With my AAVP7A1 pretty much done I need to get started on the figures and the gear that will be on the track. Today I took one of the plastic figures from the AAV kit and test painted a woodland pattern on him. Didn’t turn out so hot. I would post pics but my camera only takes really blurry ones.
What I need to know is what colors I need for the tri color desert uniforms (preferably in Tamiya acrylic colors)
What colors for gear bags, ammo cans etc
Really what I’m looking for is if there is a good technique for painting woodland and desert uniforms. i think i can handle flesh tones.
also I have heard of the vallejo paints are they allot better than tamiya or other types of model paint?
Thanks in advance
Here is a great article at Armorama on Painting 3/6 Color DCUs & Woodland BDUs. It will guide you through the process well.
For gear, most of it is different shades of green. There are a few variations though. IBA body armor is in either woodland camo, 3-color desert camo, and also cayote brown (a dark tan) for USMC, and now in ACU digital pattern for US Army troopers. Rucksacks are mostly medium green, however meduim rucks also come on woodland camo. Contrary to Tamiya’s Modern US Equipment directions, sleeping mats are medium green and the sleeping bag stuff sacks are black. Ammo cans are dark green with yellow stencilling.
That should get you started. Let us know of any other specific questions on gear and equipment.
Unless you’re a magician, you’re going to have a heck of a time painting figures with Tamiya. They just aren’t brush frindly. You be better off investing in some Andrea or Vallejo acrylics if you plan to do quality figures. Other than that, look to Model Master or Polly Scale for general market acrylics.
I posted a few of my deployment pics here: /forums/738753/ShowPost.aspx#738753
if you want spacific up close shots let me know and I’ll see what I can do