Paint Your First Warmachine Army: P3 Colour Palettes and Shopping Guide

Toy Snowman · Warmachine guide

Six colours. Your first painted force.

Pick a colour scheme, remove paints you already own, and follow a simple painting order. Start small and add specialist colours when a model needs them.

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Pick a colour scheme, remove paints you already own, and follow a simple painting order. Start small and add specialist colours when a model needs them. Explore the Warmachine collection at Toy Snowman, your Montreal-based Canadian hobby store.

What paints do you need for your first Warmachine army?

Begin with a small palette you can repeat across several models. This guide offers four suggested directions: blue and steel, red and iron, purple and shadow, or green and steel. Each uses six P3 colours, including shared colours for metals, leather, dark details and pale highlights.

The schemes are Toy Snowman suggestions. They are not official box-art recipes, exact colour matches or claims that a particular finished model was painted with these six bottles. The real product photos are inspiration; different models may need extra skin tones, fabric colours or effects.

How should a beginner paint a Warmachine miniature?

1. Prepare the model: follow the kit’s assembly and material instructions. Do not treat resin and plastic as interchangeable when choosing adhesive or preparation methods.
2. Prime: use a suitable primer according to its directions and let it dry.
3. Block in the main colours: work from large areas to smaller details, letting thin coats dry between applications.
4. Add contrast: use a second colour for accents and a lighter mix for a few edges or raised areas.
5. Tidy and repeat: test on one miniature, then use the same sequence on a small group.

Use a palette, clean water and something to wipe your brush on. Household items can cover those jobs; the shopping list does not assume you need a branded wet palette. Follow product labels for ventilation and handling, especially when using spray primer.

Do I need a separate brush for every task?

One general painting brush is enough for a first small project. A fine detail brush can make tiny details easier, but it is optional. Start with controllable paint and a brush that keeps a useful point before building a large tool collection.

Can I use a different colour scheme for my army?

Yes—choose the colours you enjoy. These palettes can be used beyond the army shown in each example. Mark any paint, primer or brush you already own to remove it from the estimate. The tool updates the shopping list and painting order when you switch schemes.

The listed Citadel brush and primer ship within Canada only. You can use suitable supplies already in your collection instead. Browse all P3 paints at Toy Snowman when you are ready to expand your palette.

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Editorial guide checked 8 November 2026. Product prices and availability are requested when you use the tool. Paint information: official P3 guide. Sources: official army guides, Warmachine app and rules, Command Starter naming update, and the linked Toy Snowman product listings. Photos are real catalogue images; models may be shown assembled and painted.