Mixing paint question

[Pmuranyi]

Hi! does any one know how to mix colors for WWII Olive Drab or Olive green? I want to make my own and dont just want to buy pre-made. I would like to know how to mix OD#3 and OD#7 paint. I know there are loads of company's that make them but I have a specific project that i have to adjust the colors just so and all of the store stuff does not match quite right.

Any help would be appreciated!

Paul

[mpguy80/08]

I dont know the exact formulations and ratios, but sometimes you have to choose another similar color to achieve the effect you are looking for. Another factor you need to take into account is scale effect... The smaller the scale, the lighter the color needs to be. For OD #3, I use several different colors, used in a base, shadow and highlight method. I use predominently Testors Model Master paints, with a mix of Tamiya acrylics. I'll list the paints I use here.

 

For OD #3 (M1941 Field Jacket and M1923 and M1936 web gear sets):

 

Base color:

Testors Model Master SAC Bomber Tan FS 34201

or

Testors Model Master Dark Earth ANA 617

or

Testors Model Master 1941 Khaki Braun

or

Tamiya XF-49 Khaki

 

Shadow tint:

Water based Acrylic craft paint Burnt Umber or Dark Umber (applied to folds and shadowed areas)

 

Highlight:

Testors Model Master Armor sand, FS 30277 (drybrushed)

or

Testors Model Master Middlestone ANA 615

 

Keep in mind that OD #3 is indeed, a shade of green, not Khaki as most people think. You can lighten or darken these colors with lighter or darker shades by the same company:

 

Testors MM -----> Testors MM

Tamiya ----------> Tamiya

 

For OD #7 M1943 Field Uniform and HBT (Herringbone Twill):

 

Base Color:

 

Testors Model Master FS 34087

or

OD ANA 613

 

Shadow tint is a darkened shade of the base color

 

Highlights:

 

I use testors Model Master faded Olive Drab lightened with Armor sand FS 30277

 

I try to vary the shades of the uniforms in any groups of figures. Lighter, darker, no two uniforms would look the same shade.

 

For the M1937 wool uniform worn under the M1941 or M1943 field uniforms, I use:

 

Shirt: Testors Model Master 1941 Khaki Braun

 

M1937 Wool Serge Trousers: Testors Model Master Field Drab FS 30118

 

Another thing to keep in mind is the USE of HBTs, or Herringbone Twill Uniforms, which were also worn over the Wool Uniforms. These uniforms were OD, and would be just a shade or two lighter than the M1943 Uniforms. The fabric was a little different than the M1943s, and faded a little quicker than the 43s.

 

I hope this helps you in your search for the proper colors for your OD#3 and OD#7 gear and uniforms.

 

Wayne

[SGM (ret.)]

Here's what works for me:

 

Start with an undercoat of any acrylic color (you could also undercoat with enamals, but you need to allow through drying time for them) that is close and a shade lighter that what you're going for at the end. Then for OD and khaki-

 

Ivory Black and Yellow Ochre oil paints with a smidge of various Raw or Burnt umbers will create any shade of OD and khaki (by adding bit of white). Add a touch of blue, red, white, or Payne's gray to vary the tint to the specifc color you want.

 

Oils are the easiest and most flexible paints, IMO, to use for figures. However, you cannot argue with the results that some of the masters get with layering filters of thinned acrylics. As for myself, I find that method just too tedious and time consuming. But the results can be spectacular.

 

Oils over acrylic undercoats will get you 95%+ the results in 1/3 the time, though, and if you're willing to put in the time with oils, the results can be just as good as any other technique. Another advantage of oils is that with only 8-10 different colors in the tube, you can create just about any other color (to include all the flesh tones). This makes oils an economical way to paint, as well.

 

Have you tried asking on any of the military model building forums? If not, try:

 

Track-Link

 

Missing-lynx

 

There are also a ton of figure modeling web sites that often have detailed step-by-step articles on various painting techniques.

 

Develope a good technique that works for you rather than worrying about exact color matches in the jar. Once you have a technique that works for you, you'll be able to handle any color issues.

 

Here are a couple of figures that I painted using the above method. The brownish khaki and light khaki are just variations on the same oil paints. (Mods: I know this is a US forum, and these guys are a Canadian sapper and armored car crewman, but please endulge me this one exception to the rule to illustrate the point. The armored car is a US built Staghound!)

 

 

 

 

 

Fell free to PM me or ask any other questions here.

[SGM (ret.)]

Oops, the file sizes were too large for both snaps.

 

Here's the Staghound commander. Also painted in oils over acrlyics. I usually airbrush the large acrylic areas over a primer coat. This included on these two figures, the uniform areas and faces and hands (with a little simple masking). I brush painted the undercoats for the detail uniform items, then layered the oils over them starting with the faces and hands, then the large uniform areas, followed by the smaller uniform items and lastly the insignia.

[Pmuranyi]

Wow thanks! Spot on with info! Both posts are chocked full of great information. I will get to the project this week now!

Thanks so much for the killer ideas!!!!!!! :thumbsup:

Paul