Wargames Atlantic Italians 28mm - Temperate Uniform (Painting Guide)

I have a project, a game and it requires these figures. Alternatively I saw these figures, they looked great so I decided I needed a project as an excuse to get this (see below, Wargames Atlantic - WW2 Italian Infantry): 

They were really nice to assemble and the Temperate Mediterranean (or summer Russia) option I chose meant that teh Alpini and Bersaglieri option remained on the sprue. It is a rich source of spares. As I was doing this as industrial process and the weather was good they got the light (Ghoul) grey spray can undercoat courtesy of Colour Forge (see below, whitened - ready for the painting tray or Christmas decorations. This undercoating was actually done "en masse" with various other pieces of kit that had been "assembled" for ages, their time had come): 

The Italian Order of Battle (OoB) was decided by a Chain of Command supplement/online (and is a peculiar clumsy Italian thing, technically with good LMG support but in the wrong place if you ask me - as they separate the LMGs out from the infantry squad and place it under its own command [a sergeant whereas the large ten man rifle section has a mere corporal shouting orders at it]). Note: The raw plastic which comes with a small base has been mounted on a bigger circular 25mm diameter base. PVA mixed with sand and light grit is spread over the bases for texture and left to dry. Vallejo Brown Wash (I have a large tub of this, creatively called Dipping Wash - you get the message) is applied over the figure and base. I find this gives a good "shade" start to painting the model and highlights its features nicely as the wash settles into the cracks and crevices (see below, ready for the painting tray): 

Next Steps: Follow the YouTube Painting Tutorial(s) from Sonic Sledgehammer. I used thi sfor my inspiration, but deviated to match the actual paints I had at hand (rather than slavishly going out and purchasing more - which is the way of madness [I have tread before]):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD1kMTbnc3I

Note: I recommend to follow the second video, see link below (but same Youtuber), as I believe he is using a pose closer Wargames Atlantic figure (despite it being a Warlord Games figure [?]) .. both sets are good figures but as I have the former Wargames Atlantic figure the second video makes more sense: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4oqT5dDruU

Time to start assembling the paint list and applying it! This will be incremented over time as I paint the figure also serving as a "Note to Self". 

Note: I am doing them in squad batches, starting with a rifle squad of 10 Rifles and a Corporal (also with a Rifle).

STAGE ONE: Basic Paints

• [Step 1]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Fleshtone (72.044) is applied to the exposed flesh areas (Face and two hands gripping weapons) as the "shade" over the "shade" Brown Wash.
• [Step 2]: Vallejo Model Colour - Dark Flesh (70.927) .. (although it looks pretty light to me [compared to the "brown" Dark Fleshtone of Step 1], even after shaking the bottle) as the base flesh tone. Note this deviate from teh video as I had not yet found it! My one comment is that the flesh looks a tad light and I may wash it [interestingly Sonic Sledgehammer users Red Beige (70.804) one that I don't have yet!]
• [Step 3]: Vallejo Model Colour - Olive Grey (70.888) - using this as the "shade uniform" colour over the brown wash "shade" [note, in conversation with a another good hobby painter I expect to lighten this with (70.884) Stone Grey for base and highlight later but I am following the second video at the moment].
• [Step 4]: Vallejo Model Colour US Field Drab (70.873) for blanket at bottom of backpack - which to be perfectly honest looks like the brown wash over the grey undercoat, but tidies it up and makes the colour look more solid.  
• [Step 5]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Camouflage Beige (70.821) for central part of backpack and straps.
• [Step 6]: Vallejo Model Colour - German Field Grey (70.830) for the backpack blanket and water bottle. 
• [Step 7]: Vallejo Model Colour - Beige Brown (70.875) for the rifle stock (and also for facial hair, aka the stylish Italian moustaches. Note: Black and Grey Black also an option!).
• [Step 8]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black Grey (70.862) for the boots, ammo pouches and chin strap [I also used this for the bayonet scabbard I attached to some but not all infantry models].
• [Step 9]: Vallejo Model Colour - Black (70.950) for the rifle barrel and working parts 

Extra bits added see reasons in STAGE 4 below: 

• [Step 9a]: The Red Devil Hand Grenades are painted Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Flat Red (70.957) and rehighled with the same after the Step 10: Wash. The metal (trigger) part was painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 
• [Step 9b] Leather Straps on rifles, base coated with Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) then highlighted with Vallejo Model Colour Cavalry Brown (70.972) it makes a bold statement. The metals clasps were painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 

So far so good, we have delivered a basic "base coloured" 28mm figure that resembles a WW2 Italian Infantrymen that would ret and hide on a wargames table because it does not impress the eye. My painted model differs from the one in video as I (foolishly?) also dipped the figure in Vallejo Brown Wash before painting (see below, facing front - rather basic and if truth be told a little "too green" in the uniform department - it needs to be faded):

And from the back (see picture below): 

This is where we differ from the traditional painting I grew up with through the first thirty years of my hobby. That was the "undercoat-shade-hase-highlight" mantra, where you effectively painted each figure three times (and wish your hobby time away). In the modern twentieth first century chemistry now performs "black magic on the figure.

STAGE TWO: Black Magic

Gather eye of newt and wing of bat and drop it into the boiling cauldron. Alternatively ..

• [Step 10]: Mix three drops of Army Painter Strong Tone Wash with two drops of Army Painter Mixing Medium which tones and dilutes the effect. Then smear it liberally all over the poor Italian Infantryman!
• [Step 11]: Let it dry for 30 mins! So go cut the grass of something and do not come back early!

What he looks like after the "Black Magic" chemistry has taken effect (see below, he is now certainly shaded but perhaps maybe overly so, he definitely needs highlighting with the "base colours" and perhaps additional highlighting, lightening the "base colours" to be done):

• [Step 12]: Do not panic, we are not finished yet .. so you have not ruined the miniature, as it still only looks half right! We now go back to Stage One and selectively repeat Steps One through to Nine again but this time selectively highlighting not completely covering!
• [Step 13]: Exception we have to do something different with the uniform, as it is still too green. Solution either mix [5:1] ratio of (70.888) Vallejo Model Colour Olive Green with (70.846) Vallejo Model Colour Dark Sand or (70.884) Vallejo Model Colour Stone Grey. This should "fade" the uniform"!
• [Step 14]: Highlight the rifle shiny parts with Vallejo Model Color Gunmetal (70.863).

End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, starting to look the business):

End of Stage 2 from the Front (see below, nice detailing on the peculiar backpack - you get to like it n the end) 

STAGE THREE: Protect and Survive

• [Step 15]: Vallejo Fleshtone Wash (73.204) is applied to face and hands. Highlight with Vallejo Model Colour Dark Flesh (70.927) - believe me it is not dark, it is light!
• [Step 16]: Ultra-Matt Lucky Varnish (Ammo Mig) the figure, this is to dull down any glossy bits for consistency and give an invisible layer of protection [against greasy wargamer figures].
• [Step 17]: The eyes have it, crazy white sockets and black pupil [optional madness]. White horizontal slash  make and eye orbit area - then Black dot for a pupil. It will be messy. Dark Flesh around to tidy corners of eyes on face. 
• [Step 18]: Terrain basing, paint outer rim brown, two tone the brown on the base, flock and add a touch of static grass. 

STAGE FOUR: Experience told me this after painting some more figures!

The first figure I painted did not have a Red Devil hand grenade or a strap on its rifle. 

• [Step 9a]: The Red Devil Hand Grenades are painted Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Flat Red (70.957) and rehighled with the same after the Step 10: Wash. The metal (trigger) part was painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 
• [Step 9b] Leather Straps on rifles, base coated with Vallejo Game Dark Fleshtone (70.044) then highlighted with Vallejo model Colour Leather Brown (70.871) . The metals clasps were painted Vallejo Model Colour Black Grey (70862) and then highlighted Vallejo Model Colour Gunmetal (70.863). 

PROTOTYPE TESTER FIGURE: End Point

Note: Current status - I am still WIP through the Wargames Atlantic packet of  figures:

PAINTING ACTIVITY CHART:

Sections Done:

• None

Doing:

• Rifle Squad One (1 done of 11 Figures)

Still To Do:

• Platoon Command HQ (1 Figure)
• Rifle Squad Two (11 Figures)
• MG Section One (9 Figures)
• MG Section Two (9 Figures)

More videos from YouTube about Wargames Atlantic WWII Italian Infantry: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv23vp4LEGY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHWH50nRAY0

Painting Italian WW2 Infantry Article:

https://nodicenoglory.com/painting-world-war-two-italians/

Making the MMG: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q10w9RWSW5c

Italian WW2 Infantry Platoon for Chain of Command (Wargames Atlantic Figures)

Two packets (32 figures each) of Wargames Atlantic WWII Italian Infantry allow a Chain of Command basic platoon plus some extra infantry supports (another squad, plus SMG upgrades and extra pioneers/engineers [people with spades] specialists). Altogether a nice entertaining project (see below, housed in the carefully "husbanded" [much to the annoyance of the long suffering wife] butter and margarine tubs - we seem to eat a lot of dairy products that might not be good for my cholesterol):    

The mass assembly complete and the weather outside favourable meant it was spray painting time (see below, attacked from four quarters the Italians take on the subtle sheen of Ghoul Grey courtesy of "The Colour Forge" [www.thecolourforge.com] 500ml spray can): 

Next stage is to grit the base (PVA, sand and grit) before putting over a Vallejo Brown "Dipping Wash". Please note the cute CV33 AFV tucked in amongst the infantry (see below, provided as a generous Xmas gift from Renko, to the chagrin of the Greeks): 

The intention is to paint the platoon up in "homeland european green" to fight the Greeks in 1940/41.

Latest 28mm WW2 Project

These are just beautiful figures from Wargames Atlantic - Italian WW2 Infantry (see below, two boxes needed for a 1940 Italian Infantry Platoon): 

I am in the process of building up a force for Chain of Command. The source of this interest came from a recent holiday to Italy (an absolutely beautiful country) and Rome is the Eternal City. In addition, on my return, I started reading this book (see below, basically everything you wanted to know about the Italians in WWII but were afraid to ask - a highly recommended read): 

Also useful, is this assembly and painting guide for the Wargames Atlantic WW2 Italian Infantry (see below, Wargames Atlantic page watch-listen-learn and be inspired to so it yourself [the video is really useful]): 

https://wargamesatlantic.com/blogs/news/valhalla-reviews-the-ww2-italians?srsltid=AfmBOoqszIwSdZIKvxmyl57Z2d1NvoieHkTJRMRt7MYSYfUDrWPkhAAe

Happy days ahead. Watch this space for updates!

10mm Pendrakon Western Desert Italians Storage

Finally with several layers of PVA'ed breakfast cereal cardboard reinforcing the bottom of the empty chocolate box the Italians have a secure home (for storage purposes at least, their lifespan on a wargames table against the Matildas of the 8th Army may be open to conjecture). Internally the ever useful coffee stirrers garnered from coffee establishments when they were open become excellent dividers (see below, infantry divided from armour and supports and subdivided into:  various types of armour - infantry v infantry support - anti-tank assets, recon and HQ): 

Altogether a nice excuse to treat the family to chocolates and then put the "upgraded firm bottomed" box to good use.

The First Corona Project Completed: An Italian Western Desert Task Force

Next comes the armour (see below, there may be fifty shades of grey but I am using three grades of sand on top of one layer of primer that gets washed in "Vallejo Brown Wash"):

I took one vehicle (M11/39) through to completion to get a feel of what to do (see below, kinda got it, taking Green Ochre (914), mixing it with Buff (976) and finally highlighting in pure Buff):

The tracks were initially painted in Flat Brown (984) and the highlighted in Gun Metal, flowed by a Black Wash and further Gun Metal highlight (see below, primed and ready for action):

From another angle coming at you (see below, the 47mm gun is the hull is anachronistic, the Italians only ever bothered equipping two battalions in the Western Desert with them, but a tank is still a tank when the other side does not have one):

The finished one alongside the other painted in the base coat Green Ochre (914) on the 40mm bases (see below, the Italian armoured column is taking shape):

The 10mm Western Desert Italian Project (see below, Infantry done, supports painted and half based, armour just started painting):

Pause for thought .. mu eldest wanted some help painting a D&D figure (Iron Golem) so while he was learning the secrets of "bronze armour" - I also experimented with Citadel Texture pain and under-painted bases (see red-orange-yellow). The idea being you paint over the bright colours in thick back texture paint goo. The goo dries, cracks and the colours of hell seep through the cracks. It can be extremely dramatic and very effective. Part way through this process I thought - they would be quite good as Chain of Command "shock markers (see below, the acolyte in training and are those "shock markers" I see?): 

An aerial shot of the painting table (see below, 28mm WWII British Infantry sprues on the top left, 28mm GW Fantasy bottom left, 10mm Pendrakon WWII Italians in the middle):

A close-up of the WIP 10mm Italians (see below, I am having second thoughts on how "light" the sand is on the finished infantry bases):

The Italians from another angle (see below, in the background you can see the bottom half of a Steve Young San Fran QB "Action Figure" - although it has to be said I am more of a Joe Montana fan):

An artistic shot of the Painting Table and a hint at my bookshelf (see below, a lot of Vallejo Paints [and unopened can of Carlsberg Export] - including duplicates - see previous post for details):

Another look at those bases (see below, they definitely look like "shock markers" to me): 

The Italian armoured column gets a Green Ochre and Buff 50:50 mix (see below, I can see the effect coming on nicely):

Buff highlight and I think we are there. Other bits, exhausts Flat Brown with Red Leather Highlight. Spades and MGs, black with Gun Metal highlight, tyres black with a mixed a dark grey highlight (see below, based on PVA dunked in sand and grit, soaked with an Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown diluted wash):

Now came a a depressing moment when I took yet another look at the infantry basing and finally accepted that they were too light (see below, I preferred the look of the infantry supports and armour): 

The horrible answer was to Brown Wash the bases and start from the mid-tone up again (see below, once I had done one base I knew it was the right thing to do, that way they were all based the same too - which as a collection works better IMHO):

Finally painted awaiting a matte varnish (see below, after all the effort I put into these I decided I was not going to skimp on a varnish to make the wargaming figures more "wearable" or protect from hand-to-hand contact or is that clumsy handling combat?):

The Italian Infantry package (see below, note the alternative use of a chocolate box - which needs a bit of strengthening and interior divisions, so they don't all end up in a heap in transport):

The "Final Showcase I" (see below, head-on a furious sight of Italian armour and infantry in rapid advance):

The "Final Showcase II" (see below, side-on - a nice target for artillery):

The Italian Army is now in search of the British Western Desert Force (WDF) under General Richard O'Connor.

More importantly in the context of current world events - this is my first (perhaps of many) Corona Virus Lock-Down [UK] Projects.

Painting Italian 10mm Supports: ATG, HMG and Mortar

The bare silver supports based on 40mm and 30mm wooden discs (see below, ATG - Mortar - HMG):

The crews mounted on coffee stirrer strips (see below, those are quite hard to come by just now, gulp):

Primed with Airfix Acrylic Primer and washed in Vallejo Brown Dipping Wash (see below, this is following the standard infantry painting pattern):

The uniforms are done (see below, Vallejo Desert Yellow with Vallejo Buff mixed in for the highlights):

Supports are painted (see below, Vallejo Desert Yellow)

The crews follow the standard Italia Infantry painting scheme (see below, I am not sure how accurate but the HMGs went from black, to gunmetal, to washed black to dull down, to fine highlights of gunmetal):

The supports are ready for their base texturing (see below, the Italian Infantry seem to be well endowed with supports - the large figure in the background is a D&D Clay Golem monster that he was painting at the same time):

Next: Basing the supports and moving onto the Italian AFVs

Western Desert Italians 10mm Basing

From the coffee stirrers to the 40mm wooden bases (see below, as previously mentioned I had picked the circular bits of wood up from the The Works and annoyingly since that time I have not seen them in the shop again):

The bases get a matte undercoat of Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown (see below, at this point the magic of basing seems to be almost detracting from the paint job):

The (literal) sand-box (or rather box of sand) and watered-down PVA craft glue stage. The PVA is watered down to improve its spread-ability and the sand-box is there for an unsophisticated "dunking and shake around" (see below, a nice passable effect - note, sometimes several PVA applications and dunks were needed, it was left to dry overnight): 

Then a watered down solution of Anita's Acrylic Coffee Brown (almost a wash) was applied to the base and soaked up by the sand (see below, again left to dry overnight or at least for a few hours, letting the base solidify for the wet/dry brushing stage):

A bit of experimentation was required. I didn't want to waste the more expensive Vallejo paints n the basing (call me a snob but I reserve then for plastic and metal work) so a little bit of mixing was required as I brought out a range of Anita Acrylics 'yellows' (see below, the basic sand colour was achieved by mixing Golden Yellow with Lemon Yellow in a 40:60 percentage):

Lightening the base layer up with highlights ... experimenting with increasing dosages of Anita Acrylics Lemon Yellow and Antique White (see below, a mixture of "wet brushing", "dabbing" to a pretty much dry brush"):

Examining the result ... from the reverse angle (see below, passing inspection to my eyes):

Does it work though ... (see below, I think so, and after all it is 10mm to be viewed from at least four foot away):

The three settled production stages ... undercoat (shade) brown .. yellow/white (base) mix and highlight bleached yellow (see below, the progression to the end): 

A final dry brush of white ... that is using Anita Acrylics Antique White (see below, applied sparingly where "less is more"):

The final product (see below, a very bright bleached white for the Western Desert, a nice parched feel to it for those going "Up The Blue" - battalion or company [depending on the rules you use] Italian Western Desert Infantry Force):

With the basic Infantry done, it is time to move onto the support weapons (MG, Mtr, ATG) and vehicles (tanks, AC and lorry).