Hi guys. I recently started working on various model kits. I never really painted camouflage mostly because I didn't know how. I have searched online but didn't really find many tips that don't require an airbrush.

So here's my question. Given that I only have regular brushes and enamel/acryllic paint, what is the most efficient way to paint camouflage on German armor? I saw some directions from a Tamiya guide (in Japanese) and they seemed to involve cotton balls. Does anyone have any ideas?

Hi Teng, the camo on many German armour were painted in the field using only normal brushes or whatever is available to the crew...it is common for the crew to just mix some camo paint and apply it in patches or stripes on their vehicles.

Therefore you can do the same by simply applying the camo color using a regular brush... how you want to do it is up to your imagination!

Hi, cammo can be done with a brush I use a flat brush usually the size of the lines I may be painting but thats not to important just paint them on as you would any other paint scheme then when dry use a thin wash of your base colour to fade the colours the more washs the more it fades.the cotton wool balls you would need a aerosol or airbrush for that method.have a look at some of the models on this site they should give you an idea of the scheme for your vehicle.if you could let us know what vehicle your modelling and the theatre it served time of year summer or winter then we can refine it a bit more.Hope this helps.

Hi guys, thanks for the inputs. The next model I plan to work on is the German Panzerkampfwagen II. It's a 1/35 scaled model kit from Tamiya. By the looks of the box, it was probably used by the Afrika Corps. I have leftover Tamiya desert colored acrylic paint from finishing a Kubelwagen.

I am not quite sure what the camouflage color should be. I have also heard that people mix their own paint but I have not attempted anything like that before.

I look forward to learning more.

Having done a lot of brush painting in the past, I would recomend a trip to Harbor Freight. You can pick up a basic siphon-fed ab and compressor for less than $200. Believe me, it's worth it.

Hi,

It is entirely possible to paint soft edged camo without an airbrush, all you need is a steady hand (don't drink coffee) and patience.

Here is my example of a King Tiger (Porsche turret) painted with a brush, the model looks a lot nicer in person.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/190746&page=1

What I did was to stipped diluted paint of the camo color onto the base coat with a cut down paint brush. Then, I lightly sprayed (one or two passes, from more than a foot away) from a Tamiya spray can the base coat onto the camo color to achieve a gradient effect along the edges of the camo color. Then I repeat the process until the desired effect has been achieved.

So it is entirely possible using a paint brush, I just did it.

Cheers!
+Y.C.

So you have a spray can too? I don't even have that. I guess I am just looking for a straight forward step by step guide that one of you may know.

Hi,

Actually using the spray can is the lazy man's way of doing it. You can use a paint brush in place of the spray can to stipple the edges of your camoflage pattern to "feather" it. Actually, using the paintbrush has been the traditional way of doing this.

This person used only brushes and no spray cans or airbrush for his work:

http://s207.photobucket.com/albums/bb113/House-of-Queeg/1-48th%20Models/

If you look at my second King Tiger in my post (the Henschel Turreted one), the solid camouflage patterns have been brush painted too! No sprays of any kind involved.

Experiment and have fun!

Cheers!
+Y.C.

Hi if your doing a Africa corps vehicle you dont have to do a cammo scheme most were just painted desert yellow though I do believe some used the base of german grey as wavy lines through the yellow,if you do it as a french campaign vehicle you could do it german grey with brown wavy stripes trouble is war time black and white photos dont show it to well both colours look the same in black and white.
If you are brush painting try Vallejo model colour acrylics nothing better for brush painting.

Thank you. I finished the Panzer II with Afrika Korps colors. It looks good. I tried to paint as much details as possible for the soldier figurines.

Now I am working on a Panzer IV with the 75mm gun for Polish campaign but accidentally glued on the vents for heat dissipation that is used only in Africa.

Thanks for all the advice guys!