could somebody please give me some tips on painting this camo scheme?

Hi Stan,

This is how I do it. First thing you need is a decent reference image. I use something like this but bear in mind this is a reproduction and the pattern may not be that accurate. I also have a tileable image of the splinter pattern that I have "painted" on an A4 image in photoshop and printed off to roughly 35th scale. I then use post it notes to outline the shape of the uniform to get the ratio and size correct.

The Luftwaffe splinter pattern is not the same as the Wehrmacht one, it is denser so you need to have a reference.

Anyway, I use a 1:2 mix of 924 Russian Uniform / Pastel Green for the base colour (or pure German Camo Beige for the light base version). The green splinters are 895 Gunship Green and the brown ones are 826 German Camo Medium Brown. For the raindrops I use 888 Olive Grey. I highlight all the colours except the raindrops by adding either Sunny Skintone or Deck Tan to the base colour. Shading is done using Chocolate Brown or thinned Smoke. (all of these colours are Vallejo Acrylics BTW). Use avery fine brush and outline the shapes using a mix of rectangles and triangles keeping the edges sharp, then fill in the centres. The key is to have sharp edges, no soft outlines !

You may need to check on the colours and numbers here because I don't have the paints to hand (In fact, if I knew them of by heart, I would need to get out more)

Also take a look at the Osprey Modelling Fallschirmjager book for a step by step on this, although it uses complex paint mixes.

My figures are here https://hfmodeling.kitmaker.net/forums/157884&page=1 to show you how it comes out (Ignore the first figure, that is a different pattern)

Hope this helps,

Andy

thanks for the help andy, i've just ordered the osprey modelling fallschimjager figures so i'll probably take some things from that, do you know if this book is anygood? that figure you did was tremendous. i'm new to all these techniques so thanks for the tip.

No problem, anytime.

You will not be disappointed with the Osprey book, I have a copy and I personally think if you have any interest at all in modelling Fallschirmjager figures, you will never have it far from your modelling bench. Superb stuff.

There was also a "soft edge" version of the splinter pattern. I have seen originals where the small "rain"/ splinters are prevalent and some where there is very little of it, leaving bare spots of the tan visible. Not too sure of the timeline on the two splinter patterns but I can maybe check in my "Uniforms and Insignia of The Luftwaffe vol. 1 and 2" by Brian L.Davis.

The post-war Bundesgrenschutz pattern is strikingly similar but with a deeper red brown colour. These jackets are widely available in surplus stores. And yes I am a camo freak! I believe there is a link to a very good camo website in these here archives somwhere.