Thinking about painting your Thousand Sons Scarab Occult Terminators? The color you pick for their cloaks can really make your models stand out. It's a small detail, yet it has a huge impact on the overall look of your miniature army. Choosing just the right shade can tell a story, reflecting the ancient lore or perhaps a unique twist you want to add to your collection.
For many hobbyists, getting the look of these powerful sorcerers just right is a big part of the fun. The cloaks, draped over their heavy armor, offer a wonderful chance to add depth and visual interest. So, whether you're sticking to classic schemes or wanting to try something new, picking a cloak color is a key step in bringing these figures to life.
This article will help you explore the many possibilities for your Thousand Sons Terminators cloak color, giving you ideas and insights to make your models truly shine. We'll look at the lore, common choices, and even some less traditional options, so you can pick what feels best for your army.
Table of Contents
- The Story Behind the Colors: Thousand Sons Lore
- Classic Cloak Choices for Your Scarab Occult Terminators
- Uncommon and Striking Cloak Color Ideas
- Making Your Cloaks Pop: Painting Tips and Tricks
- Making It Your Own: Choosing a Unique Cloak Color
- Frequently Asked Questions About Thousand Sons Colors
The Story Behind the Colors: Thousand Sons Lore
The Thousand Sons legion, as you might know, has a really compelling backstory. They were once a legion of psychic warriors, devoted to knowledge and the pursuit of forbidden lore. Their home world, Prospero, was a place of learning and beauty, which, in a way, is that kind of contrast to their eventual fate.
Their original colors were a striking crimson and gold, which symbolized their fiery homeworld and their noble aspirations. However, after the events of the Heresy and the terrible "Rubric of Ahriman," many of the legion's ordinary warriors became dust, their spirits trapped within their armor. This change, you know, brought about a shift in their appearance too.
The blue and gold scheme we often see today reflects their current state as servants of Tzeentch, the Changer of Ways. The blues often symbolize magic, change, and the ethereal nature of the warp. This background, you see, influences how many people choose to paint their models, including the important cloaks.
Classic Cloak Choices for Your Scarab Occult Terminators
When it comes to the cloaks on your Scarab Occult Terminators, there are a couple of very common choices that people often go with. These colors tend to be popular for a good reason, as they fit the established look of the Thousand Sons quite well. It's almost like they just belong there, isn't it?
The Iconic Blue and Gold
The most recognizable scheme for modern Thousand Sons is their vibrant blue and gleaming gold. For the cloaks, this typically means a deep, rich blue, perhaps a shade that complements the lighter blues on the armor itself. This choice, naturally, helps tie the whole model together.
You might use a dark blue, like a Kantor Blue or a similar shade, as a base. Then, you can build up layers with slightly brighter blues, maybe a Thousand Sons Blue, to show off the folds and texture of the fabric. This creates a really cohesive look, making the cloaks feel like a natural part of the armor, you know.
Some painters even add a touch of gold trim or patterns to the cloaks, echoing the main armor. This can make the cloaks feel more regal and integrated with the overall aesthetic. It's a pretty straightforward approach that nearly always looks good.
Deep Reds and Crimson Hues
Even though blue is the common color now, some hobbyists still prefer to honor the Thousand Sons' original crimson livery. Using deep reds for the cloaks can be a really striking choice, offering a powerful contrast to the blue armor or even serving as a primary color if you're going for a pre-Rubric look.
A rich, dark red, like a Mephiston Red or Khorne Red, can be a fantastic starting point. You can then highlight it with brighter reds or even a touch of orange to make the fabric appear worn or catch the light. This choice, actually, gives a sense of the legion's past glory.
This color scheme can make your Terminators look truly ancient and battle-hardened, carrying a piece of their history with them. It's a choice that definitely stands out, and quite frankly, it can look absolutely stunning.
Uncommon and Striking Cloak Color Ideas
While the classic blue and red options are great, there are, in some respects, many other ways to approach your Thousand Sons Terminators cloak color. Thinking outside the box can make your models truly unique and give them a distinct personality on the tabletop.
Shadowy Blacks and Grays
For a more somber or mysterious feel, considering black or dark gray for the cloaks can be a really effective choice. This creates a stark contrast with the bright blues and golds of the armor, making those elements pop even more. It's a bit like framing a vibrant painting with a dark border, really.
A deep black, perhaps highlighted with a very dark gray or even a touch of blue-gray, can give the cloaks a heavy, almost oppressive feel. This could represent the shadow of their cursed existence or their connection to the darker aspects of the warp. It's a rather dramatic option, certainly.
This choice can also make the models appear more imposing and less overtly magical, focusing on their role as ancient, powerful constructs. It's an interesting shift, to be honest, and can add a lot of character.
Regal Purples and Rich Greens
If you want your Terminators to look truly opulent and connected to the arcane, purples can be a fantastic option for their cloaks. Purple is often associated with magic, royalty, and mystery, which fits the Thousand Sons perfectly. You know, it just has that certain feel.
A deep, royal purple, shaded with darker tones and highlighted with lighter purples or even a touch of pink, can give the cloaks a luxurious, otherworldly appearance. Similarly, a rich, dark green could symbolize their connection to forbidden knowledge or ancient secrets, almost like a hidden forest, in a way.
These colors can make your models feel incredibly unique and specialized, hinting at specific cults within the legion or unique arcane powers. They are, apparently, not as common, but can look truly impressive.
Bright Whites and Ivory Tones
For a truly different look, consider using white or ivory for the cloaks. This creates a very strong contrast with the typical dark blues and golds, making the models appear almost ghostly or incredibly pure, despite their corrupted nature. It's quite a bold move, actually.
A crisp white, shaded with light grays or very pale blues, can give the cloaks a clean, almost ethereal quality. This could represent the dust of the Rubric, or perhaps a more philosophical approach to their existence. It's a choice that really draws the eye, you see.
This color scheme can make your Terminators seem like ancient relics, preserved and distinct from the more common forces. It certainly gives them a very striking presence on the battlefield, more or less like a beacon.
Making Your Cloaks Pop: Painting Tips and Tricks
No matter what thousand sons terminators cloak color you pick, how you apply the paint makes a huge difference. Getting those cloaks to look like actual fabric, with depth and texture, is a really rewarding part of the painting process. It's not just about the color, but how you use it, you know.
The name "Thousand Sons" itself, you know, sort of hints at a vastness, doesn't it? It brings to mind that idea of a great number or amount, a quantity that is ten times one hundred, like the word "thousand" itself means. This legion, in a way, offers a similar breadth of artistic expression when it comes to painting their models, especially those iconic cloaks on their Terminators. You can apply a thousand different techniques, or at least a great many, to achieve the look you want, from simple base coats to complex layering. Just as the word "thousand" can refer to "a set of this many persons or things," you have a set of many choices for your painting methods, and that's pretty cool.
Shading and Highlighting for Depth
To make your cloaks look realistic, you really need to use shading and highlighting. Shading helps create shadows in the recesses of the fabric, making it look like it has folds and drapes naturally. Highlighting, on the other hand, catches the light on the raised areas, giving the impression of volume.
For shading, you can use a darker wash or a thinned-down darker version of your base color. Apply it into the creases and folds, letting it settle there. Then, for highlights, use a lighter version of your base color, applying it sparingly to the edges and ridges of the fabric. This process, honestly, makes a huge difference.
You can also try a technique called "glazing," where you apply very thin layers of transparent paint to smoothly transition between shades. This takes a little practice, but it can create incredibly smooth and realistic-looking cloaks, giving them a lot of character.
Adding Texture and Wear
Beyond just color and light, you can add texture to your cloaks to make them feel more real. This might involve using a stippling technique for a rougher fabric look, or even adding small scratches and tears to show wear and tear from battle. It’s a little detail, but it adds so much.
For a weathered look, you might carefully apply a small amount of a darker, almost black-brown wash to the very bottom edges of the cloak, simulating dust or dirt. This makes them look like they've been through some tough fights, rather than just being fresh from the paint station. It's a nice touch, for instance.
Remember, the goal is to make the fabric look believable. Think about how real cloth behaves and try to replicate that with your brushstrokes. Even small details, like a tiny fray at the edge, can tell a story, you know.
Making It Your Own: Choosing a Unique Cloak Color
Ultimately, the best thousand sons terminators cloak color is the one that you like the most and that fits your army's personal story. There are no strict rules in the hobby, and trying out different ideas is part of the fun. Your models are your canvas, after all.
Consider the overall theme of your Thousand Sons force. Are they ancient, dust-filled constructs, or perhaps a more vibrant, active warband? The cloak color can really help convey that feeling. Sometimes, just experimenting with a bit of paint on a spare model can give you the best ideas, you see.
Don't be afraid to mix and match. You might use a traditional blue for the armor, but a completely unexpected color for the cloak, like a vibrant green or a muted grey. This can create a truly unique look that sets your army apart from others. It's your army, so make it something you truly enjoy looking at and playing with.
Frequently Asked Questions About Thousand Sons Colors
What colors are Thousand Sons Terminators?
Typically, modern Thousand Sons Terminators, especially the Scarab Occult ones, are painted in a vibrant blue and gleaming gold. Their armor usually features a deep blue base with intricate gold trim. However, some hobbyists choose to paint them in the legion's older crimson and gold scheme, or even entirely different colors, you know, to make them stand out.
What color is the Thousand Sons trim?
The trim on Thousand Sons armor, including that of their Terminators, is almost always gold. This gold is often a bright, metallic shade, but some painters might use a more muted or aged gold to give their models a different feel. It's a pretty consistent element across the legion, in a way, defining their look.
Are Thousand Sons cloaks blue or red?
While the most common choice for Thousand Sons cloaks today is a deep blue, often matching or complementing their armor, some painters choose red. The red is a nod to their original legion colors before the Rubric of Ahriman. So, you might see either blue or red, and sometimes even other colors entirely, depending on the painter's preference, or what they're trying to achieve.
