How to Paint Black Templars -Tips from the Internet

Linked to my recent interest in using "Vallejo contrast [Xpress] paints"- and possessing  a bottle of Black Lotus (very evocative naming from the marketing department, top marks) I was looking around for some "dark chaps" to paint up. Two candidates jumped to mind, one from Vietnam - black pyjama Viet Cong, the other from the unpainted bucket of Space Marines - some Black Templars. Time to turn to the Internet for some help (see below, saviours of  universe [Black Templars] needing a coat of paint before they can go "hand-to-hand "with Chaos in the name of the Emperor - all WIP): 

I have surrounded them with a sophisticated painting task-force of Vallejo dark paint ranges to see if anything works, I have great hopes for Dark Grey (994), Black Grey (862) in combination with Xpress Black Lotus (423) and Black Ink (094), highlighted perhaps with Glossy Black (861). Talk about "fifty shades of grey"!

Meanwhile this is what other people did (very well) on the Internet:  

• https://taleofpainters.com/2021/10/tutorial-how-to-paint-black-templars-crusader-squads/
• https://www.fauxhammer.com/tutorials/how-to-paint-black-templars-armour-tutorial/?fbclid=IwAR0W2-EiEvXew3VukW3DHfOkJN430qGfKujhwh-sSul4Qo9VWF5xSFP6c9Q
• https://www.redgrasscreative.com/painting-miniatures-black-templars/
• https://spikeybits.com/2021/10/how-to-paint-black-templars-space-marines.html

The exploration of black painting space continues!

And I thought I didn't do Space Marines

I thought I said I didn't really do Space Marines but then I had a "bargain shiny" moment in a charity shop as someone was obviously in discard mode and selling old unmade stuff at half price. Hence I start making these guys (see below, Black Templars):

Which became these thirteen "bad boys" (see below):

Then there were these five, Blood Angels Death Company,whatever that is (see below, shiny metal and plastic which brought on some interesting superglue moments):

Then there were some odds and sods in a cast off box, Scouts and left over parts to make three "unique" Space Marines (see below):

At the very end from the "spare box" the miscellaneous Frankenstein Space Marines even got their own (Space Marine signature) '1970's style shoulder pads' (see below):

But remember,I don't do Space Marines (other than one off Space Crusade game nights), yet somehow I have forty nine of them now, which means I guess I have no shortage odd painting projects ahead of me.

Hmm, I should really do that 1940 Battle of France Fairey Battle first!