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Just before the release of our Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) Chevrolet trucks we sent a few out early on patrol – a set of which found it’s way into the more than capable hands of our friend Patch over at wwpd:

IMG_8316 LRDG

Patch: The vehicles are resin with metal crew and weapons, and are easily some of the finest vehicles I have seen, with a huge amount of integrated stowage. There is no need to add anything to these vehicles. You may need to straighten up some of the resin with some hot water and clean-up some excess flash (How to work with resins article), but this should only take you a few minutes, then on to painting:

IMG_8315 LRDG

Preparation

Using plasticard I put down a layer of Spakfilla (Pollyfilla) with some sprinklings of sand and small rocks to create the base. This stage is totally optional and not for everyone. Once dry, I glue the vehicle down and prime first with an Army Painter Black spray. I then like to use an Army Painter white spray and with the can facing directly above the miniature spray lightly, this has an effect of highlighting everything while keeping the lower portions dark and will help later as you add layers of colour to create depth.

IMG_8226 (2) LRDG

You will need a brush, some foam from a blister pack and something along the lines of the following colours:

Vallejo Model Color 977 Desert Sand
Vallejo Model Color 912 Tan Yellow
Vallejo Panzer Aces 321 Highlight British Uniform
Vallejo Game Color 72.034 Bonewhite
Army Painter Strong Tone Ink
AK Interactive AK720 Rubber Tyres
Vallejo Game Color 72.042 Parasite Brown
Vallejo Model Color 981 Red Brown
Vallejo Model Color 826 German Dark Cam Medium Brown
Vallejo Model Color 983 Flat Earth
Vallejo Model Color 826 German Beige Brown
Vallejo Model Color 924 Russian Uniform
Vallejo Model Air 052 German Grey
Army Painter Army Green

Vehicle Body

Stage 1 – Paint the vehicle with (70.977) Desert Sand Vallejo Model Color

IMG_8228 LRDG stage 1

Stage 2 – Wash the vehicle with Army Painter Strong Tone.

IMG_8229 LRDG stage 2

Stage 3 – Using some blister pack foam blot the raised areas with (70.977) Desert Sand Vallejo Model Color (normal procedure applies to blot off most of the paint on tissue paper before applying in dabs to vehicle). Ensure you leave the recesses dark and make the areas deliberately uneven.

IMG_8230 LRDG stage 3

Stage 4 – Using blister pack foam, this time with (70.912) Tan Yellow Vallejo Model Color, trying to concentrate on blotting the areas that would get the most light.

IMG_8231 LRDG Stage 4

Stage 5 – Continue the blister pack foam blotting with (321) Highlight British Uniform Vallejo Panzer Aces, this time within a smaller area again.

IMG_8232 (2) LRDG Stage 5

Stage 6 – Finally use the (72.034) Bonewhite Vallejo Game Color as a final highlight to areas that would get the most amount of sun.

IMG_8233 (2) stage 6

Stage 7 – (Optional) This is the part where I add the chipping to the paintwork. I like it as it adds that veteran look and provides some contrast to the light colours. I use (71.052) German Grey Vallejo Model Air to do the chipping and some blister pack foam in a random manner with most of the attention given to the most exposed areas.

Stage 8 – Using the (AK720) Rubber Tyres from AK Interactive, paint the wheels. This paint is very thin, so be careful not to put paint on the actual rims. Once dry you can use the (72.034) Bonewhite Vallejo Game Color to drybrush and make the wheels looks dusty.

IMG_8245 (2) stage 7

Stage 9 – Now it is time for the stowage. I used four main colour schemes – dark brown, red brown, sand and green. These all follow the same technique which is base colour – wash – base colour – lighter colour (smaller area) – lightest colour (just the highlights).

IMG_8306 LRDG

 

Dark Brown – Large tarps, some smaller stowage

Vallejo Model Color 826 German Dark Cam Medium Brown
Army Painter Strong Tone Ink
Vallejo Model Color 983 Flat Earth
Vallejo Model Color 826 German Beige Brown

Red Brown – Wood, rifle stocks etc.

Vallejo Game Color 042 Parasite Brown
Army Painter Strong Tone Ink
Vallejo Model Color 981 Red Brown
Vallejo Game Color 034 Bonewhite (mix with red brown for final highlight)

Green – some cloth type stowage

Vallejo Model Color 924 Russian Uniform
Army Painter Strong Tone Ink
Army Painter Army Green

Sand – some cloth type stowage

Vallejo Model Color 912 Tan Yellow
Vallejo Panzer Aces 321 Highlight British Uniform
Vallejo Game Color 034 Bonewhite

IMG_8306 LRDG

Troops

I used the following for the light coloured uniforms:

Vallejo Panzer Aces 321 Highlight British Uniform
Army Painter Strong Tone ink
Vallejo Game Color 034 Bonewhite

And for the green coloured jumpers I used these:

Vallejo Model Color 924 Russian Uniform
Army Painter Strong Tone Ink
Army Painter Army Green

Flesh

Vallejo Game Color 041 Dwarf Skin
Army Painter Strong Tone ink
Vallejo Game Color 034 Bonewhite (mixed with dwarf skin)

IMG_8307 (2) LRDG

General Tips

The sponge technique is a really great way to get a controlled variation in colour throughout your vehicle and most people have these just sitting around. Tear off a corner of a blister pack sponge and give it a go. This technique can also be used with other colour vehicles like green for Allied M4s or Dunkelgelb for German tanks. This hobby is all about trying new things to get slightly different effects, so challenge yourself on your next project!

My highlights on the stowage are extreme – subtlety is great but if you want them to ‘pop’ you have to have nice contrast between the light and dark variations of the colour.

I hope this guide is a help to some out there. Like anything, there are a million ways to do it and if you get even something small out of it then that makes it worth it. Happy painting!

IMG_8308 (2) LRDG

If you want to know more about collecting your elite unit, for either the desert or European theatres then check out this article on the LRDG & SAS:

View LRDG SAS Article

And then get into action with this special scenario from Bolt Action rules writer Alessio Cavatore:

View Scenario Article

rp_wgb-ps-23-8th-army-paint-set.jpeg

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