Painting Fallschirmjager-a guide & observations

It is a little presumptuous of me to make out this is a painting guide so I would prefer to refer to this entry as a series of observations on painting 28mm Second World War Fallschirmjager. Listed below will be the paints used and sources/inspiration. I will begin with the jump smocks;

Revised 01/07/12

Since writing this post I've still not been completely happy with my version of Splinter camo. So out came the reference material, followed by the paints, brushes etc., closely followed by a prepared Artizan Fallschirmager. What I was not totally happy with was the base colour which looked too dark, so I set out to improve this detail.

And here is the first result;

The base colour for the smock on this figure is Vallejo 'German Camo beige' 821 (N.B. unless stated otherwise all colours used are Vallejo). I then washed this with GW Devlan Mud, and highlighted again with base colour 821. The brown 'lozenges' were then painted in 'German Camo Black Brown' 822, then highlighted with 'German Camo Medium Brown' 826 and finally 'German Camo Pale Brown' 825. The green was painted first in 'German Camo Dark Green' 979, then 'Luftwaffe Camo Green' 823, and finally a mix of 50/50 823 with GW Skull White. Once this was done I further highlighted the base color with a 50/50 mix of 821 and Skull White.

The trousers have been painted with 'German Field Grey WW2' 102, again a wash of Devlan mud, highlighted with base colour, and then a further highlight with 50/50 102 with 'Russian Uniform' 924.

N.B. The panzerschreck is painted 'Middlestone' 882 washed with Devlan Mud. Then Ogryn Flesh but only into the recesses, then highlighted again with 882.

Version No2;

Only the base colour is different on this figure. I've used Foundry pallette German Splinter Tan 85C, only. I have then washed in Devlan Mud and then highlighted in base colour. The Green and brown camo colours are as  above. I then highlighted the base colour with a mix of 85C and Skull White, 50/50.

The 'rain' splinters are Charadon Granite. I've decided the these are in. Though I try and make them smaller and more numerous than when I first attempted the 'rain' marks.

I'm not sure of Vallejo equivalent for Foundry 85C, but maybe 'Deck Tan' 986 or 'Splinter Camo base' 345 from the Panzer Aces range.

Both models together to give a rough idea of the slight difference in colour;

Much happier with how these two turned out. These schemes will now become standard. Though I might try using 'Flat Earth' 983 for the brown camo on some future ones just to see how that turns out. Flat Earth is recommended by some as the colour for brown lozenges/splotches on the smocks.

The original entry below for reference;
    
Splinter Smocks/Splittermuster- (both Army 31 and Airforce 41 versions). I used the Foundry palettes for this. These being German Splinter Tan (85), German Splinter Green (84) and German Splinter Brown (83). I do not use the Shade colour for either the green or brown, I just did not see the point in having three colours for the green/brown, BUT I have started using Vallejo German Camo Pale Brown (825) as the third and final colour on the brown. The Vallejo colour is more muted and I personally like the effect. 

Water Tan/Sumpfmuster 43- The base smock colours are all Vallejo. Starting with German Camo Beige (821), then highlighted with Khaki (988) and finally Stone grey (884). These are the colours recommended in the Flames of War supplement HELLS HIGHWAY, in the guide for Fallshirmjager. But for the green/brown I have used the Foundry palettes 84 & 83 as above (plus Vallejo 825). 

Notes: The Foundry German Splinter palettes are I believe no longer available, though maybe still be  able to be picked up at shows from retailers (I sure I saw one of the colours on a stand at the recent WMMS show). 

The green and brown colours may not be exactly right particularly the brown may be to light after I have applied the Vallejo colour but I like it.

The 'rainmarks' on the smocks. The jury is out on this one. I have painted on the dashes, and have gone from a dark green to a drab green/grey. Basically I use Games Workshop Charadon Granite (now called Stormvermin Fur). I'm not sure whether it is worth the time or effort painting these, but for the moment I will continue to do so.

Remember 'Splittermuster' is brown 'lozenges' with green 'splotches'. Sumpfmuster is green 'lozenges' with brown 'splotches'.

Early Jump Smocks- these are the easiest to paint. The problem I had was the colour. They are referred to as grey/green, green/grey or olive green? I have mainly settled on Foundrys' Storm Green (27) palette as the colour of choice. Early attempts at this were painted in Foundrys' Granite (31) palette. Granite is more grey (not surprisingly) and this was based on the illustrations in the Osprey Men at Arms No 139 German Airborne Troops 1939-45.

N.B. One trick I like to use to further mute the colours on the smocks (can be used on rest of uniform) is to apply a wash, dare I say a glaze, of GW's Graveyard Earth (now called Steel Legion Drab). This is something I have done for a long time and I find it pulls the colours together and dulls them down (hence glaze). But I do not have 4 parts water to 1 part paint, nothing quite so scientific. I thin the paint till I'm happy, generally by running the brush over newsprint, so as long as I can see the print but just make out the brown color I then apply to the model.

Trousers (Fieldgrey)- fieldgrey is a nightmare. I have used a combination of colours, and since there were variations in the actual colour, I believe I can get away with it. These are the combinations/colours I have used.

1. Foundry; German Late Field Grey (78) palette.
2. Vallejo; US Dark Green (893), highlight German Field Grey (810), highlight Green Grey (886) (reference Battlefronts HELLS HIGHWAY). A slight variation on this is to wash 893 with GW Badab Black (now called Nuln Oil), then highlight.
3. Vallejo; German Field Grey (810). Wash with Badab Black, highlight 810 and then with Foundry Storm Green (27B).
4. GW Charadon Granite (Stormvermin Fur), highlight Vallejo German Field Grey (810), highlight with Foundry Sorm Green (27B).
5. Foundry; Storm Green (27) palette. Though I will probably restrict this colour to the jump smocks at least for the Fallschirmjager.

Helmets- Vallejo German Field Grey (810) and then sponge on Vallejo Desert Yellow (977) or just German Grey (995) by its self.

Tunics - Foundry Storm Blue (39) palette.  

So there you pretty much have it. For bread bags/gasmask containers/ammo bandoleers etc. I have used mainly Field grey No 3 or 4 (see Trousers) or variations on canvas/khaki or grey. In the case of the ammo bandoleers I have also used one of the Camo smock patterns. 

For further reference I would recommend in no particular order.

Flames of War/Battlefront-books or the website particularly the Hobby section for painting guides flamesofwar.

Osprey books-ospreypublishing.

The kamouflage.net for camoflage patterns from around the world old and new.

The Mick Farnworth guides on Artizan Designs site-artizandesigns.

Histoire & Collections-particularly German Soldiers of World War Two.histoireetcollections. Also available from Amazon.

And whatever searches you can find on the net for other painting guides/inspiration.

These colours will be/can be used for Heer infantry, and no doubt I will. They are maybe not totally accurate but one rule I follow when painting anyfigures/period is; am I happy with the finished result. If I am then if the colour is perhaps a touch to light or to dark so what. Its a hobby and meant to be fun. I hope the above is of use.