"Help with 28mm DAK" Topic

Hello all,

Trying to paint a unit of DAK but am really struggling to figure out how to shade and highlight this unit. I have attached my first completed attempt and a WIP. They both just seem to look bad to me and messy. I want much crisper and obvious shading but not unnatural looking. Using vallejo iraqi sand, dark sand, and warpaints desert yellow. I got frustrated and used a quickshade strong tone ink which may have worsened the problem. The camera is not doing them the misjustice they deserve. Please give me some advice on how to do better on the rest of them. Also, any quick and simple ways to remove the paint from these metal figures?

Thanks,
Conor

your over analysing it they look fine for the wargame table..Soldiers from both sides sweated in the harsh heat of the desert and your figures capture that…

I have got to second that, they really don't look that bad! not give yourself such a hard time. I think we have all being there, I went through a real bad phase about my work. I would throw a few other colours into the mix. I have used khaki (Vallejo) to add a more washed out colour to my D.A.K forces. I have done a few tutorials on painting WW2 uniforms and I'm currently working on a guide for D.A.K figures but its not finished yet and its not a quick thing to do I'm afraid. Try different styles to see which sits you the best, I use dry brushing to paint uniforms, it brings out the folds and creases nicely, but it may not suit your style or it may not be to your liking. Sorry I cant help a bit more! linkcheck out my photobucket it may help

I guess I'm hoping to find some appropriate triads as I'm really struggling to find good combos

You do a really good job with your brush. But seeing your sequence on the WIP, what I see on the finished product is despair. I have seen a LOT of your work here on TMP, and your finished figure started off strong but the final few parts show a lack of confidence.

You are an awesome painter! Believe in yourself!

They look great to me as well.
I would dry brush some Iraqi sand on them lightly to bring up the highlights more. Other than they I would be proud to put those on my table.

Have you tried shading with Winsor & Newton inks. Nut Brown will give you a crisper shade.

The closest colour I found to the DAK uniform was Vallejo Russian Uniform Green, (the Luftwaffe used a sand colour).

If you want a veteran appearance, then lighten the Rus. Un. Green, (carbolic soap caused a light shade).

Hope it helps.

Stuart.

I see what the OP means in the close up but on the table at 1 metre + distance I'd say no problem.

I'd put them aside for a week or so and then look at them again with a fresh eye.

If only I were a wargamer instead of a wannabe painter/modeler…

Given that the photos are out of focus, and on my monitor the figure is 10x actual size, it looks fine to me.

For the Afrika Korps I painted below, I used a basecoat of Army Painter Desert Yellow spray followed by a light 'dusting' of Army Painter Skeleton Bone spray, but you could equally use the bottle versions of each, or Vallejo 977 Desert Yellow followed by a dry brush of 819 Iraqi Sand. I used spray because I did an entire platoon in one go and it was quicker.

For variation, the darker olive jackets were 924 Russian Uniform WW2 highlighted with 988 Khaki. The lighter green jackets were 881 Yellow Green followed by 978 Dark Yellow.

Boots were 984 Flat Brown/ 846 Mahogany Brown, canvas uppers were 924 Russian Uniform/ 988 Khaki. I also used these combinations for variations in leather or canvas webbing and equipment straps. Sandy coloured webbing etc was 977 Desert Yellow/ 819 Iraqi Sand.

For the most sun- bleached caps etc I used 819 Iraqi Sand/ 827 Pale Sand.

I tend to use a lot of dry brushing because personally I find it gives a more dusty, worn, realistic look than some of the more 'stripy' layered styles out there.

Figures were given a final brushed on coat of Army Painter Strong Tone, left to dry for several days, then finished with Army Painter Anti Shine spray.

There are photos of other stuff including British 8th Army and commandos in North Afrika I uploaded here:

link