Working with the terrain I

There are many ways to represent the sand base in our models or dioramas. We can just fix modeling sand with white glue and then paint it, we can use ready-to-use products, we can sculpt the texture, etc. In this post I want to explain another simple way using sands and clays from nature. You can find more information about how I preprared the vignete in the last issue of Wargames: Soldiers&Strategy. This way is not the best or the worst, it is just another way. I like it because I don’t have to paint the sand and therefore I…

Decals, transfer and stencils

Decals, transfer or stencils? Nowadays we have different possibilities when we want to put the Balkan cross in a Panzer IV, or the allied start in a Sherman. However, decals for vehicles are dominating the Wargames, thanks to games such as Flames of War or Bolt Action. But in large scales we can find other options, like transfer or stencils, and we can also use them for our 15mm models. Decals and transfer are too similar -a printed film above a paper-, but the application is different. Using decals, we wet the paper in first place, and when the decal…

How to paint 15mm tanks: German spider mech

While I am learning new hobbies (and sports) in this lovely Finish land, such as ice swimming, ice hockey or cross-country ski, I had enough time to paint and prepare a painting guide featuring an interesting Panzermech from ClockWork Goblin miniatures. I love this theme! In the past, I painted a couple of walkers from DreamPod9, and I currently attempt to paint as many E-series tanks as I can from Forged in Battle or Heer46. All in 1/100 scale or 15mm, of course!, my preferred scale. In this occasion, I’ve prepared a complete painting guide. However, I want to notice…

Weathering on horizontal panels in 15mm tanks

It’s very common to observe impressive streaking effects on vertical surfaces in Flames of War vehicles. However, we can’t apply the same effect on horizontal panels, because the gravity result is different, obviously. Here, I want to explain different ways or tools to work the horizontal panels. In vertical surfaces enamels and oils are usually used in this way: first we paint dots or vertical stripes with different colors. And then we blend all colors using a brush moistened in white spirit, by applying vertical strokes. The result are interesting vertical streaks. But these are illogical on a horizontal surface!.…

How to do a dusty road

Because I’m currently living in Finland, from a while I wanted to paint a Finish vehicle. First, I thought about a captured soviet T-26 tank. But the Stug III G it’s more impressive!. And I decided to display it in a dusty road. After gathering some information, thanks to some friends, I decided to paint a tritonal camouflage, very similar to the German one. And although I prepared a mud base when I started this project (because the ambient influence!), the Finish Stug tanks fought in the Continuation War, in Jun and July of 1944. Therefore, I switched the viewpoint…

Dust effects

One of the most interesting weathering effects on vehicles is the dust, above all if our model has fought in wars with few paved roads, like the Spanish Civil War o the Second War World in Russia or Africa.However, first and foremost we have to think about several points. 1) Where is placed our model. For instance, isn’t the same the dust generated in the African desert than the dust generated in an European road. 2) How many dust we want to represent, a soft effect to avoid masking other details, or a strong effect. And 3) decide the method…

How to make mud

We have spoken several times about how to do mud on the undercarriage, using pigments or pastels like tool. In this occasion, I propose you other simple way to use them, with one additional idea: simulate a granulated texture. To explain this process, I have used a 15mm (1/100 scale) miniature from The Plastic Solider. As I told before, the main tool will be the pigments. Nowadays, we can find a really enormous amount of pigment colors on the market. Thus, I have an important collection of pigments in my hands, so I can get any color I want. I’m…

How to do dusty tires

Nowadays, I have less time and opportunities to write a new post in my Blog. But I’m still alive!. So, because I have painted a sci-fi vehicle in 15mm (1:100 scale) from Khurasan Miniatures, I’ve prepared this simple tutorial to simulate the dust on wheels in 15mm miniatures. Also, this is my first entry in English, and my english is a little bad. So, I apologize for any error!. If we yield to the logic, the ideal tool to simulate dust is a pigment. Because in the nature the dust is generated by small particles, like our pigments, we can…

Videotutorial – How to paint German Tanks in 15mm

I have prepared a new videotutorial to show how to paint a German tank. I have chosen a paperpanzer, a Jagdpanzer E-50 from Heer46. The large panels and pronounce edges make this vehicle a perfect model to practice the “color modulation” technique, as you will see later. The camouflage I chose is based on a drawing I found in the 1945 German Colors book from AK interactive, page 61. Inspired by the reference to real colors featured in this book, I have used the corresponding painting set from AK, AK554 German Late Color set. I have tried to compress all…

Videotutorial – How to paint an antitank gun in 15mm

Hace tres años que hice mi primer videotutorial. Me habría gustado sacar más, pero por diversos motivos —principalmente debido a que es un engorro— nunca he llegado a ponerme en serio a ello. No obstante, aprovechando estas vacaciones y algún otro aliciente, decidí intentar hacer un nuevo video. En esta ocasión, además de explorar la técnica de la modulación, me he centrado un poco más en las técnicas de envejecimiento.   Base with Olive green (XF-58, Tamiya) First light with Khaki Olive Drab (UA 221, LifeColor) Second light with Olive Drab Faded type 2 (UA 224, LifeColor) Third light with…