Well I'm happy to say that after about a year of fiddling around with the German cloth helmet covers, I think I finally nailed it, and I have to say, colors are SUPER important. Also, a surprise Hetzer at the bottom, and another first-ever for SOUND OFFICERS CALL!
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| Rifle Section for "Battlegroup: Normandy" |
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| The team leader is wearing his smock. Not bad. A little too much green but still not bad! I am happy with them and they will never, ever be re-painted again. |
So I have to admit. Colors are important. That said, I cheated. I used the "
Nordalia" paint schemes and in most cases, mixed my own paints, based on Vallejo's colors. The result is not bad, and in most cases I was probably about a 90 to 95% match color for color.
(Thank you Sean!)
One of the toughest things to get right, believe it or not, is the base color for the splinter camouflage. I used "Not German Dark Camo Green" as a base. Then "Not German Field Grey," highlighted with a little "Not Green Grey" mixed with a tad of white. That gave me the nice, soft grey base to display my splinter pattern camouflage on the helmet cover and smock. I used the
Flames of War painting guide for their Grenadiers from the Open Fire Box.
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| LMG Section for "Battlegroup: Normandie" |
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| Really all I care about on this stand are the helmet covers. I am VERY pleased with how they turned out. |
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| The lines aren't thin enough for proper scale on the covers, but I'm okay with it. |
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| Green Grey for the boots. |
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| The whole squad. |
I'm actually going to use "joint compound" or "Spackle" on the bases to give them a more uneven look. I can't wait to do that. Messing with bases is one of the best parts of prepping figures. (because for me, it means the painting is DONE!)
Next up, here is a quick snapshot of a ton of PSC Russian and German infantry I'm finally getting around to painting. I'm using the quick-painting guide from PSC with these guys. Sprayed them with Flames of War "Grenadier Grey," block paint the details, dip, matte varnish, and base. Really easy. Hardest part is painting the straps and kit on these tiny, true 15mm figures.
Okay the moment you've all been waiting for! Another first for me? Soft camouflage lines on a tank with my brush. I've been trying and trying using the
Flames of War painting guide on Youtube for soft-edged camo lines. Again, the colors are really, really important. I didn't feel like mixing reflective green, so I used my actual Vallejo Reflective Green mixed 50/50 with FoW "Panther Yellow" and that got me my base line, stippled on. Next was the actual, solid color. Brown is "Apple Barrel Dark Chocolate" which I'm told is a 100% match for VJ's Chocolate Brown. Washed with "Agrax Earthshade" and water 50/50 which turned out well. Then dry brushed "Panther Yellow" with some white. I am so happy with this Hetzer. And to think - this was supposed to be my "practice panzer!"
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| Those lines could be airbrushed. |
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| Really turned out nice. The dry brushing actually softens the lines up even more. |
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| Just needs decals and anti-shine varnish from Army Painter and he'll be ready for battle! |
Some really great stuff there Steve - the infantry came looks great but that Hetzer is indeed da bomb. Difficult to believe that is brush applied!
ReplyDeleteI like the basing part too and often spend almost as much time on that as I do the figs. Good basing makes average paint jobs look better - and I'm ALL about that :-)
Thanks Paul! I am really happy with Herr Hetzer! I'm also happy with finally getting the stupid splinter pattern somewhat true to form.
DeleteGood work here Steven. You are really coming along with the painting.
ReplyDeleteNice one.
Thanks Paul! I'm still working on getting the tank schemes right. That stuff you sent me was perfect.
DeleteHi Steven, not sure how I missed this post. I do tend to dither around and play catch up, but I totally don't recall seeing this before. Thanks for the shout out. I think you did a great job on the smocks and helmet covers. Good tip on the Apple Barrel brown too. When I swing back around to WW2 I'll have to try and remember to come back here for a look.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sean. I was searching for a long time for the accurate colors and color mixes to use for German helmet covers (as silly as that sounds). Yours was the absolute best out there, and I love that you mixed them yourself. Your guys really looked terrific.
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