Painting German Camo Uniforms

[Rob59]

When I posted pics from my Fallschirmjaeger in their camo clothing (show off section, my Amewi Panther thread), several respected members on here asked me to start some kind of a tutorial about those paintjobs.
At first I was not very enthousiastic about this, because there are guys on here who are probably way more better than me in painting figures!
So, again, I was very sceptic whether I should, or do not should start something about it....
But on the other hand, it seems a lot of guys do have issues painting camo clothing, and as a matter of fact, I think it is not such a big deal at all.
You almost cannot go wrong in making those camo patterns because there were so many different ones, in several different color schemes, that it almost always will turn out good.
Okay, long story short, I decided to show you how I do it.
But remember, I am NO PRO, I just want to help some guys out so they can finally do it on their own.
Besides that, if you show pics on here, or on every whatever forum, you see every mistake, everything that even might have gone wrong, because the pics can be zoomed in and show it all.
So, please do not shoot me on details like eyes, lips and so on, this is just about the camo stuff, okay?
Well, I got me a set of 3 figures for one of my Panzer IV's.
A Commander, Loader and Gunner:



I also had a driver and radio operator to make the crew complete:



And this will be the Panzer IV I am preparing for these guys.
The turret will get its armor too, but that's another thing for later.

[Rob59]

In this thread I will only show you how I did the Commander.
This is the guy, which legs I had to shorten to make him fit the turret.

[Rob59]

I never prime my figures BTW.
So started with Tamiya Nato Brown:

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[Rob59]

Next I took J.N.Green Tamiya and made a random pattern on his jacket.
Always think about, the jackets and pants are from several different parts sewed together, so the camo pattern should stop at the seams!
The camo should not be going over in another part of the jacket, beyond the seam.
Do you understand what I mean?
But as you might have noticed in the pics below, somethimes I am over enthousiastic too and do forget about those seams.....

[Rob59]

Next I took Nato Green and made a random pattern too.
Also I made some dots all over the jacket in all 3 colors.

[Rob59]

All colors are Tamiya, and in the end I sprayed the figure with matt varnish clear from Humbrol.
Only thing to complete the figure is making the cables onto the headphone and onto that throat thing.
So fellow modellers, I hope this did help you to do the camo yourself now?
It aint difficult as you see, just give it a shot.
And if you do not know what pattern to choose, check the World Wide Web for pics of German Camo Clothing, and I am sure you will find something you like and be able to put it on your figure.
See you,
Rob.

[Ecam]

Nice tutorial! The way you have shown it the painting does look simple and as you say there are some on here that have done some fantastic figures. I am not one of those so I appreciate the tips to better my skills. I love the bit about the seams, something I guess I knew but would never have thought of with a paint brush in my hand.

Tremendous job and thank you!

[Rob59]

As I mentioned before, on here you see every mistake or part I missed painting.
My tanks are driven outdoors, and nobody will notice what mistakes I did make, because the distance from where you stand and where the tank is driving around, is way too far.
The eyes, another part which is way over the top discussing about!
When you have tanks that do not go outdoors, just standing in some vitrine where everybody can get with his nose on top of it, you might think about detailing the eyes with blue and white, with an iris or whatever detail you want.
But personally I do not think this is very realistic.
When you meet a person in the street, let's say about 10m away from you, you hardly will notice the whit of the eyeball, right?
So do not make it too difficult for yourself.
Enough for this evening!
Bye bye.

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"...jackets and pants are from several different parts sewed together, so the camo pattern should stop at the seams" Thank you; I might not have thought of that point. It is interesting that you do not use primer. I always prime figures, usually in a light gray or white. Others claim it is best to use black. I suspect that there are as many ways as painters, and I am still bumbling my way along. I am about to start on more figures for my T26E3, no camouflage, but the faces, etc., will be visible close up. Gulp!

[Meter rat]

Thank you. What a great tutorial.