LATE WAR BRITISH VEHICLE PAINTING TUTORIAL

In preparation  for my first campaign game in a few weeks (Operation Martlet) I finally finished painting this Troop of Sherman tanks complete with a Sherman Firefly, for those of you who can recall I actually put these models together back in 2015 link. . 

I also took the opportunity to put together a painting tutorial. 

As I do all my painting with a brush I tried to mimic the effects that one would achieve with a air brush.

Italeri 28mm Sherman with a bit of conversion work.

Coated with Black spray primer.

Applied 2 x coats of base colour paint.

This is a mix of Vallejo model colour Olive Grey and Russian Uniform 50:50 mix placed in a empty Vallejo paint bottle. 

Once dried, coat the whole surface with a wash  of Agrax Earthshade.

An alternative to coating the whole surface is to pin wash around all the hatches and edges as shown in the image above right.

Using  Vallejo Model colour Calvary Brown mixed with some Citadel Lahmian Medium, pin wash as per previous image above as a guide.

 Use a old brush with short bristles to apply the base coat mix .

Apply paint on the brush then wipe on a paper tower to remove some of the paint .

In a very light circular motion start applying the paint in the middle of the panel and work out towards the edges as desired.

I recommend practicing this Technic on the underside of the tank .

You should be aiming for the edges of  paint work to fade into and blend with the already applied base coat that has been washed with the Agrax Earthshade..

Like this leaving a darker shade intact.

Once dry, repeat the process with the addition of Iraqui Sand 1:2 ratio with the base coat but use a smaller brush.

This time  stopping short of your previous circular applied base coat.

If desired, mix Iraqui sand 1:1 ratio with base coat and repeat the step but make the circle smaller.

Use Vallejo Model colur Black Grey to paint all the little bits on the tank eg: boxes, tarps, tools, cables, helmets and of course the tracks.

Apply a wash of Vallejo Model colour Earth onto the tracks, wheels and lower edges of the vehicle. 

Once dry  build up the Earth colour with the use of  thin brush applying  thicker as desired.

Mix up a mix of the base coat and Iraqui sand and highlight the wheels  and wheel mounting.

Use Citadel leadbelcher to highlight metal tips on the track.

Apply a few tiny wear spots on the tank using Vallejo Black Grey with a fine tipped brush.

 Minimize these wear areas as the Shermans where shot up pretty quickly but the Allies had  an abundance   supply of new tanks behind the front line,  ready to be re-crewed by the tankers who lose their tanks.

Apply any transfers , I painted the triangle marking on the turret  with flat red.

Apply vertical random streaks marks using Citadel Tharaka Green wash.

Tool handles are painted with Beige Brown.

Highlighted with a mix of Beige Brown and skin base.

Firefly ready for action.

Hope to be posting a tutorial on painting Late war German tanks soon.

cheers John