"Take That Hill" - 10mm Falklands Painting (Part 1): British Infantry in DPM

We have been playing "Take That Hill" with whatever came to hand which was Kallistra scenery and Pendrakon 10mm 8th Army figures (see below, Western Desert this is not!):

However as the game instructions were written in contemporary modern terminology I wanted to give the figures a more modern feel. Rummaging about in my "box of treasures" (aka silver legions) I found some 10mm British Infantry and Argentine Infantry from the Falklands War period (see below, the British Infantry mounted on coffee stirrers ready for priming - a little dab of superglue has them fixed in place, I could have used PVA but it takes longer to dry and inevitably some figures seem to always come off when you least want them to):

The Airfix Acrylic prier is now back readily available in good hobby stores (see below, I missed you and have copiously stocked upon my most favourite primer):

Next follows the Vallejo Brown Wash (see below, this epic large tub has done me sterling service over the years and is down to its last thick and clumpy dregs but just seems to keep going!):

A side view (see below, I just love the way 'Wash' both covers the figure in a gradual shade and creeps into the seems naturally - the Citadel contrast paints seem to take this to another level but I have to use my existing stock before I move on to it):

The uniform now gets a Khaki (Vallejo 70988 Model Colour), Black over the rifles/weapons and boots (Vallejo Model Colour 70950), over the uniform bits and Dark Flesh (Vallejo 72044 Model Colour ) was used here (see below, both British and Argentine Infantry are shown here):

I next gave the uniform a Khaki (50%) and Dark Sand (50% Vallejo Model 70847) highlight (see below, the contrast is becoming to come through on the figures):

The DPM camouflage required "Green Sponge" smears which were applied via US Dark Green (Vallejo Model Colour 70893) paint in a random fashion (see below, the difference is subtle - click on the photo to enlarge):

Next Flat Earth splodges were applied (Vallejo Model Colour 70983) were applied in a random fashion, taking care to leave some of the Khaki/Dark Sand mix still showing (see below .. the "factory system" was working well for these fourteen figures):

Madness took me at this point and I applied another watered down version of Vallejo Brown Wash to the figure. To make a contrast I returned to the Khaki areas and applied a slightly lighter mix. This was applied in "tiny areas" to highlight the uniform and bring in a nice meld to the figures with the wash [it kind of worked I think], followed by German Cam Dark Green (Vallejo Model Colour 70979) to the webbing, helmet and packs (see below - tunic, trousers basic webbing [almost] done!):

Mixing a bit of Khaki to the German Cam Dark Green gives a subtle highlight (see below, just applied to the leading edges and flaps):

A highlight of Gun Metal (Vallejo Game Colour 72054) is applied to the weapons in a subtle fashion (see below, looking darkly dangerous):

Beasty Brown (Vallejo Game Colour 72043) is dabbed into the wooden parts of the weapon (see below, importantly for this minor colour "less means more"):

The final painting act is to add a Flesh highlight (Vallejo Game Colour 72041) on the faces and hands [again "less is more" here] so that they "look real" and suggest features (see below, a final sense of relief comes on me at this stage):

The final British Infantry "look" - ready for action and trouble - also they are sealed in a Humbrol Matt Varnish (see below, any more painting and I would honestly cry at this point - the figures are small! I nearly cried as the Matt Varnish also merges colours together, lessening some contrasts):

Pleased and relieved ;)
Time to be a ruthless finisher though and move on!

Next Stop: "basing"!

Footnote: https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/painting-british-dpm-camoflague-sbs.31911/