LATE WAR BRITISH INFANTRY PAINTING GUIDE

I thought it would be a good idea to record the method and colours I used to paint my Late war British Infantry for future reference and also to share with others. These images have been sitting in my computer for some time but I did not have any time to put it together until now.

Its been a real learning curve for me (and continues to be), trying to paint 28mm figures, fortunately others have been kind enough to share their techniques and secrets.

Two people that I constantly refer to are Toby of  Artmaster Studio TV and Christy Beall of Wargames,Soldiers and Strategy . 

tFor super detail painting I thoroughly recommend visiting  Moiterei's bunte Welt

blog for inspiration .

Completed 28mm Late War British Infantry

Basing Technique:
1st figure: 
Trim flash lines with modelling knife and file.
-use Green stuff to sculpt helmet and rifle strap.
-I use magnetic sheets for base, cut retention on the top surface using a hobby knife and super glue the figure in place. see Basing 

2nd figure:
-apply Milliput to the base of the figure.

3rd and 4th figure:
-Undercoat with a suitable Primer

Flesh areas:
Left figure:
shows the application of 2 thin coats of Vallejo Panzer Aces Flesh Base 341

Right figure:
shows the results of applying the next stage of a wash Reikland Flesh of to the flesh areas.
once dry apply Agrax Earthshade between the fingers and the front portion of the face(small area around the middle of the face)>

Use the same Flesh base to highlight all the raised areas on the face and fingers leaving the dark fold areas intact.
Use Vallejo model color Flat Fleah 955 to further highlight aspects of the areas done in the previous step.

Use Model colour "White Grey" paint teeth and Game colour "Carne Marron Tan" for the lower lip only.

Uniform:
Right figure: paint the uniform with Vallejo model colour British Uniform.

Left figure:
Apply Agrax Earthshade wash over British Uniform colour
Once dry use the base coat to coat the shirt and trousers while avoiding the creases.

Right figure:
Apply the first Highlight 2:1 ratio British Uniform to Iraqui sand

2nd Highlight : increase the ratio to 1:1 British Uniform to Iraqui Sand

View the model from above and highlight the areas you can see with a increased portion of 1:2 British Uniform to Iraqui Sand

Webbing,Packs, Straps and Gaiters
Redefine any areas on the webbing and rifle that have been painted over with the flesh or Uniform colour
.

rear view

Left figure:
Use Vallejo model color Russian Uniform as the base colour and paint all the webbing, packs, gaiters and straps.

Right figure
1st Highlight use 1:1 ratio of Russian Uniform and Iraqui Sand.

Same info as above , (the gaiters can be painted the same colour or with Khaki following the same procedure for the webbing etc)

Webbing,Packs, Straps and Gauntlets

2nd Highlight 1:2 ratio of Russian Uniform and Iraqui Sand 

Helmet with Netting:
Base coat: VMC Olive Grey 888
Wash: Agrax Earthshade
Dry Brush Netting on Helmet : use Russian uniform with a touch of Iraqui Sand

Helmet without Netting:
Base coat: VMC Olive Grey (may also use VMC German Dark Green)
Wash: Agrax Earthshade
Dry Brush: use VMC Olive Grey(or VMC German Dark Green 1:1 Iraqui Sand

Rags on Helmet:
Brown Rags:
Base: Vallejo Model Color Beige Brown
Highlight: Beige Brown 1:1 Iraqui Sand

Green Rags:
Base: Vallejo Model Color Russian Uniform
Highlight: Russian Uniform 1:1 Iraqui Sand

Water bottle and spade handle:
Base: VMC Beige Brown
1st Highlight: 1:1 ratio Beige Brown and Iraqui Sand
2nd Highlight:1:2 ratio Beige Brown and Iraqui Sand

Blanket:
Base: VMC Black Grey
1st Highlight: 1:1 ratio Black Grey and Iraqui Sand
2nd Highlight:1:2 ratio Black Grey and Iraqui Sand

Rifle:
Wooden parts:
Base: VMC Mahogany Brown
Highlight: 1:1 ratio   Mahogany Brown and Iraqui Sand

Metallic parts:
Base: VMC Black Grey
1st Highlight: 1:1 ratio Black Grey and Iraqui Sand
2nd Highlight:1:2 ratio Black Grey and Iraqui Sand
3rd very light Highlight to some areas: Leadbleacher

Boots:
Base: VMC Black Grey
Wash: Nulin Oil 
1st Highlight: 1:1 ratio Black Grey and Iraqui Sand
2nd Highlight:1:2 ratio Black Grey and Iraqui Sand

Buckles:
Game colour "Carne Marron Tan"

Mug:
Base: VMC Offwhite and lip of Mug any light blue color
Wash: Agrax Earthshade
Highlight: with the appropriate colours 

Model Base:
Base: 1:1 ratio of VMC Flat Earth and Offwhite
Wash: Agrax Earth shade
Light Dry Brush: 1:1:1 ratio VMC Flat Earth,Offwhite and Ivory White

At this point I would touch up or further highlight anything that needs attending to.
Finally add Decals with decal fix.

Coat with 1 thin coat of Vallejo Gloss Varnish

Apply 2 thin coats of any suitable Matt Varnish (I use AK Ultra Matt Varnish)

Its very important to protect your paint work if you are gaming with your figures.

Add flock to the base and your troops are ready to be shipped to the front line.

Cheers John 

LATE WAR BRITISH INFANTRY 28mm

Finally finished my British Platoon, all the figures are plastic from Warlord games.

These figures I describe as Good, Bad and Ugly.

Bad because of the time spent putting all the pieces together.

Ugly because of the amount of glue residue on my hands and the strong smell of glue in the air

Good  because of the numerous pieces, it gave me, a artistic license to be creative.

Having said that I am well pleased with the results.  

I have based the figures on Magnetic sheets. 

To improve the look of the figures: 

• I added straps to the helmets and the rifles,SMG and Brens. 
• with the meshed helmets supplied, I  added rags over the mesh with Green Stuff.
• There was a limited number of poses available so I improvised by chopping and reattaching legs and arms to create more interesting poses.
• I wanted the Bren team to be easily recognizable when mixed in with the Rifle team, so I converted the 2 crew members accompanying the Bren gunner. Both are carrying their rifles in addition one in holding a Bren Magazine while the other is holding the Bren spare barrel pack.  
• The commander of the Platoon was equipped with a pistol attached to a lanyard around his neck. 

The Platoon includes:

2 x Senior Leaders

3 x Sections  each with 1 Junior Leader,3 man Bren team and 6 man Rifle team

As this Platoon is constructed for Chain of Command game a 2"mortar team and PIAT team.

accompany the Platoon as support elements.

Section made up of Junior Leader,3 man Bren team and 6 man rifle team.

The poses of the 2 crew members accompanying Bren are easily recognized when mixed in and in close proximity with the Rifle team. 

Bren Gunners with slightly different poses.

Image showing all the crews accompanying the Bren gunners.

They are based on square bases for easy recognized on the gaming table.

The Senior Leaders are bases on Hexagon bases to make them easier to recognize on the gaming table.
I wanted to give the Lieutenant a bit of character, so I made him  a"old school"  Vet from WW 1 still sporting a mustache and still hanging the pistol lanyard around his neck even though regulations state, it should be anchored on the waist belt.

Circled on the left is the figure used to construct the pose on the right. The red line indicated where to cut off the leg and reattach as shown in the imagines on the right. Some trimming maybe required to achieve the best fit, with the attachment completed use  Green stuff to fill in any gaps. 

As mentioned above follow the same steps to achieve the pose on the right. Note trimming the front underside of the boot with also alter the  posterior of the figure.

Container housing the Platoon.

The figures are all set on magnetic bases and the floor of the metal box acts as a good anchoring point for storing and transporting.

The Red Section has just been deployed.

Each Section has its own colour with the Senior Leaders and support elements in white. This was done for better organisation of the troops when deployment on the gaming table was called for. 

On completion of a game packing away the troops on the dots ensures that none have been left behind or dropped on the floor and forgotten...... as these troops ain't Rangers, troops will be left behind .

The container I used is one my favorite biscuits, "Wagon Wheels" these tin boxes are usually sold cheap just after Christmas or some major holiday in super markets.

I lightly sanded the tin, primed it and painted it black.

LATE WAR BRITISH INFANTRY FOX HOLES

I have been contemplating how to represent Infantry in fox holes for a while now. 
Thanks to Andy: Tiny Hords whose work, inspired me to make my own Section of British Infantry in fox holes.
Mine  are based on magnetic sheeting for easy storage, with the added benefit of removing the figures, if they suffer a casualty.
This is achieved  by placing magnets on  the underside of the figures with the floor of the foxhole layered with thin metal sheets.

Section includes 3 man Bren team, 6 man Rifle team and a Junior Leader.

Assembled cut down figures with earth magnets glued into the base.

Black Primered

Figures painted and sealed with a coat of Gloss vanish followed by Matt vanish.

To work out the size of the foxholes, I used 20 mm plastic bases with the final base shape cut out from a  magnetic sheet:see Magnetic bases

Small pieces of tin are glued onto the magnetic base roughly where the figure will be located.

Used  plastic sprues from remnant kits to build up peripheries of the foxhole and glued into position.

View of the completed foxhole periphery. 

Figures in their foxholes.

Next step, provide protection to the figures while modelling the foxhole from the putty.

Cut out a piece of Glad Wrap,place figure in the middle, pull together and seal together with stick tape.

Cut off excess, figure is now protected from putty.

Using Milliput build up the outer area on the base of the foxhole.

Next step, build up the the inner area, the floor first and then the  sides against the plastic sprue. Followed by the outer sides of the foxhole against the plastic sprue.

To build up the top edge of the foxhole, roll small pieces of putty into rolls and place on-top of the plastic and blend in with  a sculpting instrument.

Place the figures in the foxhole, check the fit, and repeat the previous step making height adjustment to the foxhole  while leaving the figures in position. 

Completed putty stage of foxhole with a few personal items added such as Grenades,back pack spare ammo, digging implements etc.

Black primer applied,allowed to dry and painted with a coat of Vallejo Flat Earth 983.

Wash with a coat of Agrax Earthshade and dry brush with a 50:50 mix of Vallejo Flat Earth 983 and Iraqui Sand 819.

Paint the floor of the foxholes with Vallejo Black Grey 862 allow to dry and wash the inner wall and the floor with a coat of Nulin Oil.

Using the 50:50 mix of Vallejo Flat Earth 983 and Iraqui Sand 819 lightly dry brush the the inner wall and floor.

Painted the odds and ends and added a couple of Tufts.
Applied coat of Gloss vanish followed by Matt vanish.

Completed foxholes

Infantry in their foxholes