Model paint guide

How to paint Commander Shadowsun

Shadowsun is white and grey XV22 armour with red accents. Keep panels clean. Match T'au sept marks to your Fire Warriors. Unofficial fan recipe.

Difficulty 3 / 5 · ~9 hrs · Updated 2026-07-10

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

Tau Empire: Commander Shadowsun box art
Tau Empire: Commander Shadowsun. Product image for kit identity. Not a painted example.
Tau Empire: Commander ShadowsunTrack price
Primer

Start here

Grey Seer

Step

White and grey armour

Base Apothecary White or Administratum Grey into White Scar. Shade panel lines with thin Grey Seer or Nuln Oil carefully. Keep it crisp. Dirty washes kill the stealth-suit look.

Step

Red accents and black

Sept red: Mephiston Red, Carroburg Crimson, Evil Sunz Scarlet edges. Black: Abaddon Black with Eshin Grey edges. Metals: Leadbelcher, Nuln Oil, Ironbreaker.

Step

Lenses, drones, and base

Lenses: Aethermatic Blue over white, White Scar core. Drones: same white armour recipe. Base: Astrogranite with a few red hazard marks.

Buy paints

Paints for Commander Shadowsun

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 Commander Shadowsun?

About 9 hours for a tabletop-to-display finish at difficulty 3 / 5.

What primer should I use for Commander Shadowsun?

Grey Seer

Where do I buy Commander Shadowsun?

Open the Tau Empire: Commander Shadowsun 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.