Model paint guide

How to paint Lion El'Jonson

The Lion is dark green armour, bone robes, and red accents. Sub-assemble the Watchers and base. Match Dark Angels Contrast on the plate. Unofficial fan recipe.

Difficulty 4 / 5 · ~18 hrs · Updated 2026-07-10

Unofficial fan guide. Citadel paint and kit names identify products for sale. Not affiliated with Games Workshop.

Dark Angels Lion El'johnson box art
Dark Angels Lion El'johnson. Product image for kit identity. Not a painted example.
Dark Angels Lion El'johnsonTrack price
Primer

Start here

Chaos Black

Step

Green armour

Base Abaddon Black in recesses. Layer Dark Angels Green or Contrast Dark Angels Green on plates. Edge Warpstone Glow or Kabalous Green midtones, then a thin Nurgling Green on the sharpest edges. Leave rivet pits dark.

Step

Bone robes and red icons

Robes: Wraithbone or Rakarth Flesh, shade Agrax Earthshade, layer Ushabti Bone, edge White Scar. Icons and shield face: Khorne Red into Evil Sunz Scarlet. Metals: Leadbelcher and Retributor Armour with Nuln Oil / Agrax Earthshade.

Step

Hair, cloak fur, and Watchers

Hair and fur: Steel Legion Drab into Ushabti Bone drybrush. Watchers: same bone recipe as the robes so the set reads as one piece.

Buy paints

Paints for Lion El'Jonson

Colour chips are approximate. Buy links open live marketplace search for that Citadel paint across Shopify catalog stores and other sources.

Video

YouTube tutorials

External videos. We link creators whose techniques match this kit. Watch on YouTube. Support the painter if you use their method.

Further reading

Other painters

Army recipes

Match the rest of the force

Common questions

How long does it take to paint Lion El'Jonson?

About 18 hours for a tabletop-to-display finish at difficulty 4 / 5.

What primer should I use for Lion El'Jonson?

Chaos Black

Where do I buy Lion El'Jonson?

Open the Dark Angels Lion El'johnson price page for the live sealed floor, then set a watch under the middle of that band.

Are these official Games Workshop instructions?

No. Unofficial fan recipes that name Citadel paints and kits as products. Not affiliated with Games Workshop.