Sunday 23 September 2012

Painting Great War German Infantry – Part 3


There’s not actually much painting in the third, and final, part of my series on painting Great War German Infantry.  As you’ll remember from last time, the Stellungsbattalionkämpfer figures were at least 95% finished at the middle of last week.
I did, however, get the chance to add a German command group, and finish some casualty figures which have been on the painting table for a while.
 

So, what changes did I actually make to the Stellungsbattalionkämpfer?

Not much.  All I added to the figures were the painting for the medal ribbon on the NCO, some Vallejo German Uniform Green piping on a couple of the figures’ cuffs and some stubble on the faces of the troops. 
 
I wanted them to look a little grimy, perhaps even worn-down, through being in the front line.  This was pretty simple – just heavily dilute Vallejo black or German Grey (I prefer the latter) with water.  When I mention diluted, I mean very, very diluted. 


 

You want to almost get to the point that there’s hardly any pigment in the water.  Then, wash that over the jaw of the figures a few times.  The grimy stubble look eventually builds up.  As ever, use in moderation as a little of this sort of effect tends to go a long way – unless, of course, you want your frontschwein looking as if they’ve not shaved for several days!

I then finished off a couple of casualty bases, one with a “shock” or casualty dice in the rear, and one without. 

 
And then I painted through a Great War Miniatures German Command Set. This is really a lovely piece, and was really fun to do. The rather jazzy German officers are taken from the German Army 1914-1918 Part 2 Osprey Man At Arms book. I thought the base could serve as a battalion command, or Kämpftruppenkommandeur figure for larger games and I’d planned to do it as part of the figures to accompany the large bunker, das Rattenkeller, I painted in the early summer.
 
 
Then, just for your enjoyment dear readers, I took a few snaps on the terrain that the figures were always intended to inhabit. 







So, there you go.  Painting Great War German Infantry – painting guide/suggestions done.  After this, some Stosstruppen and then, finally, Picts!

28 comments:

  1. Another wonderful and inspirational post, thank you for sharing Sidney.

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    1. Thanks Michael. Not quite up to your fantastic Euro Militaire pictures, but I'm trying!

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  2. Nice idea how to add the stubble, I've always wondered how that was done, its so bloody simple, but so effective. Nice one!!

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    1. Yep...simple but it kind of works. At first it looks like there's nothing there, but if you let it dry the layers of diluted paint do add up gradually. Cheers Ray!

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  3. Beautiful work as usual, the stubble tip is genius Sidney!

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    1. Genius.....naw......I think I discovered it by accident! Thanks fro dropping by, Fran!

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  4. Amazing - your attention to detail is inspiring. Well Done!!

    Frank
    http://adventuresinlead.blogspot.com.au/

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  5. Fantastic work mate, that command group in particular is fan-bloody-tastic. The figures blend with the terrain superbly, as ever the best WWI figures and terrain around!
    Ben

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    1. Ben, that's far too kind, but thank you anyway! Glad you're enjoying it so far!

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  6. Thanks Sidney, great stuff again.

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  7. What a wonderful conclusion to a great tutorial Sidney! You keep tempting me with the Great War, but I just manage to resist until I clear some of my current projects. I wish I could concentrate like you to just a couple projects, but I'm to easily distracted!

    Let the last blog header this one is fantastic too!

    Christopher

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    1. Thanks Christopher - I'm glad you enjoyed the header for the blog. I had grand plans of changing it more often. I'll try a bit harder in future!

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  8. Fantastic figures and terrain. Best, Dean

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    1. Thanks Dean, much appreciated. Glad you like it!

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  9. Grand work as usual. Thanks for the stubble tip, it gives a more subtle effect than paint, I will give it a try.

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    1. Thanks Phil. You're welcome! Give the stubble trick a try and let me know how you get on!

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  10. Just got here from Paul Alba's blog - great find! Really good tutes with great painting and terrain etc, (I like the 'Rat's Hole' sign above the bunker entrance - nice touch!) Really interesting blog Sidney - thanks!

    Doc

    http://docsartofwar.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. Thanks Doc! Welcome!! Hope you enjoy what you see here and what's coming shortly. Thanks for commenting as well - much appreciated.

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  11. Fantastic looking pictures Sidney. The figures and terrain really compliment each other.

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  12. Beautiful work! Very interesting take on the stubble effect. I'm going to have to try that out. Thanks Sidney!

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  13. Beautiful! I just got interested in gaming the Great War over this past weekend and your Blog is inspiring me. Very nicely done on your Germans, and I'll be stealing your basing ideas.

    Cheers!

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