Unteroffizier, Großdeutschland 1942 - Painting the Face

In this instalment, I will briefly describe the painting of the face using AK Interactive's Gen 3 acrylics Flesh and Skin set. This six-colour paint set provides a convenient solution for the average military modeler to render a face or skin tones without too much hassle. Truth be told I usually prefer to mix my own flesh tones instead of using ready pre-mixed ones, but since a sample was supplied to me by the good people of AK Interactive I thought that might as well give it a go. 

The only shortcoming with this set is that it does come with any instructions on how to apply the colours and therefore what I am about to present is my take on how to use this set of colours. For more information on my technique for painting the face, do check out my DVD available HERE.

In my previous post, an underpainting was applied to the figure using Grey White to bring out the mid tones and highlights. The key feature of this technique is to allow the underlying white base to provide the luminosity and the overpainting to provide the colour; maintaining the saturation of the colour. Base Flesh was repeatedly applied in translucent layers to gradually deepen the areas representing the mid tones (the cloudy grey areas). I was careful to avoid to getting Base Flesh over the bright highlights as it will diminish the luminosity of the highlight colour that comes next.

Light Flesh is applied over the highlight areas. Likewise I avoided getting light flesh into the areas painted with Base Flesh as it will cause it to appear chalky.

Highlight Flesh is applied to the higher points of the face to enhance the appearance of the facial features.

Dark Shadow Flesh is applied to a deeper recesses of the face to deepen the shadows as well as the lips.

Once again, Highlight flesh is used again to refine the highlights on the face and paint the white of the eyes.

Paint the eyes with  a dab of Dark Prussian Blue.

Paint the eye brows with Rubber Black.

Add a little dash Dark Shadow Flesh to the deepest recesses of the face.

Finally,  highlighting the lips with a colour mixture of Dark Shadow Flesh and Base Flesh.

The completed result from this painting session.

Next up, the uniform.....

Cheers,

Calvin

Unteroffizier, Großdeutschland 1942 - Underpainting

The timing could not be more perfect as I commence on the painting of this figure using my signature set of colours composed for painting WWII German Uniforms by AK Interactive. 

The figure is primed using Mr Mahogany Surfacer 1000 from Mr Hobby as I wanted to work with a warmer tone as a ground colour. 

The darker areas are airbrushed with black to simulate the cool tone of the shadows.

A light mist of AK 11003 White Grey was applied to simulate the lightfall. This process allows the areas for highlighting to be identified and more importantly improves the luminosity of the base colours.

AK 11003 White Grey was thinned with water to a milk-like consistency and successively applied in thin layers to strengthen the highlights. In traditional painting, this technique is referred to as underpainting and it has been pioneered by Titian during the High Renaissance.  

In my next post, I will briefly cover the painting of the face so stay tuned!

Cheers,

Calvin

Signature Set for WW2 German Uniforms from AK Interactive

 

Through the courtesy of the good folks at AK Interactive, I am so happy to receive my copy of the 18 colour box set of AK Interactive Gen 3 acrylic paints. It is composed of all the essential colours I use to paint World War Two German uniforms and a small pamphlet containing my colour mixes. Stay tune for the upcoming weeks in which I will reveal on how I go about using them. Till then have a good weekend.

Cheers,

Calvin

Bread and Butter, Unteroffizier, Großdeutschland 1942

Some progress this evening on the entrenching tool and the bayonet.  The last item to complete would be to replace the shoulder boards before moving on to the groundwork.

 

Cheers,

Calvin

Bread and Butter, Unteroffizier, Großdeutschland ,1942

A little more progress this week. 

Cheers,

Calvin

Bread and Butter, Unteroffizier, Großdeutschland ,1942

Heer we go again, this time it is a study of a Großdeutschland Infantryman in his marching kit taking a short respite from the 1942 campaign in Southern Russia. Tamiya's German Soldiers at Rest(35129) provided the basis for this conversion with a new head donated from the Wehrmacht Tank Crew set(35354). Other components from Tamiya included the helmet from the German Infantry - Mid-war (35371), the Kar98 rifle is from German Assault Pioneer Team and Goliath set (35357), various field equipment are from the German Infantry Weapons Set A (35204), the stick grenade from German Infantry Weapon Set B (35205) and the Jerry can from German Jerry Can Set - Early Type (35315). 

Things are so far shaping up rather nicely and I do hope to complete the sculpting of the webbing details by early next week and get some paint on him before the month of October ends.

Cheers,

Calvin

Landser, Stalingrad 1942

Going for that 1980's Verlinden-esq look.

Cheers,

Calvin