Painting Islamic Infantry and Archers for 28mm Medieval
By Victrix Limited 28mm miniatures | Published: 2026-10-29
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step guide to painting Islamic infantry and archers for 28mm medieval wargaming, covering base colors, fabric patterns, and skin tones.
Quick answer
Start with a white or light grey primer, then block in the main colors: off-white or beige for robes, brown or leather for belts and shoes, and a light tan for skin. Use a wash to add depth, then drybrush the raised areas for contrast.
Choosing a color palette for Islamic infantry
Islamic armies of the 7th–13th centuries used a wide range of colors, but earthy tones like ochre, terracotta, olive, and off-white are historically common and help the figures look cohesive on the tabletop. Avoid bright blues or reds unless you are painting elite or command figures.
For the Victrix Islamic Infantry & Archers set, the 48 figures include spearmen, swordsmen, and archers with varied poses, so you can batch-paint them by weapon type to speed up the process.
Common mistake: over-highlighting the robes
A common error is to use a pure white highlight on off-white robes, which can look stark. Instead, mix a tiny amount of ivory or bone into your base color for a softer highlight that preserves a dusty, sun-bleached look.
Step-by-step painting guide
- Prime the figures: Use a white or light grey spray primer. This helps the lighter colors (robes, skin) stay bright and reduces the number of coats needed. Avoid dark primers; they make off-white robes look muddy.
- Base coat the robes and cloth: Paint the main robes with an off-white or bone color (e.g., Vallejo Ivory or Citadel Wraithbone). For variety, use a light beige or pale sand on some figures. Thin your paint with a little water to avoid obscuring detail.
- Paint the skin tones: Use a light tan or olive-brown for skin (e.g., Citadel Cadian Fleshtone or Vallejo Tan Earth). Apply two thin coats for even coverage. Avoid pinkish tones; they don't suit the historical setting.
- Paint weapons, belts, and shoes: Use dark brown or black for belts, shoes, and scabbards. Paint spear shafts and bows in wood tones (e.g., Vallejo Woodgrain). Paint sword blades and arrowheads in gunmetal or silver. Use a fine brush for belts and straps to avoid slopping onto the robes.
- Apply a wash for depth: Use a thinned brown or sepia wash (e.g., Army Painter Strong Tone) over the entire figure. Focus on the recesses of robes, under arms, and around belts. Wipe excess wash from raised areas with a clean brush to prevent pooling.
- Highlight the robes and skin: Drybrush the robes with the original base color, then a lighter shade (e.g., add white to the base). Highlight skin with a mix of base color and a little pale flesh. Keep the drybrush subtle; too much will flatten the contrast.
- Paint the base and finish: Paint the base with a sandy or earthy color, then apply static grass or fine gravel. Seal the figure with a matte varnish to protect the paint job. Use a spray varnish in a well-ventilated area to avoid frosting.
Product used in this guide
- Islamic Infantry & Archers: This set contains 48 Islamic infantry and archer figures representing troops from the Middle East and Spain from the 7th century into the Crusader era. You get enough figures to form the core of a 28mm Islamic army, with poses that work well for both line infantry and skirmish formations.
Islamic Infantry & Archers
