Quick answer
Assemble each rider with plastic glue and a hobby knife, then paint in subassemblies to reach the horse's belly and rider's inner cloak. Use a wash to bring out the 32mm heroic scale details.
Why subassembly matters for mounted models
The Mechanical Rider, Pale Rider, and Hooded Rider each sit on a 32mm heroic scale horse. If you glue the rider onto the horse before painting, you will not be able to reach the horse's belly, the rider's inner cloak, or the saddle straps. Paint the horse and rider separately, then glue them after both are finished.
Each rider belongs to a different faction — Arcanists, Guild, and Neverborn — so you can use their faction colors as a starting palette. The Pale Rider's Guild affiliation suggests a more orderly, uniform look, while the Hooded Rider's Neverborn origin invites darker, organic tones.
What you will need
Plastic cement or super glue, a hobby knife, sprue cutters, fine-grit sandpaper or a file, primer (black or gray works well), acrylic paints, a wash (e.g., Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade), and a small brush for details. A pin vise and paperclip can help pin the rider to the horse if the joint feels loose.
Step-by-step assembly and painting guide
- 1. Clean and dry-fit the parts: Remove each rider and horse from the sprue using sprue cutters. Clean mold lines with a hobby knife and fine sandpaper. Dry-fit the rider onto the horse without glue to check alignment. Common mistake: forcing parts together without cleaning can leave visible gaps. If the rider sits unevenly, file the saddle contact point flat.
- 2. Prime in subassemblies: Prime the horse and rider separately. Hold each part with a small piece of poster putty on a stick or bottle cap. Use a black or gray primer. Common mistake: priming the rider attached to the horse blocks access to the inner cloak and horse belly.
- 3. Basecoat the horse and rider: Apply the main colors to the horse body, the rider's cloak, and any visible metal or cloth. For the Mechanical Rider, consider metallic basecoats. For the Pale Rider, use a uniform military tone. For the Hooded Rider, start with dark browns or grays. Common mistake: painting the horse entirely before the rider can make the saddle area look unfinished. Leave the saddle contact points unpainted if you plan to glue the rider later.
- 4. Apply washes and highlights: Use a wash over the entire horse and rider to settle into recesses. After it dries, drybrush or edge-highlight the raised areas. Common mistake: applying wash too thickly can obscure fine details on the 32mm scale. Wipe excess wash from raised areas with a clean damp brush.
- 5. Paint the rider's face and weapon: Paint the rider's head, hands, and any weapon separately. For the Pale Rider, the ranged weapon benefits from a metallic or glowing effect. For the Hooded Rider, the face area under the hood can be left dark or given a subtle glow. Common mistake: skipping the face because it is hard to reach will make the model look unfinished. Use a fine detail brush and steady your hands against the table.
- 6. Glue the rider onto the horse: Apply a small amount of plastic cement or super glue to the saddle contact points. Press the rider onto the horse and hold for 30 seconds. Common mistake: using too much glue can squeeze out and ruin the paint job. If the joint is loose, pin the rider with a short piece of paperclip.
- 7. Final touch-ups and basing: Check for any glue marks or paint chips and touch up with matching colors. Base the model with texture paint, sand, or static grass. Common mistake: forgetting to paint the rim of the base leaves a distracting unfinished edge. Paint the base rim black or a neutral brown for a clean finish.
Product facts
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Malifaux Fourth Edition: Mechanical Rider: The Mechanical Rider is an arcane machine whose speed and power embody the Arcanists' mastery of invention. Its mechanical nature means you can paint metallic or glowing arcane effects on the rider, while the horse can be a steampunk-style construct.
Malifaux Fourth Edition: Mechanical Rider
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Malifaux Fourth Edition: Pale Rider: The Pale Rider is the Guild's Horseman, an imposing mounted figure who carries judgment and firepower across the battlefield. The Pale Rider's ranged weapon and uniform suggest a clean, military paint scheme with contrasting cloth colors.
Malifaux Fourth Edition: Pale Rider
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Malifaux Fourth Edition: Hooded Rider: The Hooded Rider is one of Malifaux's ominous Horsemen, a swift and imposing figure aligned with the Neverborn. Its hooded, shadowy look benefits from deep washes and drybrushing to create a menacing, otherworldly appearance.
