I have a project, a game and it requires these figures. Alternatively I saw these figures, they looked great so I decided I needed a project as an excuse to get this (see below, Wargames Atlantic - WW2 Italian Infantry):
They were really nice to assemble and the Temperate Mediterranean (or summer Russia) option I chose meant that teh Alpini and Bersaglieri option remained on the sprue. It is a rich source of spares. As I was doing this as industrial process and the weather was good they got the light (Ghoul) grey spray can undercoat courtesy of Colour Forge (see below, whitened - ready for the painting tray or Christmas decorations. This undercoating was actually done "en masse" with various other pieces of kit that had been "assembled" for ages, their time had come):
The Italian Order of Battle (OoB) was decided by a Chain of Command supplement/online (and is a peculiar clumsy Italian thing, technically with good LMG support but in the wrong place if you ask me - as they separate the LMGs out from the infantry squad and place it under its own command [a sergeant whereas the large ten man rifle section has a mere corporal shouting orders at it]). Note: The raw plastic which comes with a small base has been mounted on a bigger circular 25mm diameter base. PVA mixed with sand and light grit is spread over the bases for texture and left to dry. Vallejo Brown Wash (I have a large tub of this, creatively called Dipping Wash - you get the message) is applied over the figure and base. I find this gives a good "shade" start to painting the model and highlights its features nicely as the wash settles into the cracks and crevices (see below, ready for the painting tray):
Next Steps: Follow the YouTube Painting Tutorial(s) from Sonic Sledgehammer. I used thi sfor my inspiration, but deviated to match the actual paints I had at hand (rather than slavishly going out and purchasing more - which is the way of madness [I have tread before]):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD1kMTbnc3I
Note: I recommend to follow the second video, see link below (but same Youtuber), as I believe he is using a pose closer Wargames Atlantic figure (despite it being a Warlord Games figure [?]) .. both sets are good figures but as I have the former Wargames Atlantic figure the second video makes more sense:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4oqT5dDruU
Time to start assembling the paint list and applying it! This will be incremented over time as I paint the figure also serving as a "Note to Self".
Note: I am doing them in squad batches, starting with a rifle squad of 10 Rifles and a Corporal (also with a Rifle).
STAGE ONE: Basic Paints
- [Step 1]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Fleshtone (72.044) is applied to the exposed flesh areas (Face and two hands gripping weapons) as the "shade" over the "shade" Brown Wash.
- [Step 2]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Flesh (70.927) .. (although it looks pretty light to me [compared to the "brown" Dark Fleshtone of Step 1], even after shaking the bottle) as the base flesh tone. Note this deviate from teh video as I had not yet found it! My one comment is that the flesh looks a tad light and I may wash it [interestingly Sonic Sledgehammer users Red Beige (70.804) one that I don't have yet!]
- [Step 3]: Vallejo Model Colour - Olive Grey (70.888) - using this as the "shade uniform" colour over the brown wash "shade" [note, in conversation with a another good hobby painter I expect to lighten this with (70.884) Stone Grey for base and highlight later but I am following the second video at the moment].
- [Step 4]: Vallejo Model Colour US Field Drab (70.873) for blanket at bottom of backpack - which to be perfectly honest looks like the brown wash over the grey undercoat, but tidies it up and makes the colour look more solid.
- [Step 5]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Camouflage Beige (70.821) for central part of backpack and straps.
- [Step 6]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Field Grey (70.830) for the backpack blanket and water bottle.
- [Step 7]: Vallejo Model Colour - Beige Brown (70.875) for the rifle stock.
- [Step 8]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black Grey (70.862) for the boots, ammo pouches and chin strap [I also used this for the bayonet scabbard I attached to some but not all infantry models].
- [Step 9]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black (70.950) for the rifle barrel and working parts
So far so good, we have delivered a basic "base coloured" 28mm figure that resembles a WW2 Italian Infantrymen that would ret and hide on a wargames table because it does not impress the eye. My painted model differs from the one in video as I (foolishly?) also dipped the figure in Vallejo Brown Wash before painting (see below, facing front - rather basic and if truth be told a little "too green" in the uniform department - it needs to be faded):
And from the back (see picture below):
This is where we differ from the traditional painting I grew up with through the first thirty years of my hobby. That was the "undercoat-shade-hase-highlight" mantra, where you effectively painted each figure three times (and wish your hobby time away). In the modern twentieth first century chemistry now performs "black magic on the figure.
STAGE TWO: Black Magic
Gather eye of newt and wing of bat and drop it into the boiling cauldron. Alternatively ..
- [Step 10]: Mix three drops of Army Painter Strong Tone Wash with two drops of Army Painter Mixing Medium which tones and dilutes the effect. Then smear it liberally all over the poor Italian Infantryman!
- [Step 11]: Let it dry for 30 mins! So go cut the grass of something and do not come back early!
What he looks like after the "Black Magic" chemistry has taken effect (see below, he is now certainly shaded but perhaps maybe overly so, he definitely needs highlighting with the "base colours" and perhaps additional highlighting, lightening the "base colours" to be done):
- [Step 12]: Do not panic, we are not finished yet .. so you have not ruined the miniature, as it still only looks half right! We now go back to Stage One and selectively repeat Steps One through to Nine again but this time selectively highlighting not completely covering!
- [Step 13]: Exception we have to do something different with the uniform, as it is still too green. Solution either mix [5:1] ratio of (70.888) Vallejo Model Colour Olive Green with (70.846) Vallejo Model Colour Dark Sand or (70.884) Vallejo Model Colour Stone Grey. This should "fade" the uniform"!
- [Step 14]: Highlight the rifle shiny parts with Vallejo Model Color Gunmetal (70.863).
End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, starting to look the business):
End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, nice detailing on the peculiar backpack - you get to like it n the end)
STAGE THREE: Protect and Survive
- [Step 15]: Vallejo Fleshtone Wash (73.204) is applied to face and hands.
- [Step 16]: Ultra-Matt Lucky Varnish (Ammo Mig) the figure, this is to dull down any glossy bits for consistency and give an invisible layer of protection [against greasy wargamer figures].
- [Step 17]: The eyes have it, crazy white sockets and black pupil [optional madness]
- [Step 18]: Terrain basing, paint outer rim brown, two tone the brown on the base, flock and add a touch of static grass.
Note: I am still WIP through the Wargames Atlantic packet of figures:
PAINTING ACTIVITY CHART:
Sections Done:
- None
Doing:
- Rifle Squad One (11 Figures)
Still To Do:
- Platoon Command HQ (1 Figure)
- Rifle Squad Two (11 Figures)
- MG Section One (9 Figures)
- MG Section Two (9 Figures)
More videos from YouTube about Wargames Atlantic WWII Italian Infantry:
Making the MMG:
