I was recently reading an article on building a Sherman crocodile, the model was pictured with a figure of a British infantryman. As the article closed it came to the figure and just said that the figure was painted using the zenethal light technique.
Call me a dinosaur but having been brought up on Airfix and Revell and only just got back into the model scene, could someone please explain or direct me to an article regarding this zenethal light techique.

From what I've heard, and if I understood the explanation, the techique involves painting highlights with an airbrush so that the spray is angled so only the highest points in the figure catch some paint, leaving the original darker color in the recesses.
I hope someone with more knowledge than I could tell more about it.

Zenithal light is light coming from directly above the subject as in this photo:

Figure builders usually use the technique of highlighting a figure as if the light were from the noon day sun.
You can find the highlights by holding the figure directly under a strong light source. You couold also find them by misting the figure with paint coming from directly above the head. Where the paint catches is where you highlight.
In some circumstances, it would be apppropriate to highlight at an angle or from below fro more dramatic effect.

Thanks guys so far. so it is to do with the way you highlight the higher areas of a figure?
Does it have to be by airbrush alone?
The figure was extremely well painted but i find it hard to believe it was by airbrush.

Any other help will be gratefully received.

I would only use an airbrush if I were doing a very large figure, like a 1:1 bust/head. What I meant to suggest is you could mist the figure to more easily see where you wnat to brush the highlights on. I simply hold mine under one of my desk lamps and let the Mk.1 eyeballs equipped with their BFE (bi-focal eyeglasses) and OTV (OpTiVisor) visual enhancement systems do the work.

Thanks A J Lafleche and Eetu.
A. J. can you explain this misting idea to me please.

Regards Oldtimer.

Put the paint source directly over the figure. Lay on a very light coat of paint, preferably with good contrast to the priner coat. This would work better with an airbrush since you can control the flow but very quick bursts from an aerosol can will work, too. Don't try to get overall coverage by moving either the paint source or the figure. The paint will gather on those point which would also be catching the light. You'll now have a visual reference where you need your strongest highlights.

Thanks A.J.