How to paint WWII Japanese tanks using only a brush

18 August 2025 No re.

This article was originally published on the Battlefront website. In previous tutorials, we explored different methods for painting camouflage on tanks using soft- or (this, for example) hard-edge patterns (this and this, for example), with or without masking. These techniques typically involved the use of an airbrush, a tool that can seem intimidating to many hobbyists. In reality, however, airbrushing is quite easy, and I highly recommend giving it a try if you have not already. The most critical aspect is cleaning the airbrush properly after each session, and always remember to thin your paints. That said, in this tutorial…

How to Paint Paper Panzers

1 February 2025 2 Re.

In this article, we will explore how to create an anachronistic WWII camouflage, a “splinter camo”, commonly used by scale modelers for “what if” tanks and prototypes, such as the iconic German E series. To achieve this, we will use masking tapes to create an intricate tri-tone camouflage, where each color is carefully highlighted to create a striking contrast. This article was originally published on the Battlefront website, Part 1 and Part 2. The “What If” tanks open up endless possibilities for experimenting with color schemes and camouflage. Since these tanks never existed, the creative freedom is limitless. However, it…

How to paint WH30K Night Lords

16 July 2024 No re.

After several years of wanting to start painting a Horus Heresy Legion army, I finally had the chance to do it. I chose the Night Lords, a Legion that is perhaps a bit underrepresented compared to others but features a beautiful color scheme and rich lore. I finished painting the first squad and decided to write a tutorial using the last miniature. Instead of the official painting scheme, which is very dark blue often with lightning on the armor, I opted for a desaturated and slightly greenish blue inspired by some great painters such as @loyalistareboring and @Maybug_Games on Instagram.…

How to create urban rubble bases

3 March 2024 2 Re.

In a couple of weeks, I will be attending the Flames of War National tournament in Finland (Talvisota 2024), for which I have spent the last few months assembling a new German army. Given that the theme of the army is Berlin, 1945, I wanted to craft something unique for the bases of the infantry and Flak 88 guns. In this tutorial, I will demonstrate how to create urban bases with debris in a straightforward, efficient, and effective manner. While this tutorial primarily targets 15mm miniatures (Battlefront), its principles are adaptable to other scales or projects with the simple adjustment…

How to create desert bases

3 December 2022 No re.

In the previous post we discussed one way to paint true metallic metal gold using as an example model a unit of LOTR Easterling (28mm, Games-Workshop). Now, we will see how to finish these miniatures by making desert bases. According to my experience, one of the most difficult aspects of this hobby for newcomers (and also for veterans!) is how to make the bases. Probably one reason for this is that bases are not painted, but created. That is, we need to generate a texture and add 3D elements such as rocks, plants, debris, etc. Luckily, the market is full…

Warhammer 40.000 tanks II

22 April 2019 4 Re.

After couple of years, I finally manage to finish the second Leman Russ tank for my Genestealer Cult army. This is another beautiful model from Forge World. It is a Leman Russ Destroyer, a tank hunter. To maintain certain coherence with the previous Leman Russ Mars I painted, I added air filters and the rear extension to cross trenches from another Forge World kit, as well as some track armour pieces. Choosing the painting scheme was not easy. I did not want to exactly repeat the same green color I previously used. After asking around and checking different sources for…

Extreme weathering in 15mm: Mark IV

14 September 2016 No re.

Almost two years ago I received a number of lovely 15mm WWI tanks from Battlefront Miniatures, and I started immediately working on a video-tutorial to explain how to paint a British Mark IV tank. I completed the first part of the tutorial regarding how to paint the base color and published the video (see below). Nevertheless, the poor quality of the video discouraged me from recording a second part. Instead, I put the tank into a box with the idea of buying a new video camera in the future. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance (nor the money) to buy…

How to paint a British Sherman tank, and a new book: Painting Wargame Tanks

18 November 2014 2 Re.

It is a great pleasure to announce a new book published by AMMO of Mig Jimenez where I have actively been collaborating beside Mig Jimenez and Carlos Cuesta. The book contains 96 pages. After a short introduction about general materials and techniques (differences between acrylics and enamels, what is a filter or a wash, how to clean the airbrush…) you can find ten complete painting guides “step by step” of different tanks (mostly Germans, but there are also from USA and Soviet Union). The three firsts pretend to assimilate the knowledge showed in the introduction (we can say “basic level”),…

Working with the terrain I

14 September 2014 No re.

There are many ways to represent the sand base in our models or dioramas. We can just fix modeling sand with white glue and then paint it, we can use ready-to-use products, we can sculpt the texture, etc. In this post I want to explain another simple way using sands and clays from nature. You can find more information about how I preprared the vignete in the last issue of Wargames: Soldiers&Strategy. This way is not the best or the worst, it is just another way. I like it because I don’t have to paint the sand and therefore I…

How to paint 15mm tanks: German spider mech

23 February 2014 No re.

While I am learning new hobbies (and sports) in this lovely Finish land, such as ice swimming, ice hockey or cross-country ski, I had enough time to paint and prepare a painting guide featuring an interesting Panzermech from ClockWork Goblin miniatures. I love this theme! In the past, I painted a couple of walkers from DreamPod9, and I currently attempt to paint as many E-series tanks as I can from Forged in Battle or Heer46. All in 1/100 scale or 15mm, of course!, my preferred scale. In this occasion, I’ve prepared a complete painting guide. However, I want to notice…