During the last weeks I have been painting several dozens of tiny WWII tanks in 12mm (1:144 scale) produced by Victrix Games, a new branch of Victrix Limited. I thought that my preferred scale for tanks was 15mm, but these lovely beauties took my heart. In spite of the small size, the level of details is outstanding and they permit a 1:1 level of game (= bigger battles).  

And thanks to Victrix Games, now you can download totally for free a painting tutorial for each tank model. Each guide includes a complete step by step, with plenty of photos as well as detailed explanations for each step. Although similar in structure, I have tried to focus in more detail on different topics or weathering techniques in each guide. For example, the Cromwell painting guide includes a tutorial to apply decals.

At the moment these are the available painting guides (more in the future):

Stug III

Download:


Panzer IV H

Download:


Panther

Download:


Sd.Kfz 251

SdkfzDownload:


Tiger I

Download:


Sherman

Download:


M3 Half-Track

Download


Cromwell

Download: Cromwell


Firefly

Download:

5 thoughts on “How to paint 12mm (1:144) WWII tanks”

  1. Very nice painted models. Excellent work. Tamiya Paints quoted in the Painting guide (Panther) are not really Lacquer despite some alcohol content. They are Acrylic according to Tamiya themselves. They can also be mixed with water soluble acrylic and used with Tamiya & Humbrol Acrylic Primers. But make sure the Primer is well shaken and surfaces are clean from grease, for Tamiya XF & X Paints to be used

  2. Hi Simon,

    Thanks for your message! Tamiya´s acrylics are quite particular.

    Yes, Tamiya sells them as “acrylic”, but lacquers can also be acrylic or water-based. Curiously, their solvent contains alcohol along with water and accordingly they work better with an organic solvent such as isopropanol than water (the yellow cap Tamiya thinner), Tamiya also sells a specific lacquer thinner (https://www.hobbylinna.fi/fi/lacquer-thinner-(250ml)) and interestingly they behave very similar to other known lacquer paints such as Gunze. Therefore, I do not find it very clear nor transparent.

    The fact that the company claims that they are acrylics is not enough to assume so (if they are acrylic lacquers they are still telling the true, they are acrylics). I do not have the original source, but I understood that one of the reasons why Tamiya sells them as acrylic is because then children and schools can use them (apparently ignoring the already open fact that they are toxic as they contain alcohol). Therefore, I think that we cannot claim for sure whether or not they are pure Acrylic or Acrylic Lacquer.

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