How to Paint and Assemble Satyr Brutes

Quick answer

Clean mold lines, dry-fit parts, use plastic glue for assembly, then prime and paint in sub-assemblies for best access to fur and muscle details.

Step-by-step assembly and painting guide

1. Clean and prepare the parts: Remove each piece from the sprue using clippers. Scrape away mold lines with a hobby knife or fine sandpaper. Wash the parts in warm soapy water to remove release agents, then let them dry completely. Skipping the wash can cause primer to bead up and peel off later.
2. Dry-fit before gluing: Test-fit arms, heads, and weapons without glue to check alignment. File down any tabs that are too tight. This prevents awkward poses or gaps after the glue sets. A dry-fit that feels too loose means you need a small shim of plasticard or a dab of putty.
3. Assemble in sub-groups: Glue the torso, legs, and head together as one sub-assembly. Keep arms and weapons separate. Use plastic glue for a strong bond; apply sparingly to avoid melting detail. Avoid gluing the arms until after painting — you'll need brush access to the armpits and chest.
4. Prime in a neutral color: Spray or brush on a gray or brown primer. Gray shows both shadows and highlights well for fur and skin. Brown primer works if you plan to use earthy skin tones and want a warm undercoat. Black primer can make dark fur look flat — test on a spare bit first.
5. Paint skin and fur base coats: Apply a base coat of tan or medium brown to the fur areas, and a flesh tone to the skin. Use thin layers and let each dry before adding the next. Build up opacity gradually. Thick paint fills in fur texture — thin your paint to the consistency of milk.
6. Add washes and highlights: Apply a brown or sepia wash to the fur and a flesh wash to the skin. Once dry, dry-brush a lighter shade on the fur tips and edge-highlight the muscle ridges. Wipe most of the paint off the dry-brush before touching the model to avoid blotches.
7. Paint details and weapons: Paint weapons, jewelry, and warpaint while the arms are still separate. Use metallic paints for blades and bright colors for ritual markings. Seal with a matte varnish when done. Varnish the whole model after final assembly to protect the paint during handling and gaming.

Product used in this guide

• Wargames Atlantic - Satyr Brutes: Pre-order shipping early July. These beastly lords of the deep forests mainly keep to themselves but bands of frenzied warriors seek out violence and depravity during the summer festival season. The detailed fur and musculature on these scale model figures reward careful painting, and the dynamic poses make sub-assembly a practical choice.