Victorian Heavy Weapons Team Assembly and Painting Guide
By Victoria Miniatures by Victoria Lamb | Published: 2026-10-23
Category: How-to Guides
Learn how to assemble and paint the modular Victorian Heavy Weapons Team from Victoria Miniatures. Step-by-step instructions for push-together kits, weapon options, and painting tips.
Quick answer
Assemble and paint the Victorian Heavy Weapons Team using the modular push-together parts, then choose your heavy weapon loadout and apply a grimdark paint scheme.
Understanding the modular push-together system
The Victorian Heavy Weapons Team is a fully modular, push-together kit. This means you can swap weapons and poses without glue, though a small drop of plastic cement on key joints will make them more durable for gaming.
The kit includes parts for three heavy weapons teams with six crewmen, plus options for Auto-Cannons, Heavy Bolters, or Laser Cannons. The components are presented on a high-density Snap Tray for easy identification and removal.
Assembly and painting steps
- Prepare the parts: Remove the components from the Snap Tray using a hobby knife or clippers. Clean any small mold lines with a file or sanding stick. Do not cut the locating pins — they ensure a snug push-together fit. Keep the Snap Tray for storage; it helps organize spare parts.
- Dry-fit the crew and weapon: Push the torso halves together, then attach the arms and weapon. Check that the crewman’s pose aligns naturally with the weapon’s carrying handle or grip. If the fit is too tight, sand the pins slightly. Test all three weapon options before gluing — Auto-Cannon, Heavy Bolter, and Laser Cannon each have different hand positions.
- Glue for durability (optional but recommended): Apply a small amount of plastic cement or super glue to the torso seam and the arm-to-weapon joint. Avoid gluing the weapon to the base yet — painting is easier if the weapon is separate. Do not glue the crewman’s feet until you have decided on the base texture.
- Prime and basecoat: Prime the assembled crew and weapons with a matte black or dark grey spray primer. Then apply a basecoat of your chosen army color — a desaturated brown or grey works well for a grimdark look. Use a rattle can in a well-ventilated area; thin coats prevent obscuring fine detail.
- Paint the weapon and crew separately: Paint the weapon in metallic tones (leadbelcher or gunmetal) and the crew in your uniform colors. Use washes (Nuln Oil or Agrax Earthshade) to create shadows in recesses. Highlight edges with a lighter metallic or fabric color. Keep the weapon unpainted on the contact points to ensure a tight push-fit later.
- Base and final assembly: Glue the crewman to the base, then attach the weapon. Add basing material (sand, gravel, or texture paste) before painting the base rim in a neutral color. Seal the model with a matte varnish to protect the paint. Let the varnish cure fully for 24 hours before handling the model.
Kit details
- Victorian Heavy Weapons Team: Fully modular, 'push-together', Grimdark troops from the Grimdark Empire Kickstarter. You can assemble and disassemble the figures to try different weapon loadouts before committing to a final build.
Victorian Heavy Weapons Team
