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$200 for Rest of Canada
We are currently not shipping to the USA

Army Painter Quickshade Dip & Effects — Complete Guide

Wheels & Wings Hobbies · Paint Reference

The Army Painter Quickshade & Effects

Complete product listing · Quickshade Dip · Warpaints Fanatic Effects · Mediums · Varnishes · Primers

Finishing tools — shading, effects, and protection

This page covers the Army Painter products used at the finishing stages of a model: the iconic Quickshade Dip all-over shade and varnish, and the Warpaints Fanatic Effects line — 18 specialist products covering gore, rust, slime, verdigris, OSL glows, mediums, varnishes, and brush-on primer. These are the products that take a model from basecoated to finished — applied after the main painting is complete.

All products on this page are in stock and available individually. Click any SKU to purchase.

The Army Painter

Quickshade Dip

Quickshade Dip is The Army Painter's original speed-painting technique — a concentrated oil-based shade and satin varnish combined in a single 250ml tin. Applied over a fully painted model (by dipping, brushing, or stippling), it floods into every recess while pooling minimally on raised surfaces, adding automatic shading and depth to the entire model in one step. The built-in satin varnish protects the model at the same time. Available in three tones to suit different colour schemes and army types.

How to use Quickshade Dip: Complete all base colours and any highlighting. Dip the model directly into the tin or apply with a large brush. Allow excess to drip off. Set aside to dry for 24 hours. Once fully dry, apply a coat of Anti Shine Matt Varnish (TAPCP3003) to knock back the satin sheen if a matt finish is preferred.

Fanatic Wash alternative: The Warpaints Fanatic Wash range (see Warpaints Fanatic guide) provides water-based wash equivalents to each Quickshade tone at a smaller 18ml scale — Strong Tone wash = Strong Tone Dip, Dark Tone wash = Dark Tone Dip, Soft Tone wash = Soft Tone Dip. Use the Fanatic Washes for targeted shading on specific areas; use Quickshade Dip for a complete all-over shade-and-varnish on entire models.

SKU Product Size Use & Army Applications
TAPQS1001
Quickshade Dip Soft Tone		 250ml Light warm brown shade. Used for pale models, skin tones, bone and undead, light-coloured cloth, and any army painted in pale or neutral base colours. The gentlest of the three tones — leaves lighter colours looking natural without darkening them excessively. Ideal for: skeleton undead, desert armies, human infantry with pale skin, lightly armoured models, Wood Elf equivalents.
TAPQS1002
Quickshade Dip Strong Tone		 250ml Mid warm brown shade. The most versatile and most popular Quickshade tone — equivalent to Citadel Agrax Earthshade in effect. Works on virtually any colour scheme: leather, metal, stone, wood, mid-toned cloth, and as an all-over shade on mixed-colour armies. The safest choice for a first Army Painter purchase. Ideal for: fantasy warriors, medieval infantry, mixed-colour armies, leather and metal equipment, and any model where a warm overall shade suits the colour scheme.
TAPQS1003
Quickshade Dip Dark Tone		 250ml Near-black dark shade. Used for dark armies, heavily armoured models, silver and metallic models, and any force where maximum shadow depth is the priority. Equivalent to Citadel Nuln Oil in effect. Ideal for: Undead black armour, Chaos warriors, heavily armoured medieval knights, all-metal models, Ork armour, dark sci-fi forces. Will darken lighter colours significantly — best reserved for armies painting in dark or mid-dark colour schemes.

Warpaints Fanatic Effects

18 specialist finishing products — used at the final stage of a model for effects standard acrylics cannot replicate. All 18ml pots at $5.50.

SKU Product Use & Application
Gore & Slime Effects
TAPWP3165
True Blood		 Vivid glistening gore gel. The Army Painter equivalent to Citadel Blood for the Blood God — a semi-transparent, high-gloss deep red gel for fresh blood and gore effects. Applied over dried paint at the finishing stage to weapon blades, wound areas, Khorne altars and models, and any model where the brief is blood-soaked. Produces a wet, glistening fresh-blood effect. Apply thickly for pooling blood; thinly for spatter and drips.
TAPWP3164
Dry Blood		 Dark matte dried gore effect. Used for older, dried blood stains on weapons, armour, and bases — contrasts with the wet finish of True Blood. Apply under True Blood for a layered effect (dried blood underneath, fresh on top), or alone for an aged, battle-worn look. Excellent for Khorne and undead models where the blood should look days-old rather than freshly spilled.
TAPWP3163
Disgusting Slime		 Sickly green gel slime effect. Used for Nurgle daemon models, slime-dripping maws and wounds, swamp basing slick surfaces, and any model where a biological, viscous green goop is the finishing touch. Equivalent to Citadel Nurgle's Rot in application. Produces a glistening, wet slime finish — excellent for Great Unclean Ones, Plaguebearers, and Nurgle Beasts.
TAPWP3170
Oozing Vomit		 Bile-yellow semi-transparent gel. Used for Nurgle bile and pustule effects, stomach acid and digestive fluid on daemonic maws, and any organic Chaos creature needing a noxious yellow-green discharge. Pairs well with Disgusting Slime for a variety of Nurgle-toned biological effects — apply in pools and drips at the model's finishing stage.
Weathering Effects
TAPWP3166
Dark Rust		 Deep dark rust effect. Used as the base layer in rust and corrosion effects — apply to recesses and deep rust areas before adding Fresh Rust on top for a layered, realistic oxidised metal result. Also used alone for heavily corroded, old iron weapons and armour on Ork, Chaos, and undead models. Apply stippled or drybrushed over dark metal surfaces.
TAPWP3167
Fresh Rust		 Bright orange-red rust effect. Used over Dark Rust for a layered rust result — the brighter, more vivid surface oxidisation layer. Apply stippled over raised edges and exposed metal areas for a realistic fresh rust appearance. Also used alone for a more saturated, vivid rust look on newer corrosion. Equivalent to Citadel Ryza Rust in effect — the go-to for any corroded metal surface.
TAPWP3168
Verdigris		 Teal-green copper oxide patina. Used for aged copper and bronze weathering — the characteristic blue-green patina that forms on exposed copper surfaces. Apply into recesses and pooling areas on copper and bronze metallics for a convincing ancient or weathered result. Equivalent to Citadel Nihilakh Oxide. Essential for Adeptus Mechanicus copper fittings, ancient world armour, and steampunk terrain.
TAPWP3169
Oil Stains		 Near-black oily grime effect. Used for engine oil leaks and mechanical grime on vehicles and machinery, dirty underbelly staining on sci-fi models, exhaust and soot deposits on terrain, and industrial weathering on any model with mechanical components. Produces a dark, slightly glossy oily stain — apply in streaks and pools around mechanical joints and vents.
OSL Glow Effects
TAPWP3176
Plasma Coil Glow		 Electric blue OSL gel. Used for plasma weapon energy coils, electric field effects on sci-fi models, Tzeentch magical electricity, and any model with a blue energy source that should cast light on adjacent surfaces. A semi-transparent, high-visibility blue OSL gel — apply thinly over light surfaces near the energy source to simulate light cast by a blue plasma coil.
TAPWP3177
Data System Glow		 Vivid green OSL gel. Used for Necron Gauss weapon glow effects, Adeptus Mechanicus data-screen and terminal OSL, Skaven warpstone glow, and any sci-fi or fantasy model with a green energy readout or data display. A vivid, electric green gel for the brightest green OSL effects on any model with a technological or warpstone energy source.
TAPWP3178
Lens Flare Glow		 Bright yellow OSL gel. Used for searchlight and floodlight OSL on vehicles and terrain, Fyreslayer rune-body warm glow effects, fire and torch light cast onto adjacent surfaces, and any warm-yellow light source OSL. A versatile warm-light OSL gel for simulating incandescent or flame-like light sources on miniatures and terrain.
TAPWP3179
Radiation Glow		 Sickly lime-green OSL gel. Used for radioactive material and toxic waste OSL on terrain and vehicles, Skaven warpstone radiation glow, toxic canisters on sci-fi bases, and any model where the light source should look hazardous and chemical rather than magical or technological. A specific OSL colour for radiation and chemical-hazard themed models.
TAPWP3180
Power Node Glow		 Vivid magenta-pink OSL gel. Used for Slaanesh and Emperor's Children daemonic energy sources, pink and magenta power nodes and conduits on sci-fi models and terrain, and any model where a vivid pink-magenta OSL effect is needed. A distinctive, eye-catching magenta OSL for models that should look otherworldly and daemonically charged.
Mediums, Varnish & Primer
TAPWP3174
Matt Varnish		 Brush-on matt varnish for protecting completed models. Removes the satin sheen left by Quickshade Dip and seals all paintwork with a protective, flat finish. Apply as the final step on any completed model to protect against handling and tabletop use. Equivalent to Citadel 'Ardcoat (but matt) — also see Anti Shine Matt Varnish Aerosol (TAPCP3003) for a spray version.
TAPWP3173
Gloss Varnish		 Brush-on gloss varnish. Used for applying a high-shine protective coat, creating a wet-look gloss surface on gems and eyes, and adding a glossy sheen to liquid effects and metals before applying washes for maximum flow into recesses. Apply selectively to gems, eyes, and metallic surfaces rather than the whole model unless a full-gloss finish is desired.
TAPWP3175
Brush-On Primer (Fanatic)		 White brush-on acrylic primer for priming models by brush rather than spray. Used when spraying isn't practical — small batches, indoor environments, or touch-ups on bare areas of already-primed models. Bonds to plastic, resin, and metal and provides a suitable surface for all Fanatic and Speedpaint products. Also available in a larger 18ml acrylic bottle (TAPWP1472, $4.75).
TAPWP3171
Warpaints Stabilizer		 Clear medium for improving paint consistency and flow. Added to Fanatic acrylics when they become thick or stringy — a few drops restore smooth, brushable consistency without affecting colour. Also used to thin metallics for smoother application and to extend any paint for large-area coverage. Equivalent in use to Citadel Lahmian Medium for thinning and consistency correction.
TAPWP3172
Warpaints Retarder		 Drying retarder medium. Added to Fanatic acrylics to slow the drying time — useful for blending, wet-in-wet transitions, and painting in warm or dry conditions where paints dry too quickly on the palette or model. A few drops mixed into any acrylic gives a longer open time for blending smooth colour transitions. Equivalent to Citadel Contrast Medium in the retarding role, though used more sparingly.

Shopping for Quickshade & Effects at Wheels & Wings

All Quickshade Dip tins and Warpaints Fanatic Effects are stocked at our Toronto store and ship across Canada. Products are available individually — pick up exactly what you need for your current project. Quickshade Dip works with any acrylic paint brand, making it a practical addition to any painter's collection regardless of what paints they use.

If you have questions about which Quickshade tone suits your army, or how to use any of the Effects products, the staff at Wheels & Wings are happy to help in-store or by phone.

Browse and purchase all Army Painter Quickshade and Effects products in our online store.

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May 12, 2026 Wheels & Wings Hobbies

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