20% off RRPAdeptus Mechanicus · 19 models · 4 kits
£119.20 of contents → £87.20 (save £32.00)
How to Paint Adeptus Mechanicus
Deep red robes, brass and oily metal
Prices in £ for the UK
Before you commit
How hard to paint
114of 116 easiest
One of the hardest
Model size2 out of 5Detail density1 out of 5Technique demanded2 out of 5
Compare all 116 factions →
What it costs to start
£87.20
£0.31 per point
Combat Patrol: Adeptus Mechanicus, cheapest shop we track
Compare armies by value →
Painting ratings are our judgement, with the reasoning on the comparison page; prices are live and dated.
Start Adeptus Mechanicus — boxes & paint sets
The boxes we can price for this faction, cheapest first, and the paint sets that cover most of the recipe below.
20% off RRP
20% off RRPAdeptus Mechanicus · 3 models · 3 kits
£121.20 of contents → £87.20 (save approx £34.00)
Covers 10 of 12 colours in this scheme
+40
at Loaded Dice· priced 13 SepCovers 8 of 12 colours in this scheme
Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Mega Paint Set
50 paints
£136.00
£160.15-15%
+38
· compare 4 shops· priced 1 OctCovers 7 of 12 colours in this scheme
Covers 6 of 12 colours in this scheme
Covers 6 of 12 colours in this scheme
Model Color Set - Face/Skin Colours (x16)
16 paints
£17.79
£47.99-63%
+4
· compare 5 shops· priced 5 JulCovers 5 of 12 colours in this scheme
Recommended recipe
How the scheme reads on a model
Armour — base to highlight
Base coat
Shade
Layer
Highlight
Edge highlight
- Base coatWord Bearers RedCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951387View paint
- ShadeFlesh Tearers RedCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960207View paint
- LayerGemstone RedArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3198View paint
- HighlightSquig OrangeCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951306View paint
- Edge highlightMoonstone SkinArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3145PView paint
Additional details
Trim
Weapons
Leather
Skin
Lenses
Basing
Brass & cables
- TrimNecron CompoundCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Dry 99189952048View paint
- WeaponsJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy MetalArmy Painter · Warpaints FanaticView paint
- LeatherBeasty BrownVallejo · Game Color 72.043View paint
- SkinBestigor FleshCitadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243View paint
- LensesAmulet AquaArmy Painter · Warpaints Fanatic WP3048PView paint
- BasingEnglish UniformVallejo · Model Color 70.921View paint
- Brass & cablesFuel Stains (Gloss)Vallejo · Mecha Color 69.814≈ Closest paint we sellView paint
1
Base coat
Lay the foundation colour down over primer, slightly darker than the final tone.
Word Bearers Red
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951387
from£2.33· compare 5 shops· priced 1 Oct
★ Our pick for base coat
Exact Match
Very Close
Very Close
Close
2
Shade
Wash the recesses to add depth and separate the details.
Flesh Tearers Red
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Contrast 99189960207
from£4.03· compare 6 shops· priced 1 Oct
★ Our pick for shade
Close
Close
Approximate
3
Layer
Rebuild the main colour on the raised areas, leaving the shade in the cracks.
★ Our pick for layer
Very Close
Very Close
Close
4
Highlight
Pick out the upper edges and surfaces that catch the light.
★ Our pick for highlight
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Close
5
Edge highlight
Sharpen only the sharpest edges for a crisp, finished look.
★ Our pick for edge highlight
Very Close
Close
Close
Similar
Deathclaw Brown
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951339
from£2.33· compare 3 shops· priced 1 Oct
Details & accent colours
Everything else on the model - metals, skin, leather, lenses, basing and this faction's signature accents.
Metal — trim
Trim and bare plate. Basecoat steel, wash dark, then edge bright silver.
★ Our pick for metal — trim
Very Close
Very Close
Very Close
Close
Shining Silver
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Metal — weapons
Bolters, blades and casings. Dark gunmetal, washed black, edged with bright steel.
★ Our pick for metal — weapons
Very Close
Close
Close
Adepticon Magnesium
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S42
£4.29at Loaded Dice· priced 13 Sep
Similar
Leather & pouches
Straps, holsters and bare wood. Mid brown, shaded, then drybrushed a lighter tan.
★ Our pick for leather & pouches
Exact Match
Very Close
Flameon Dark Green Brown
Monument · Monument Pro Signature Series MPA-S25
£4.29at Loaded Dice· priced 13 Sep
CloseDiscontinued
Skin & flesh
Faces and hands. Basecoat, a flesh wash into the recesses, then build the highlights back up.
Bestigor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints) · Layer 99189951243
from£2.33· compare 5 shops· priced 1 Oct
★ Our pick for skin & flesh
Very Close
Barbarian Flesh
Army Painter · Warpaints
No shop price tracked yet — the paint’s page has every seller we find.
Very Close
Very Close
CloseDiscontinued
Eyes & lenses
Lenses, eyes and energy. A bright spot colour that pops against the armour - dot it on and add a white glint.
★ Our pick for eyes & lenses
Very Close
Close
Close
Similar
Basing — earth
Groundwork. Earth basecoat, drybrushed bone, finished with your choice of grass, sand or snow.
★ Our pick for basing — earth
Very Close
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Close
Brass & cables
Mechanicus brass on cog-work and trim, with bundles of ribbed cabling.
Closest paint we sell — not an exact match for this colour
★ Our pick for brass & cables
Very Close
Very CloseDiscontinued
Bloodtracker Brown
P3 · Privateer Press Formula P3 SFP3-N151-S
from£3.48· compare 2 shops· priced 1 Oct
Close
Close
Buy It as a Box
Paint sets that cover this recipe - a set is usually cheaper than buying pots one by one.
Covers 10 of 12 paints in this scheme (83%) — base coat, shade, layer, highlight and more.
Or cover 100% of the recipe with 2 boxes (£216.05 total):
Your paints
Tick off what's already on your shelf — whatever's left is your shopping list.
12 paints in this scheme
Price this recipe
12 paintsfree UK delivery over £75, £3.99 below that
- not stocked: John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, English Uniform
£4.99 UK delivery, 1-2 working days, free over £65
- not stocked: John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Fuel Stains (Gloss)
free UK delivery over £20
- not stocked: Flesh Tearers Red, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Fuel Stains (Gloss)
postage per seller
- not stocked: Squig Orange, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Bestigor Flesh
- not stocked: Word Bearers Red, Flesh Tearers Red, Squig Orange, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Bestigor Flesh, Fuel Stains (Gloss)
- not stocked: Gemstone Red, Moonstone Skin, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Beasty Brown, Amulet Aqua, English Uniform, Fuel Stains (Gloss)
prices shown on Amazon at checkout
- not stocked: Word Bearers Red, Gemstone Red, Moonstone Skin, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Amulet Aqua, English Uniform, Fuel Stains (Gloss)
free UK delivery over £75, from £2.66 below that
- not stocked: Word Bearers Red, Flesh Tearers Red, Gemstone Red, Squig Orange, Moonstone Skin, Necron Compound, John Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal, Bestigor Flesh, Amulet Aqua
totals excl. delivery · affiliate links
Word Bearers Red
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctFlesh Tearers Red
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctGemstone Red
Army Painter
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctSquig Orange
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctMoonstone Skin
Army Painter
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctNecron Compound
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctJohn Blanche Masterclass: Heavy Metal
Army Painter
No price tracked yetBeasty Brown
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepBestigor Flesh
Citadel (Warhammer Paints)
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctAmulet Aqua
Army Painter
at Merlin's Miniatures· priced 1 OctEnglish Uniform
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 SepFuel Stains (Gloss)
Vallejo
at SnM Stuff· priced 24 Sep
Recommended Box Set
Combat Patrol: Adeptus Mechanicus Affiliate links — how we make money What's inside this box
The fastest way to start a Adeptus Mechanicus army — a boxed force to paint with this scheme.
£119.20 of contents → £87.20 (save £32.00)
Best price
£87.20Wayland Games
in stock · priced 25 Sep · free UK delivery over £20
cheapest of 4 UK sellers · save £10.90 vs the most expensive · excl. delivery
Want the codex too? At Loaded Dice (UK):save £23.01 vs RRP
Shopping from the US?save $25.50 vs RRP
Every Adeptus Mechanicus kit and box, priced
Prices compared across the shops that stock them — boxes ranked by cost per model.
Adeptus Mechanicus models are some of the most detail-dense in the range, mixing cloth robes with masses of mechanical limbs, cables and weaponry. The classic Forge World Mars scheme - deep red and brass - is rich and surprisingly forgiving thanks to all that metal.
The signature look
Deep red robes and armour, brass and bronze mechanical parts, oily steel weapons and cables, and cream or white cloth. The red should be dark and rich, the metals warm and grimy.
Painting the red and metal
- Red robes/armour - use the ramp above; a red contrast deepens the recesses of the heavily folded cloth automatically.
- Brass - basecoat, brown wash, light highlight; brass is the dominant metal and reads as the priestly, ancient tech.
- Steel - keep weapons and pistons dark and oily with a black/brown wash; bright steel looks wrong here.
Cables, lenses and details
The endless cables can be picked out in muted colours (olive, grey, dull red) so they don't fight the scheme. Green or red lenses on the optical implants add a point of glow on every model.
Forge World variations
Swap the robe colour for other forge worlds: Stygies VIII (teal), Ryza (orange), Graia (white), Lucius (metallic).
Tips and common mistakes
- Don't fear the detail. Wash-heavy techniques do most of the work on these busy models.
- Keep metals warm and dirty. Brass and oily steel suit the grim machine-cult look.
- Mute the cables. Bright cables distract; muted ones read as functional.
Recipes are generated by perceptual colour matching against our cross-brand paint database. Use them as a strong starting point and test paints in person when precision matters.