When approaching this model, I chose to paint each component separately before assembly. Each component was primed with Vallejo Surface Primer Black.
The Cart
Each wooden element of the cart followed the same basic method.
Basecoat with Dryad Bark. Shade with Agrax Earthshade.
Drybrush with Steel Legion Drab, focussing on edges and the wood grain.
Drybrush lightly with Zandri Dust, again focussing on the edges.
Wheels were painted with the same technique. Caps and wheel rim were painted with Leadbelcher.
Stick everything together! At this point the cart is pretty much completed, save for a shade of Reikland Fleshshade Gloss on the metallic areas of the cart’s wheels.
Horse
Basecoat in Rhinox Hide.
Highlight with Doombull Brown. Shade with Agrax Earthshade. Reins were painted with Khorne Red, shaded with Carroburg Crimson and the edges highlighted with Wazdakka Red. Mane, tail and hooves were painted black.
Muzzle was painted with Bugman’s Glow. Shaded with Reikland Fleshshade and highlighted with Cadian Fleshtone.
The fetlock (bit above the hoof?) was painted with Screaming Skull, highlighted with Pallid Wych Flesh. Mane was highlighted with Rhinox Hide and Dryad Bark.
Saddle painted with Zandri Dust, washed with Seraphim Sepia and highlighted with Ushabti Bone and Screaming Skull on the edges.
Gandalf
Basecoat Gandalf’s cloak with Mechanicus Standard Grey. Shade using Nuln Oil.
Hat painted with The Fang, shaded with Drakenhof Nightshade. Highlight with Russ Grey. Edge highlights with Fenrisian Grey.
Paint the beard with Administratum Grey. Wash with Nuln Oil. Carefully drybrush with Dawnstone, then highlight with Administratum Grey. I highlighted the moustache and really pronounced beard areas with Pallid Wych Flesh.
Basecoat flesh with Bugman’s Glow. Wash Reikland Fleshshade. Highlight with Cadian Fleshtone and Kislev Flesh.
Gandalf’s Boots were basecoated with Rhinox Hide, highlighted with Doombull Brown.
The cloak was progressively highlighted from Mechanicus Standard Grey through Dawnstone to Administratum Grey, with full Administratum Grey for the edge highlights. A mix of Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade was applied to blend the colours a bit and provide some weathering.
Hope someone finds this useful! Sorry I’ve missed a few steps out when making this guide; I’ll try to keep my phone at hand in the future!
Nice job. Which colors did you choose exactly for the base?
Ah, just found the base colors in your Bilbo guide 😉