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Figure painting with Acrylics

Painting: Uniform and equipment

As this figure is a German Soldier from the ww2 period, his jacket would be a Field Grey /Green colour, I tend to lighten the tone of Green as opposed to a solid Field Grey colour to simulate fade. I start with Medium Olive, mixed with Beige Brown at around the ratio 2:1, watered down. Block this colour in around the areas where the uniform would show, see how the colour collects in the recesses, this is our basis on shading. Whilst this is drying, I block in the belt with Black.

After the belt is dry, re-paint the jacket, using still heavily thinned paint, but this time, use tiny variations of the base colour to make the jacket less monotone and more interesting to the eye. Painting in this way, decreases the need for excessive shading and highlights, which is perfect for beginners.

Now that the jacket is nearly complete we move onto the equipment and straps. I will start by painting the Y harness, mixing a Dark Brown using Black, flat Brown and Beige Brown, thin the colour and carefully apply this to the Y harness, making sure not to spill onto the painted jacket.

The next ting to paint will the gas mask strap and the gas mask case, for the strap, mix a Khaki Brown colour and paint the strap, then mix a colour similar to Panzer Grey , maybe a bit darker, and paint the gas mask case. Whilst we are waiting for this to dry we will paint the buttons and belt buckle, rank insignia , top of canteen and rings in silver. Remember, after painting silver, you must wash your water out, as you probably don't want the rest of your figure to have sparkly bits. If you made mistakes during the previous process, its best to touch up after yuo have changed your water.

Next I pick out my figures shirt, for this I will use a Blue Grey mixed from Black, White and Dark Prussian blue , when this is dry add a wash of the base coat with a tiny amount of added Black. Up next are the canteen, entrenching tool and ammo pouches. These will be painted with a mix of Browns, as painting them in one brown is too uniform, and in the military, the kit which you are given varies, you could have webbing made up of new straps with old pouches and vice-versa.

Now it's time to paint the pistol and the MP40 , first of all coat the weapons in Black, then, when the Black is dry, mix Black and Silver to make a dark metal colour, and dry-brush this lightly over the highest points of the weapon. If you use too much paint, the weapon will look unrealistic. When this is dry, run a very transparent Blue wash over the weapon.

For the trousers, I like to mix a Blue Grey, starting with mixing the Grey, make sure the Grey is between medium and dark, then add a small amount of Blue. Apply the colour you are happy with on the legs using the same method that we used for the jacket, and repeat if you feel necessary!