Vallejo Paints: Master Your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol

Hey guys, ever looked at your unpainted Maggot Lords Combat Patrol box and felt that surge of excitement, mixed with a tiny bit of dread about getting those disgusting Nurgle details just right? Well, you've come to the right place! We're diving deep into the fantastic world of Vallejo paints to show you exactly how to transform those drab plastic models into truly putrid champions of Nurgle. Vallejo paints are seriously some of the best on the market, offering incredible versatility, vibrant colors, and smooth application, making them a perfect match for bringing out the gruesome beauty of your Maggot Lords. Whether you’re a seasoned hobbyist or just starting your journey into the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, mastering Vallejo paints for your Maggot Lords will elevate your painting game. We’ll be covering everything from choosing the right Vallejo shades to applying those gnarly Nurgle effects, ensuring your Combat Patrol not only looks fantastic but also stands out on the tabletop. Prepare to embrace the decay and let's get those brushes wet!

This article is all about helping you harness the power of Vallejo paints for Maggot Lords Combat Patrol. You want your Nurgle miniatures to look suitably disgusting, full of disease, rot, and the joy of Grandfather Nurgle, right? Vallejo paints excel at achieving these kinds of organic, grimy textures. We're not just talking about slapping on some base coats here; we're talking about layering, washing, glazing, and applying special effects that will make onlookers feel a little queasy, in the best possible way. The Maggot Lords Combat Patrol comes with some truly iconic models – the Lord of Plagues, the Plague Marines, the Foetid Bloat-drone, and the Poxwalkers. Each of these units presents unique opportunities for displaying Nurgle’s corruption, and Vallejo’s extensive range has every color and effect you could possibly need. We’ll guide you through selecting the right Vallejo Model Color, Vallejo Game Color, Vallejo Washes, and even Vallejo Effects to get that perfect festering look. From the deep, diseased greens and browns of their armor to the sickly, pallid flesh and oozing sores, Vallejo paints provide the tools to make every detail pop with putrid realism. Get ready to unleash your inner artist and make your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol a truly memorable, gross-out masterpiece that will have your opponents both disgusted and impressed. It's time to show the galaxy the true glory of Nurgle, painted with the finest Vallejo pigments!

Essential Vallejo Paints for Nurgle's Rot

Alright, let's talk about the specific Vallejo paints you absolutely need in your arsenal to bring out the glorious decay of your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol. When we're thinking about Nurgle's aesthetic, we're generally looking at a palette of sickly greens, putrid browns, pallid yellows, and festering purples, all topped off with plenty of grime and gore. Vallejo paints offer an incredible array of choices across their Model Color, Game Color, Game Ink, Game Wash, and Effects ranges, ensuring you can find exactly what you need for every disgusting detail. For the core greens, you’ll want to pick up some Vallejo Game Color Sick Green and Dead Flesh, or Vallejo Model Color Olive Green and Military Green. These form the backbone of Nurgle armor and flesh tones. For those deep, diseased shadows, a good Vallejo Game Color Dark Green or Vallejo Model Color Dark Green is indispensable. Vallejo Model Color Brown Violet and Flat Earth are fantastic for dirty leathers, rusted metals, and general grime, providing that earthy, rotting feel. And for the iconic, sickly pallor of Nurgle's bloated flesh, you absolutely need Vallejo Model Color Pale Flesh or Vallejo Game Color Pale Flesh – it's just perfect for getting that unhealthy glow.

But it doesn't stop there, guys! To truly achieve that Nurgle effect, you need to think about variety and contrast. Consider adding some Vallejo Game Color Warlord Purple or Vallejo Model Color Royal Purple for those festering wounds and mutations. A splash of Vallejo Game Color Bone White or Vallejo Model Color Ivory will be crucial for teeth, horns, and exposed bones, giving them that decayed, brittle look. Now, for the washes and inks, which are critical for adding depth and grime to your Maggot Lords, you can't go wrong with Vallejo Game Wash Sepia for warm, rusty grime, Vallejo Game Wash Brown for general dirt, and Vallejo Game Wash Green for accentuating those nurgle green tones. Vallejo Game Ink Green or Vallejo Game Ink Brown can be used for more intense staining or achieving glossy wet effects when mixed with a gloss medium. And let's not forget the special effects! Vallejo has amazing products like Vallejo Game Color Gloss Varnish to make those pustules look wet and disgusting, or Vallejo Game Effects Blood for the Blood God (or similar Vallejo blood effects) for fresh gore (though Nurgle prefers older, more established gore, so perhaps dull it down a bit with a touch of brown wash!). The Vallejo Game Color line is generally brighter and more saturated, often preferred for fantasy and sci-fi miniatures, while Vallejo Model Color offers a more muted, realistic range, which can be fantastic for the gritty realism of Nurgle. Mixing and matching between these ranges will give you the ultimate control over your Nurgle palette. Seriously, having a good selection of these essential Vallejo paints will give you the tools to make your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol look genuinely horrifying and awe-inspiring on the tabletop. Don’t skimp on the washes – they are your best friends for quick, effective shading and bringing out all that glorious Nurgle detail.

Preparing Your Maggot Lords: The Nurgle Canvas

Alright, before we even think about touching those glorious Vallejo paints, we've got to make sure your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol models are prepped and ready to receive their unholy layers of paint. This step, often overlooked, is crucial for achieving a high-quality, durable finish that truly showcases the depth and detail of your Nurgle miniatures. Think of it as preparing the canvas for a masterpiece of decay! First things first, carefully assemble your models. This means using a good quality plastic cement, like Vallejo Plastic Cement, and making sure all seams are tight. Don't be afraid to take your time here, guys, because a poorly assembled model will always detract from even the best paint job. Pay special attention to any mold lines – those annoying little ridges left from the casting process. Gently scrape them away with a sharp hobby knife or use a specialized mold line remover. Seriously, removing mold lines is one of those small details that makes a huge difference in the final look of your Maggot Lords. Once assembled and cleaned, give your models a good wash. Use some warm water and a tiny bit of dish soap, then gently scrub them with an old toothbrush. This removes any residual mold release agents or greasy fingerprints that could prevent your paint from adhering properly. After a thorough rinse, let them air dry completely before moving on. Patience is a virtue, especially when dealing with Nurgle's blessings!

Next up, and equally vital for your Maggot Lords, is priming. Priming creates a uniform surface for your paint to stick to and helps bring out the details of the model. For Nurgle models, a darker primer often works wonders, as it helps establish deep shadows and allows for quick base coating of those grimy, diseased colors. A Vallejo Surface Primer Black or Vallejo Surface Primer Grey is an excellent choice. Apply your primer in thin, even coats, holding the can (if using spray) or airbrush (if using liquid primer) about 6-12 inches away from the model. You want to achieve full coverage without obscuring any of those beautiful, grotesque details. Two thin coats are always better than one thick, gloopy coat! Let each coat dry completely before applying the next. If you're using brush-on primer from Vallejo, dilute it slightly with water or Vallejo Thinner Medium for a smooth application. The goal is a smooth, matte finish that’s ready to accept your Vallejo base coats. A perfectly primed Nurgle model will absorb paint beautifully, allowing you to achieve rich, deep colors and smooth blends that really make those rotting textures come alive. So, don't rush this stage; a solid foundation ensures your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol will look its best for years to come, a testament to your careful preparation and the quality of Vallejo products. Now, with your Nurgle canvas ready, we can finally get to the fun part: applying those amazing Vallejo paints to bring forth the glory of Grandfather Nurgle!

Bringing Pestilence to Life: Step-by-Step Vallejo Painting Guide

Alright, guys, this is where the magic happens! We've prepped our Maggot Lords Combat Patrol models, and now it's time to infuse them with the glorious corruption of Nurgle using our fantastic Vallejo paints. This step-by-step guide will walk you through a general process, focusing on techniques perfect for those diseased textures and rotting aesthetics. Remember, practice makes perfect, and feel free to experiment with your Vallejo colors to find the perfect blend of decay! We'll break it down into basecoating, shading, highlighting, and then those all-important final touches.

Basecoating the Foul Form

First things first, let's get those base colors down. For your Maggot Lords' armor and Plague Marine power armor, I recommend a foundational Vallejo Game Color Sick Green or Vallejo Model Color Olive Green. Apply two thin coats for opaque coverage. Don't glop it on! Thinning your Vallejo paints with a tiny bit of water or Vallejo Thinner Medium will help them flow smoothly and preserve detail. For the flesh areas on your Lord of Plagues, Poxwalkers, or any exposed skin on the Plague Marines, use Vallejo Model Color Pale Flesh or Vallejo Game Color Pale Flesh. This gives us that sickly, unhealthy foundation. The tentacles and mutations can get a slightly different base, maybe Vallejo Game Color Warlord Purple or Vallejo Model Color Royal Purple to create some visual interest and contrast. For metals like weapons or the Bloat-drone's chassis, a dark, rusty base is ideal. Try Vallejo Model Color Flat Earth or Vallejo Game Color Charred Brown, as we'll layer metallics over this later to simulate rust. This initial basecoating stage with your chosen Vallejo paints sets the tone for the entire model. Ensure each color is fully dry before moving to the next section to avoid mixing colors unintentionally. Think about dividing the model into distinct areas – armor, flesh, cloth, metallics – and tackle each color systematically. This organized approach, using your preferred Vallejo base colors, will make the rest of the painting process much smoother and more enjoyable, laying the perfect foundation for those grisly Nurgle details to come alive. Take your time, get good coverage, and admire your budding Nurgle champions!

Shading for Depth and Decay

Now we're going to use Vallejo washes and inks to bring out all that amazing detail and create a sense of depth and decay. This step is where your Maggot Lords really start to look gross in the best way! For all the green armor and flesh areas, a generous application of Vallejo Game Wash Green or Vallejo Game Wash Sepia will work wonders. Apply it into the recesses, letting it pool in the crevices. This will define the edges and add a grimy, festering look. For the pale flesh, a very thin wash of Vallejo Game Wash Flesh or Vallejo Game Wash Brown applied selectively can enhance those sickly tones. Don't be afraid to mix a tiny bit of Vallejo Game Color Purple Ink with your flesh wash for areas you want to look particularly bruised or infected. For the rusty metallic areas, a liberal wash of Vallejo Game Wash Sepia or Vallejo Game Wash Brown will simulate deep, established rust and dirt. You can also mix a small amount of Vallejo Game Color Dark Brown with some water to create a custom wash for super-grimy effects. The beauty of Vallejo washes is how easily they flow into recesses, naturally creating shadows and definition. Let these washes dry completely. This is crucial, guys, as rushing this step will lead to muddy-looking paint jobs. The Maggot Lords are all about texture and depth, and proper shading with Vallejo's excellent washes will make your models look truly three-dimensional and disgustingly real. Don't be afraid to go back in with a fine brush and some wash to deepen specific shadows or to clean up any areas where the wash has stained the raised surfaces too much. This careful application of Vallejo washes is fundamental to achieving that authentic Nurgle rot.

Highlighting the Putrid Details

With our models shaded, it’s time to bring out the gross details with highlights using our reliable Vallejo paints. This step makes your Maggot Lords pop and adds contrast, making them tabletop ready. For the green armor, grab a lighter green like Vallejo Game Color Goblin Green or a mix of your base green with a touch of Vallejo Model Color Pale Green. Apply this to the raised edges and prominent areas, focusing on catching the light. For the pale flesh, a mix of your Vallejo Pale Flesh base with a tiny bit of Vallejo Game Color Bone White or pure Bone White will give you subtle highlights that make the skin look taught and unhealthy. You can also carefully pick out pustules and boils with a dot of pure Bone White or even a yellowish-green like Vallejo Game Color Scorpy Green for a truly disgusting look. For the mutations and tentacles, highlight with a lighter shade of your chosen purple, perhaps mixed with Vallejo Model Color Magenta. For metals, instead of a traditional metallic highlight, consider drybrushing a lighter brown or orange over the rusty areas to simulate fresher rust, then a very light drybrush of Vallejo Game Color Bright Bronze or Vallejo Model Color Oily Steel on extreme edges to show worn metal. The key here is subtlety with your Vallejo paints. You’re not trying to make them shiny; you’re defining the forms and adding visual interest. Edge highlighting is great for armor plates, while feathering or stippling works well for organic textures like skin to give it a mottled appearance. This stage is where your Maggot Lords really start to come alive, showcasing the craftsmanship and the versatility of Vallejo paints in bringing out even the most minute, putrid details.

Adding Grisly Effects and Finishing Touches

Now for the really fun stuff – those grisly Nurgle effects that take your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol from good to grotesquely great! Vallejo has an amazing range of texture and effect paints that are perfect for this. For adding that wet, oozing look to pustules, sores, and any exposed organs, apply a layer of Vallejo Game Color Gloss Varnish over those areas. You can also mix a tiny bit of Vallejo Game Ink Green or Vallejo Game Ink Sepia into the varnish for a colored, festering slime effect. For truly gory details, a product like Vallejo Game Effects Blood (or a custom mix of dark red and brown Vallejo paints with gloss varnish) can be applied sparingly to weapons or around wounds, but remember Nurgle's blood is usually dark and clotted, so avoid anything too bright and fresh looking. To represent fly swarms or insect infestations, you can use a small amount of texture paint like Vallejo Earth Texture mixed with some tiny flock or even individual insect models (if you’re feeling ambitious!). For the bases of your models, which are just as important as the models themselves, you can use Vallejo texture pastes like Vallejo Mud & Puddles or Vallejo Earth Texture to create a diseased, boggy ground. Paint these with Vallejo greens and browns, and then perhaps add some Vallejo Game Color Gloss Varnish to create wet, slimy patches. A final coat of Vallejo Matt Varnish over the entire model (excluding the glossy areas we just made) will protect your hard work and give a uniform, non-shiny finish that screams decay. Remember to paint the rim of your bases neatly, typically black or a dark brown, for a clean presentation. These finishing touches with Vallejo effects and varnishes are what truly bring your Maggot Lords to life, turning them into disgusting masterpieces worthy of Grandfather Nurgle’s blessings. Take a step back and admire your handiwork – your Vallejo-painted Nurgle horde is ready to spread its joyful plagues!

Advanced Techniques for a Truly Nurgle Aesthetic

If you've followed along so far, your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol models are already looking fantastic with those core Vallejo paint techniques. But for those of you who want to push the boundaries and truly elevate your Nurgle aesthetic to a level that would make Grandfather Nurgle shed a tear of joy (or pus!), we're going to dive into some advanced techniques. These methods, primarily using Vallejo products, will add incredible realism, depth, and that extra layer of grisly detail that sets your models apart. First up, let's talk about weathering. Nurgle's champions are not pristine; they are ancient, corroded, and constantly exposed to the elements and their own delightful concoctions. Vallejo Weathering Effects are your best friends here. You can use Vallejo Rust & Chipping Fluid to create realistic chipped paint on armor, revealing the corroded metal underneath. Simply apply a base metallic like Vallejo Model Color Oily Steel, then the chipping fluid, followed by your chosen armor color (e.g., Vallejo Game Color Sick Green). Once dry, gently reactivate the chipping fluid with a damp brush and scrape away the top layer to reveal beautifully chipped and rusted armor. For streaking grime and rust, Vallejo Streaking Grime (or a thinned-down dark brown/black Vallejo Game Wash) can be applied vertically down flat surfaces, then partially removed with a brush dampened with mineral spirits (for enamel-based grime) or water (for acrylic grime) to simulate rain and rust streaks. This instantly adds a sense of history and decay to your Maggot Lords.

Next, let’s explore blending and glazing for those organic Nurgle textures. While washes provide quick shading, glazing with Vallejo paints allows for much smoother transitions between colors, perfect for depicting mottled flesh, bruising, or subtle color shifts on bloated skin. To create a glaze, simply take a small amount of your Vallejo paint (like Vallejo Game Color Warlord Purple for a bruise or Vallejo Model Color Pale Yellow for a sickly pallor) and mix it with a generous amount of Vallejo Glaze Medium or Vallejo Thinner Medium. Apply this transparent mix in very thin layers over an area, building up the color gradually. Each layer should be almost invisible, allowing you to control the depth and intensity. This technique is fantastic for adding subtle hues of disease or creating smooth transitions from green armor to fleshy corruption. For those truly disgusting oozing slime effects, Vallejo still offers solutions. You can mix Vallejo Game Color Gloss Varnish with a tiny bit of Vallejo Game Ink Green or Vallejo Game Ink Sepia to create a sticky, wet slime. For a thicker, more viscous effect, you can even mix in a bit of Vallejo Water Texture or a clear resin. Apply these effects to open wounds, mouths, or dripping from tentacles for a truly stomach-churning result. Remember, guys, these advanced techniques with your Vallejo paints take time and practice, but the payoff is immense. They add an incredible layer of realism and narrative to your Maggot Lords, making each model a unique, diseased masterpiece. Don't be afraid to experiment and push your skills; Nurgle embraces all forms of growth and decay, and so should you in your painting journey!

Conclusion - Unleash Your Nurgle Horde with Vallejo!

And there you have it, guys! We've journeyed through the delightful world of decay and pestilence, showing you how to transform your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol into truly disgusting and glorious champions of Nurgle using the incredible range of Vallejo paints. From careful assembly and priming to selecting the perfect Vallejo colors and applying advanced weathering techniques, you're now armed with all the knowledge to make your models stand out. We've covered everything from the essential Vallejo Model and Game Colors for those sickly greens and putrid browns, to the magic of Vallejo washes and inks that bring out every festering detail, and even those awesome Vallejo effects that make pustules ooze and armor rust with unsettling realism. Remember, the key to truly embracing the Nurgle aesthetic with Vallejo paints lies in layering, patience, and a willingness to get a little bit gross. Your Maggot Lords Combat Patrol isn’t just a collection of miniatures; it’s a canvas for you to express the joyful, disgusting essence of Grandfather Nurgle, and Vallejo paints are your perfect medium for that expression.

So, go forth, hobbyists! Grab those Vallejo paints, thin them properly, and start bringing your Nurgle horde to life. Don't be afraid to experiment with different Vallejo shades or mix up your own custom diseased colors. The more you paint, the better you'll get, and the more unique your Maggot Lords will become. Your opponents will be both impressed and slightly repulsed by the sheer putrid beauty you've achieved with your Vallejo-painted models. Whether you're aiming for a tabletop-ready force or a display-quality army, Vallejo paints provide the quality and versatility you need to achieve your vision. Unleash the plagues, spread the rot, and let your Vallejo-painted Maggot Lords Combat Patrol bring joy (and disease!) to the battlefield. Happy painting, and may Grandfather Nurgle bless your brushes with endless creativity and vibrant decay!