World War II has always been a favorite gaming period of mine, and it seems to be growing in popularity here in the Northwest. I'm sure this surge of interest is due in large part to the excellent release of 15mm figures and vehicles from Old Glory, Skytrex: and Peter Pig. Many of us in the area have already purchased and painted quite a large number of figures from these ranges, myself included.

Painting WW II uniforms are probably the easiest historical subject for us all to paint, being basically varying shades of greens and browns. But there is one uniform that I'm sure gives us all headaches, and that is the many variations of the camouflage worn by the Waffen SS.

I have tried many different techniques to paint these smocks, to no avail. After studying the spring and autumn patterns, I now have a technique that is fairly easy and looks very good. And I would now like to share my technique with my fellow gamers out there.

I start with a black primer. When this is dry I apply a base color of Polly S'Earth Red Brown'. Then highlight the base color with the same color lightened with white. After this, use Polly S'Black Green' and paint large irregular blotches, leaving the base color visible between the blotches. Then, using the same Black Green, paint tiny spots on the still visible areas of the base color. Do not go very heavy with these spots.

The next color is Polly S'WarPac Gray Green'. Use this to paint the centers of the blotches of Black Green. You should leave a border of the Black Green showing between the WarPac Gray Green and the base color. Apply tiny spots of the WarPac Gray Green to the Black Green borders and spots and to the base color. Again, do not go too heavy with these spots. Finally, put spots of Black Green on the areas of WarPac Gray Green. As always when applying the spots, do not go too heavy.

This same method works for the autumn pattern also. Use a base of Howard Hues 'Canvas', substitute Howard Hues 'Rifle Butt' for the Black Green and Polly S 'Intemational Orange'for the WarPac Gray Green.

For those of you who use a white primer and wash method, you need only apply a wash of the base color and then paint on the other colors the same way as with the black primer method.

I hope you can understand what I have described on this technique from my drawing. If you still can't make heads or tails of it, I do demonstrations one in a while at Fantastic Games in Lynnwood. I would be more than happy to show you in person how to do this technique and others I have.

I hope you give this a try. In the future, I intend to write about other painting techniques, and how to build gaming terrain and accessories.