Chicago Dice Paints Bolt Action BEF from Wargames Atlantic

I’m trying something new with this one. Unlike my previous Chicago Dice Paints article, this is not a full step-by-step of the painting process. Instead, this guide provides the paints I used and the high-level phases to paint a 1940 BEF solider in France. Big shout to Chris Hindmarsh for the inspiration and to Sonic Sledgehammers for the Paint & Review: Wargames Atlantic British Expeditionary Force [How I Paint Things] video that I used as a starting point.

All the models shown are from the excellent Wargames Atlantic British Expeditionary Force plastic kit.

0. Prime

  • Prime Black or Dark Brown.
  • Spray with Vallejo English Uniform rattlecan.

1. Basecoats

  • Uniform and field caps:
    • Basecoat the uniform with Vallejo English Uniform.
  • Helmet (Uncovered):
    • Basecoat with Vallejo Brown Violet. 
  • Webbing, gators, backpacks, water bottle straps, entrenching tool holster, belts:
    • Basecoat with Vallejo Russian Uniform.
  • Gasmask cap/bedroll:
    • Basecoat with Citadel Death Korp Drab.
  • Helmet straps, pistol holster, bedroll straps, belts:
    • Basecoat with Scale75 Brown Leather.
  • Water bottle case:
    • Basecoat Vallejo German Camo Black Brown.
  • Rifle stocks, entrenching tool handle, bayonet handle:
    • Basecoat with Citadel Rhinox Hide.
    • Layer with Citadel Mournfang Brown.
  • Rifle sling, gasmask case and helmet covers:
    • Basecoat with Citadel Zandri Dust.
  • Metal buckles, metal on guns, boots, bayonet sheath, water bottle cap:
    • Basecoat with Vallejo German Grey.

2. Shade

  • Wash the entire model with a 1:1 mix of Agrax Earthshade : Medium.

3. Layers and Highlights

  • Uniform and field caps:
    • Layer with English Uniform.
    • Highlight a 2:1 mix of English Uniform : Vallejo Iraqi Sand.
  • Helmet:
    • Highlight edge and top Vallejo US Dark Green.
    • Stipple Citadel Straken Green with sponge.
    • Paint in the stipples with Citadel Rhinox Hide. 
  • Webbing, backpacks, water bottle straps,  tool holster:
    • Layer with Russian Uniform.
    • Highlight with a 1:1 mix of Russian Uniform : Iraqi Sand.
  • Bedroll:
    • Layer with a 1:1 mix of Citadel Death Korp Drab : Citadel Straken Green.
  • Rifle stocks, entrenching tool handle, bayonet handle:
    • Layer with Citadel Mournfang Brown.
    • Highlight of lines with Citadel Skrag Brown.
  • Belts, helmet straps, bedroll straps:
    • Layer with Scale75 Brown Leather.
  • Water bottle case:
    • Highlight with Citadel Gothor Brown.
  • Rifle sling and gasmask case:
    • Layer Citadel Zandri Dust.
    • Highlight Citadel Ushabti Bone. 
  • Boots, bayonet sheath:
    • Highlight with Citadel Mechanicus Standard Grey.
  • Teacups
    • Basecoat with Vallejo Offwhite.
    • Paint the lip of the mug Vallejo Prussian Blue.
    • Wash with a thinned Black or Grey wash.
    • Highlight with Vallejo Offwhite .
    • Add some Citadel Rhinox Hide scratches.
  • Skin:
    • Basecoat with Citadel Bugmans Glow.
    • Wash with Citadel Reikland Fleshshade.
    • Layer with Citadel Cadian Fleshtone.
    • Wash with Citadel Reikland Fleshshade.
    • Highlight with Citadel Cadian Fleshtone.

4. Metallics

  • Metal buckles, metal on guns, water bottle cap:
    • Spot highlight with Scale75 Heavy Metal.

5. Transfers

  • Apply two coats of MicroSet to the model on the spot the transfer will go.
  • Place the transfer on the model.
  • Apply three coats of MicroSol on top of the transfer. Allow the MicroSol to dry completely between each coat.

6. Varnish

  • Varnish the model with AK Ultra Matte Varnish.
  • Brush on directly from a dry palette or cup.

7. Basing

  • Base the mini however you’d like! I’m still working on my basing scheme and don’t have a photo to show, yet. I’ll update the article once I have them bases.

And there they are! A few Tommies ready to take the fight to the Hun. After playing around with various Contrast and Speed Paints, this was a return to a more traditional basecoat + layer + highlight approach. It takes longer and it’s not a quick scheme, but damnit I’m loving the results.

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