A lesson in tiger stripe

[kempie]

I’m getting back into the hobby after years building model planes. My humbrol enamels dried up so I got a starter set of Vallejo acrylics. Most of my grey army is Vietnam era special forces so I decided to focus on tiger stripe and erdl uniforms.

Along with the excellent tutorial here on Planet Figure covering face painting for beginners https://www.planetfigure.com/threads/painting-skin-face-basic-level-sbs.124485/ I got started with some research.

Tony Dawe’s excellent SBS seemed a bit much for my skill level but I found another article here - http://andysgreyarmy.blogspot.com/search/label/Head for the Huey that seemed a little simpler.

My first attempt turned out OK but my paint control wasn’t the best.

My next effort was smoother but I’d lost the pattern and had really overdone things when I tried to re-establish the pale outlines.

At this point I did some more research on the pattern and decided to use reference pictures as a guide. I think I’m getting somewhere now.

Obviously I’ve not made it easy for myself learning to use acrylics on an intricate cami scheme and learning to paint faces but please shout out if there’s anything that leaps out that I should work on.

I’m proposing to use this thread to record my successes and failures until I get my process down. I have a bunch of Bravo 6 miniatures and the old Kirin LRRP that I’d like to do justice.

Cheers, kempie

 

[Henk]

It's a tricky camouflage scheme, but you're getting there. That last picture, the trousers look really good. I've got some 1/16 Verlinden figures, and recently bought one of Mitche's Vietnam figures, which I want to paint in the Tigerstripe, so I'll follow this with interest.

 

[Mookie]

Think you are doing a sterling job so far.Its very tricky but think you are nailing the colours.
Well done,
Richard

 

[Zim]

The last figure looks very well done.

 

[kempie]

Many thanks gents. More progress has been made and I’ll update in the next day or so. I appreciate your encouragement!

Cheers, kempie

 

[kempie]

As I said, progress has been made. The most recent figure is near completed. I’m pretty darn happy especially when I compare it to efforts from yesteryear. Obviously room to improve but at any distance greater than a foot those disappear.

I thought about re painting the bravo6 figure shown above but decided to go large and explore the pattern in more detail. Here’s my progress on a 1/16 DML Navy Seal. I’d greatly appreciate any constructive criticism on the application, pattern whatever.

Also, after three attempts I’m moderately happy with my efforts on his face. Still need to decide if and how to apply camouflage paint.

Cheers, kempie

 

[Ferris]

That is more than decent, both the face and camouflage. Well done on your come-back!

A lot of work those camouflage uniforms, but ultimately rewarding. Especially having multiple in a group.

Perhaps consider a coat of matte varnish when you’re done. The black has a slight sheen in places. Dulling everything down will also bring the colours together. Using the matte surface you can further pull everything together by outlining belt and deeper folds with thin layers of dark brown (acrylics or oils)(not a wash!).

Looking forward to your final group.

Cheers
Adrian

 

[kempie]

Many thanks Adrian!! Will give your suggestions a go at my next bench session.

Cheers, kempie

 

[Henk]

The camouflage looks great, particularly the trousers. The lower left sleeve looks like it could use a little bit of the lighter stripey bits, but that may be the focus. (And I'm looking at it on my phone screen).

Face camouflage is a definite, guys wearing these uniforms had their whole face camo'd in a similar fashion.
Keep up the good work .

 

[Steve Brodie]

looking good

 

[Tony Dawe]

Good stuff Kempie.
It’s a challenge to paint tiger stripe and there’s many ways to achieve a good result. You’re doing a great job.

 

[kempie]

Good stuff Kempie.
It’s a challenge to paint tiger stripe and there’s many ways to achieve a good result. You’re doing a great job.

Many thanks Tony. Your varied Vietnam War projects have been of great interest and inspiration to me. Thanks for dropping in.

Cheers, kempie

 

[Steve Ski]

Tough camo pattern Kempie, looks really good, faces too. Looks like a nice set from MB.

 

[kempie]

Thanks very much Ski. I’m enjoying making progress learning how to use the acrylics. Definitely see smoother paint layers in my latest pics. Appreciate you looking in.

So progress has been made on the 1/16 SEAL. I applied the OD filter and then put in a few stages of highlights over the black, brown and green patches. Used Iraqi sand to lighten the green and brown and a self made purple for the black. Also, if you look closely at the seams and cuffs I’ve had a go at adding a texture with very thin stone grey.

I also started to paint another fig I had laying around. The face looked like a Vietnamese native so I tried to get a skin tone to match. When it worked fell I continued for the rest of that bunker session. Really quite happy how consistent I am able to create the pattern now.

Thanks once again for everyone’s encouragement and suggestions. All greatly appreciated.

Cheers, kempie

 

[kempie]

Getting close to the finish line with this one. All elements at least base painted and much has had at least initial shading and highlighting.

The ammo belt was one of the more challenging modelling tasks I have attempted but is a little underwhelming now. Lesson learned is to get it in place at the construction stage.

I think a combo of scoring the plastic between each round, gentle heat from a hair drier along with a support strip of aluminium tape on the back might get it done.

For now though, finish shading and highlighting then some initial weathering before I base it up.

Any suggestions or constructive criticism is more than welcome.

 

[Warren SMITH]

Very nice work... keep at it...