WW2 Painting Guide: Soviet Motorised Rifle Battalion with Vallejo Paints

I’ve started painting my Soviet Motorised Rifle Battalion. Only one company done so far but I thought I’d record for prosperity (and when I next pick up the brushes) how I’ve painted them. I’ve used Vallejo paints for everything.

As I mentioned in my WW2 Painting Guide: Russian Infantry the uniforms can vary from green to brown. Roland painted my first Russian Rifle Battalion in a greenish shade. I thought I’d paint this battalion in brown, following the guidelines from Flames of War, so using Vallejo paints throughout.

Apologies that a few of the figures are bit dinged. I actually painted them a while ago and wear and tear is already taking a toll.

Steps

I use the Black Undercoat Method for Painting Wargaming Figures so start with a black undercoat and then paint by numbers, leaving the black as a shadow. I only highlight a couple of items.

1. Spray black undercoat

2. Paint uniform 70880 Khaki Grey (113) then dry brush with a lighter shade¹

3. Paint helmet 70894 Russian Green (096) then dry brush with a lighter shade

4. Paint rifles 70875 Beige Brown (135)

5. Highlight machine guns and rifle barrels 70863 Gunmetal Grey (179)

6. Paint Belts and webbing 70983 Flat Earth (143)

7. Paint Packs, bags, pouches 70821 German Camouflage Beige WWII (103)

8. Paint Great Coat 70874 USA Tan-Earth (134)

9. Paint hands and faces 70815 Basic Skin Tone (017)

10. Touch up boots with 70950 Black (169)

11. Spray with matt varnish

12. Base using Flat Earth and Dry Brushing and with the appropriate Unit ID Labels. In this case Battalion Code = “M” for Motorised Rifle Battalion. Or, perhaps, (sub)Machineguns.

Notes:
(1) I made one change to the colours I recommended in my WW2 Painting Guide: Russian Infantry. In the painting guide I suggested the uniforms have a Base colour Vallejo English Uniform (141) with a Highlight Vallejo 70880 Khaki Grey (113). Here I’ve just gone for shades of Vallejo 70880 Khaki Grey (113).

Other photos