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We now move on to the uniforms and other equipment. The trousers were painted in German uniform grey which was shaded and high lighted with appropriate shades by mixing the base with either a darker green or a lighter one. The greatcoats had a dark green collar. The main coat was blocked in with a mix of German Grey and a touch of green. This gives a variation of shade between the trousers and coat. The base of the coat was again mixed to give shades of darker and lighter hues which were then washed onto the coat, and also painted onto the high points.
The boots and webbing were painted black and the gloves grey. The other pieces of equipment were also blocked in with there base coat colours.
The gas mask container was painted with a grey colour and then using a wash of a darker colour which was applied and allowed to sit in all the indents and grooves to add depth. Once dry a lighter colour was dry brushed to high light and finally a 2B pencil was used to simulate wear.
The shelter quarter is of a camouflage material and was firstly painted in a sand colour and the pattern was then applied in brown and green. This was then washed over with a much diluted sand colour to mute the colours and help tie them together. To finish, fine lines of very dark brown were then applied to simulate the actual pattern on the real item.
The mess tin was painted German Grey and washed with a dark grey/black mix, allowed to dry; a 2B pencil was used to apply the graphite to simulate the wear back to bare metal.
The water bottle was painted with a sand colour for the covering and grey for the cup. The cup was finished as for the mess tin. The covering has fasteners at its sides and these were represented with small dabs of paint. The securing strap was painted black and dry brushed with oils as previously used on the webbing and finally the buckle was painted in an aluminium colour.
The entrenching tool and its holder came next. The leather parts were done as previously stated. The wood handles of the entrenching tool and the bayonet were firstly painted a buff colour allowed to dry then a very small dab of oil paint was applied to the handle and dragged down the length of the shaft this will simulate the wood grain. The scabbard is painted black and the metal of the spade is painted in a mix of gunmetal and black. The edges of the spade are highlighted with silver/black mix and finally the pencil is used again to simulate the bright wear on the blade
The helmets were painted Field Grey, a wash was applied and then wear was simulated with the trusty pencil.
Epaulets were painted dark green and the arm of service was applied as thin outlines of white. Buttons on the great coats were painted in a mix of grey / silver and when dry outlined with a black wash.
As the figures were set in the latter part of the year with rain and sleet and wet ground they would have had mud on their clothing. This was done by using paint and pigments used for the base and tank being applied to the lower parts of the greatcoat, the front, the elbow, backs of lower arm , knees, lower leg and of course the boots.
The weapons were painted black and the metal parts dry brushed with gunmetal and the pencil used to enhance the worn parts. The wood was done in the same way as for the entrenching tool. The straps were made from paper stiffened with superglue and painted with acrylics. The sling adjusting parts were made from wine bottle tops cut and bent being attached with PVA. and superglue. When dry they were attached with super glue to the appropriate place on the weapon.
The ammo box carried by the lad with the rifle was attached to the handle which had been made from wire that had been fed through a hole drilled in the hand and bent to form a U. The distance between the arms of the U had been determined by the space between holes drilled in the top of the ammo box. The arms were cut to length and the box glued in place. The hole through the hand had no glue which meant the box hung naturally under its own weight.
