"Real Versus Science Fctional Camouflage" Topic

I recently saw the animated movie "Starship Troopers: Invasion". I thought it was OK, but what I'm thinking about now is the camouflage used in the show. Some of the powered armor was painted (actually, "skinned", it's all CGI) in a modern digital pattern. It gives the movie a contemporary look, but I don't like it because it doesn't "read" well. That is, in a nutshell, the difference between real camouflage and camo used in films. The real camoufleur wants his creations to be as near to undetectable as can be, but a movie art designer doesn't really want to hide his work from the audience.

So, the question is, which approach do you prefer in painting your own science fiction forces? Do you find a realistic approach more immersive, or do you prefer a bit more latitude?

Ron

I definitely like a more realistic approach. I have such a firm mental picture of what looks like a military vehicle that half my sci-fi stuff is painted olive drab. If I had an itch to do some wacky blue-and-pink camo, I would have to build the alien desert terrain with those colors first, othrwise I would never be able to do it.

For historical forces yes, as close to actual as possible. For Sci-fi forces some get realistic looking camo, while others get brightly colored uniforms. My reasoning is that in the future detection devices, as well as obscuration technology, will render all forms of camo as we know it obsolete. This will result in a triumphant return of Napoleonic splendor!

I usually go for realistic colors … But a lot depends on the operating environment … And even with future detection devices/obscuration tech, some armie may not be at the same tech level, and not every infantryman may have devices on helmets etc. that would help with detection, so camo may/will have some use …

i do both, and have ( more than once) suffered from the fact that my camo worked too well, and i forgot the figure was there.
i normaly camo for a specific "look" for an army. eg my Cygnar are sand and tan desert with a touch os black squiggle, my "generic" GW marines are olive drab, my HF mid tech troops are a simaler splatter pattern to flecktuem. and to realy realy make peoples eyes hurt my Tau are in BOAR Berlin block camo, from the vehicles to the suits to the infantry, ive had a good opponent ( and good freind) say that it worked to well his eyes were sliding in and out of focus on them on the urban board we were using.

I've yet to try camouflage on any figures, so for the SciFi figures I have painted my answer is "cinematic".

For 15mm Laserburn I did two test figures. The Imperial Marines were black with gold trim. They look good, but I doubt there's any combat environment outside of an amusement park where that color scheme would blend.

Similarly, as the Redemptionist is from a fanatically religious faction I went with symbolism. White for purity, red for sacrifice, brown (on the cloth cape*) for humility.

With W40k Blood Angels I went canon Blood Red.

With Sedition Wars I've a dilemma. I'd like to go realistic and put the Vanguard troopers in either urban camo, or Vietnam-era tiger stripe. However, that would take a while, and honestly, I really don't enjoy painting any more. Alternately, I base coat them a suitable military color, dip them, and done! The final option is go for a gloss black and some details: not realistic, but considering the background, the government might want to use psychological warfare on potential rebels and black with some red trim is an intimidating color scheme.

*Although why a cloth cape on a power armored figure in the first place?

I painted capes camo …

I'd love to see the Cygnar camo schemes. Did you apply it to the 'jacks, or just the human troops?

Don't put any minis on the table, tell your opponent they all have 'Predator' camo. :)