John's Trench Crusade Sniper Priests Paint Guide - Build Feature
John's Trench Crusade Sniper Priests
Trench Crusade - Sniper Priests - Paint Guide
Trench Crusade is a new IP on the tabletop scene mixing the aesthetic of classic WW1 military with horror and surrealism. We brought them in purely on the strength of the look - the aesthetic is a store favourite and the miniatures speak for themselves. John is a fantastic painter and we handed him a pair of Sniper Priests to put on display.
Two Sniper Priests, two robes: one green, one brown. John painted each with a multi-step layering and blending approach on the cloth, building real depth and colour variance across the fabric rather than a flat base coat. Both models use the same techniques on shared elements - metallics, leather, gold, skin, scrolls and base - with only the robe colour scheme differing between them.
About the Priests:
The Sniper Priests of New Antioch are the undisputed masters of long range warfare. Ritually blinding themselves to avoid any chance of doubt, a Sniper Priest aims through faith in the Lord alone, enabling unparalleled accuracy whether they be firing a sniper rifle, heavy automatic weapon, or even a grenade launcher.
John's Trench Crusade Sniper Priests - green and brown robes.
Green robe - front
Brown robe - front
Both - side profile right
Both - side profile left, scrolls and books
Green robe - rear, wooden cathedral backpack and book
Brown robe - rear, leather backpack and book
How John Painted Them
Full step-by-step breakdown. All products in stock at Wheels and Wings.
Mecha Grey - Both Models
Military Green Multi-Step Layering
The green robe builds depth through multiple layering passes rather than a single flat base coat. Military Green mixed with Black as the main shadow tone, then pure Military Green blended in to develop the cloth colour variance. Abteilung Smoke oil wash settled into the folds. Military Green mixed with Panzer Aces Highlight Russian Tank Crew 1 for the final lighter cloth variance passes, creating a sense of worn fabric catching light differently across the surface. Sealed with Vallejo Matt Varnish.
Green robe - top down.
Hull Red Multi-Step Layering
Hull Red as the main base, with AK Leather Brown mixed at a 1:2 ratio with Hull Red for the initial colour variance pass. Abteilung Smoke oil wash into the folds. Straight AK Leather Brown for the next variance pass. Then AK Leather Brown mixed with Pro Acryl Ivory at 2:1 for the lightest highlight pass - building progressively lighter and more neutral as the cloth surfaces rise toward the light. Sealed with Vallejo Matt Varnish.
Brown robe - top down.
Leadbelcher, Sepia Oil Wash, Agrax Earthshade
Machine gun and other metallic elements in Leadbelcher, washed with Abteilung Sepia oil and Agrax Earthshade to push warmth and age into the metal.
Doombull Brown Base, Cavalry Brown Highlights
Greedy Gold, Sepia Wash, Greedy Gold Highlight
Greedy Gold base, Abteilung Sepia oil wash, then Greedy Gold applied again over the wash as a selective highlight on raised surfaces. A clean three-step that gives the gold age and depth without going elaborate.
London Grey and Dark Prussian Blue Mix
London Grey and Dark Prussian Blue mixed at a 4:1 ratio - a desaturated, cold grey-blue that reads as the faded, campaign-worn uniform of someone who has been at the front for a long time. Abteilung Smoke oil wash into the recesses, then the same 4:1 mix applied again selectively over the wash as a highlight.
Hull Red Base, Brown Rose Layers, Light Flesh Highlight
Hull Red as the deep shadow base on the skin. Brown Rose applied over. Abteilung Sepia oil wash into the recesses. Brown Rose mixed 1:1 with Light Flesh selectively layered over the flatter surfaces to add colour depth and variance, pulling lighter areas forward. Light Flesh as the final specular highlight on the highest points.
Wine Red Base, Sepia Wash, Flat Red Highlight
Ivory and Off-White
Leather Brown Built Up with Ivory
AK Leather Brown as the base, then progressively lighter passes of Leather Brown mixed with Pro Acryl Ivory in increasing ratios - each pass lighter than the last - building up to the final highlight. The incremental lightening gives the wood a natural, worn grain quality without any washes needed.
Muddy Ground, Hull Red, Leather Brown and Agrax
AK Muddy Ground texture product applied as the base surface. Hull Red and Leather Brown worked into the ground colour. Agrax Earthshade wash to unify and darken the base and tie it back to the overall palette of the model.
Both - rear pose
Both - left side
The Finished Models
John's Trench Crusade Sniper Priests. On display in store.
Green robe
Brown robe
All paints used in this guide are in stock at Wheels and Wings Hobbies in Toronto, available online with Canada-wide shipping.
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