Can anyone point me in the right direction for painting modern US equipment? Preferably with Vallejo acrylics, I need to know the right colors to use on everything from personal gear to vehicle stowed equipment. Thank you very much and any help would greatly be appreciated.

Dan R.

Dan: Pete Becerra wrote a couple of features on Historicus Forma on modern US uniforms for Woodland Camo, 3 and 6 color DCU's. I'd link you, but I don't know how to do that.

Hope this helps. Happy Modelling, -zon

Hey Dan

Here are the articles that Zon mentioned:
Marpat
Sniper Team
Woodland BDU

Heres another link which'll help identifying the colours for Digital Camo and a helpful guide on how to paint it. Its a very useful guide which makes for some excellent camo.

ACU camo

Additionally, since most uniforms fade and stain differently the accuracy of the colours isn't the biggest concern aslong as the colours are pretty close to the real thing.

I also recommend finding some samples of the camo you want and trying to match the colours, or mixing some samples yourself.

Also my Abrams blog has some examples of camo painting which might help you: here

Hope this helps

Anirudh

It depends on what you mean by Modern Gear?

Most older US issued gear (ALICE gear) comes in varying shades of green (with the exception of a few small rucks that are radio carriers and are in woodland camo).

Here are some examples of US Rucksacks, duffles, and a sleeping mat.

Large rucksack:


Medium rucksack:


Small rucksack:


Woodland Camo small ruck radio carrier:


Duffle bag:


Sleeping Mat:


The green on the duffle bags and ruck sack, etc. is more of a medium green, but can vary from dark to very light depending on wear, dirtiness, etc.

The modern (pre ACU) sleeping bag stuff sack should be overall black (straps, buckles, everything):


Cots should have medium green fabric and aluminum frames.


Newer gear is all in ACU pattern for the US Army.

ACU Rucksack, body armor, and personal gear:


Most newer gear for the USMC is in Cayote Brown.

USMC Cayote Brown gear:


The USMC still uses their digital pattern and old BDU woodland pattern for their rucksacks though.




You won't really find any exact matches in any paint brand for them. The best bet is to just use some colors that look about the right shades of green for them. No two pieces of gear are exactly the same color anyways.