I need some help with winter cammo. Ive posted before but didnt get much feedback. Any techniques that you can share would help. I was thinking about powders but...

I hope it helps
[url=http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/helpdesk.asp[/url]

Well, I'm no expert on winter camo on models, but on "the real thing" we use a white wash. I.e. on a three color camoflage scheme the black or darkest colour should be over painted with a whitewash. You could probably replicate the whitewash with diluted white acrylics.

Erik

Thanks bk47 yes it does

Hope you get more response this time round Anthony. Apart from pigment powder which i mentioned you in last thread, another method i have observed been used really effectively is using the airbrush and thinning down the white colour and spraying it from a distance to get a more spread effect. I noticed this is essential as snow never concentrates on a certain area of a model unless you hope to see pockets of snow residue depicting the model having been out in the snow in a stationary position.

I guess the real question is, do you want to have a textured look to your winter cammo or a more flat look. Pigment allows you to achieve the former while airbrushing achieves the latter.

Im not sure which era you are trying to achieve but for example if its was a WW2 era that you are going for, the allies used to cover their shermans with bedsheets to provide better camo against the snowy backdrop.

This is a broad question... What war? Year? Country? Tank? Clothing?

Hi Anthony,

Well, there are indeed many answers to your broad question. You'll find that you will get more responses if you ask more detailed questions...

However, if you mean winter camo for vehicles, the best way is to try to 'replicate' the original method, to scale off course.
The Germans in WW II used for example an overall coat of white paint or white wash, which would gradually wear off, depending on the theatre.
I use maskol to create the wear, as on this Pzr IV



The Americans used a much runnier white wash, and often used mops or buckets to apply it. They often are more 'streaky' than the German ones. I did this Sherman with a very diluted white paint, applied with downward strokes, in multiple layers to achive the depth.



If it's thin enough it will create the run down streaks of the 'field applied' ( i.e. thrown on with a bucket.. there is a great picture in the 'M10 tankdestroyers' book from the Tank in detail series of a tanker throwing white wash on an M10 in the Ardennes) white wash.

The method of spraying it from a distance gives good results if you want to create a ' slowly faded' camoflage, but that really works best with non front line vehicles, as they would not be subjected to the punishment that wears and damages the camo of front line vehicles. This method works great on staff cars or similair.

If you need to know more about figure camo, post your question in the 'figure forum' as there are some great figure painters on this site.

Cheers
Henk

Ty all for your help!!