Bolt Action - Painting Guide for DAK – A beginners Guide

Hey all, so I am almost finished an army for the indomitable Old Man Morin who’s thirst for new armies knows no bounds however his ability to find time to paint them all is as likely as just splashing a new coat on the Great Wall of China in a week.   He presented me with an army of Deutsche Afrika Corp (DAK) to knock over and I accepted the challenge with anticipation as I have been really keen to try out some techniques I have been learning from reading the Painting War.

Now I am nowhere near as proficient or talented a painter as other members of this site but I like to think that I can produce effective tabletop miniatures in a manner that anyone can do regardless of experience or skill level. I have also found that there are a lot of really nice guides out there but that sometimes the techniques seem a little intimidating for a beginner painter or someone who has been doing something a certain way for a while.

 

Here is a guide on how to paint the DAK uniform just like I have done here, it may not be technically correct or historically accurate but it looks effective on the table and for beginners and those looking to expand past single coats and washes may be very rewarding.

I started off by using a bone coloured primer from the Army Painter spray can range (with one bottle you could do a couple of these armies so I find them very useful). You could use any light coloured primer but I found the bone to be closer to the feel I wanted. Remember if you use a dark primer your colours will naturally be darker, for dudes always in the blazing hot sun I feel light colours are more appropriate. 

 I then did the first coats, the uniform is brown Vallejo Brown Violet 70.887  , the flesh is Vallejo Tan 72066 with the rest being Vallejo German Pale Brown 70.825 and Vallejo Tan Yellow 70.912. You may think the colour is really dark initially however once we start blending only the recesses will remain this colour.

Next step is a 50/50 Brown Violet 70.887 and Vallejo Desert Yellow 70.977 and this is used to paint over all the highlighted areas that will be blended more, leave the recesses as the original colour.

 For the next phase you can just go straight  Desert Yellow 70.977 but make sure you leave some of the previous colour showing towards the edge of the areas you paint leading into the recesses. This helps to show a layered effect.

 We then move to a Vallejo Panzer Aces Highlights British Tanker 321. Paint smaller areas focusing on the higher areas and peaks of uniform creases.

 Last colour we introduce is Vallejo Ivory White 70.918, mix this in a 50/50 with the British Uniform and highlight areas you think need it, remember that bold highlights stand out more so do not be shy in applying this but be careful of not letting it take over.

 I then use the Army Painter soft tone ink to black line certain areas to make then stand out as well as enhancing the darker areas, remember that most of the work should have been done by the layering so small applications only, splashing It on should not be required.

I have used the following on the other aspects of the troops, it just the colour only as there are plenty of other guides on flesh etc:

•             Gun Metal Grey for the SMG and goggles, with a splash of black blue wash;

•             Tan Yellow 70.912 for the pouches with some Army Painter Strong Tone wash;

•             German light brown for the webbing straps and water bottle cover;

•             Black for the boots; and

•             Tan Flesh blended with dwarf skin and ivory for the flesh tones.

Good Luck!