Ultramarines Thunderhawk Gunship
Showcase level
This Warhammer Ultramarines Thunderhawk Gunship was painted to showcase level, with a focus on deep Ultramarines blue, weathered armour panels, engine details, cockpit visibility, storytelling markings, and the sheer presence expected from one of the most iconic Space Marine aircraft.
As a large resin centrepiece model, this project needed careful preparation, sub-assembly painting, and a custom display base. We wanted this piece to have a paint job that respected the model, rather than relying on the myth of the model itself.
Client instructions
The client had been recommended by another client who had seen our work, and gave us a simple brief: make this an Ultramarines Thunderhawk Gunship.
Despite those simple instructions, we went through the project with him step by step, and he was incredibly appreciative of the process. Due to Sunny’s familiarity with aviation, we used many aviation-related references to add a sense of fantastical realism. That influenced choices like the placement of lights, the cockpit instruments, warning details, markings, and other small touches that helped the aircraft feel more believable.
The Story & Process
We made a video about this exact Thunderhawk project, asking the obvious question: should the Thunderhawk be made in plastic?
After working through the preparation, cleanup, sub-assemblies, resin fitting, large armour panels, custom basing, and sheer amount of model involved, our answer was not exactly subtle. This is an incredible centrepiece, but it is also the kind of project that shows why so many hobbyists would love to see the Thunderhawk treated differently.
The video goes deeper into the build, the painting process, and why a model this iconic deserves to be more accessible.
Summarised Process
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Preparation
We started by washing the parts, sanding down flashing and uneven areas, and correcting the labels when the part numbers did not match the instructions.
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Sub-assembly Painting
We painted the Thunderhawk in sub-assemblies so we could reach the engines, interior areas, wings, panels, doors, and smaller details before final assembly.on
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Storytelling Details
We added Ultramarines markings, weathering, panel variation, metallic details, cheeky soldier-style phrasing on the rockets, murals, and Greco-Roman motifs to make the gunship feel like the mythic battlefield aircraft.
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Custom Basing & Assembly
Finally, we built the custom display base, assembled the Thunderhawk, and tied the whole model together with battlefield debris, including an abandoned and torn teddy bear for extra heartbreak.
