[TUTORIAL] Painting WW2 US Troops

[Johnnytodd]

Helen,  Feel free to move this post as you see fit.  Unfortunately my technique is haphazard and I use a variety of different mfg paints (I just can't seem to throw any away) - most are vallejo.  Here is one of my basic japanese soldiers (ammo carrier from LMG crew).





He is primed in testors model master GREY PRIMER

his uniform is vallejo YELLOW GREEN, lightened with vallejo IVORY for highlights, darkened with vallejo BLACK for outlining details.

his helmet is vallejo GREEN BROWN, lightened with IVORY for highlights and the star insignia

web equipment is vallejo KHAKI GREY, lightened with ivory and darkened with black for highlights and outlining.

for the leather boots, holster and straps I use vallejo LEATHER BROWN as a base then highlighted with testors model-master LEATHER (4674)

skin tone is my own mixture starting with vallejo BASIC SKIN TONE, darkened a bit with vallejo GERMAN CAM. MEDIUM BROWN for shadows, redened a bit for lips; lightened with IVORY for highlights.

The uniform is a bit "greener" than the original uniforms but I wanted the figure to have more color than just subtle shades of khaki/tan.

[Helen]

Thankyou John, These are both of great assistance and I'm sure I'll be using some of your ideas myself in the future.

Helen

[pbeccas]

Hi JT.  Many thanks for your painting tips.  I am really interested in your Marines, especially the camo helmets.
Cheers
Paul

[Calimero]

Great stuff. I hope you’ll post more of your work soon. 

[Johnnytodd]

Here's a photo of an original M1 helmet with USMC cover.  There is some argument whether the EGA (eagle/globe/anchor) insignia was used on helmet covers during WW2 so I chose to leave it off mine.  These covers were also reversible with a lighter (autumn) color pattern on the other side - If anyone is interested I can also paint up a mini with the other pattern.


For mine I used a 10/0 brush.  The 5 color paints I used are all Vallejo:

GREEN BROWN, YELLOW GREEN, LEATHER BROWN, BLACK, IVORY

 

[Johnnytodd]

The base color is GREEN BROWN with 5% YELLOW GREEN,  lightened with IVORY about 20%



I begin with the LEATHER BROWN blobs as they seem to be slightly larger.  Evenly space 10-12 in oblong shapes.

[Johnnytodd]

Next I mix up the light brown using equal parts LEATHER BROWN and GREEN BROWN, then lighten 10% with IVORY.  Again evenly distribute these blobs some touching the dark brown.



The pea green blobs are YELLOW GREEN. 

[Johnnytodd]

The darker green blobs are YELLOW GREEN mixed with 10-20% BLACK

Finally I go back and fill in any bare patches with whatever color seems appropriate.  Then I highlighted the edge with a BROWN GREEN lightened with IVORY;  paint the leather chinstrap across the front using a darker brown & Voila!!  I think I'm done.

[Helen]

Thanks John, Thats a great tutorial. When you say you lighten with Ivory etc. is that after you have placed on the main colour and then using the same colours again, but with ivory?

Thanks again John, and good to see some interest from folks.

Helen

[Johnnytodd]

I add the IVORY directly to the color, lightening it to the desired shade.

[Helen]

I add the IVORY directly to the color, lightening it to the desired shade.

Thankyou.

Helen

[Calimero]

Thanks indeed. 

Will you show us how to do the uniform next? 

[Johnnytodd]

For the HBT utility uniform I mixed an unholy concoction of 70% Tamiya acrylic KHAKI DRAB XF-51 (thins with alcohol) and 20% vallejo  IVORY and 10% GERMAN UNIFORM 70920 (blue-green)

[pbeccas]

Many thanks JT.

[Gallowglass]

Indeed, thank you very much, JT. That's great stuff.