIONAL: If you want it to look a little darker you can then mix a bit of Brown, Black & Gloss Varnish with some water and go over the metal.

http://oz.games-workshop.com/community/goldendemon/hobby/ork_nob_painting.htm

I think that's a great stage-by-stage guide to some nice looking rust effect. And this link too:

http://us.games-workshop.com/games/warhammer/painting/metal/default.htm

Has some nice looking doors with various metal looks - included corroded.

KU