Today I will show in detail the steps I take to paint this AMAZING Empress Miniatures 28mm British Airborne figure. This guide will pick out every step I take to paint this particular paratrooper and use reference photos to explain why I’m painting certain items in a specific way. I don’t usually paint 28mm miniatures but I just couldn’t resist these amazing models. These miniatures will work great with Warlord Games (Bolt Action) models too! The Airborne figures shown in this tutorial are based on the 1st Airborne Division and more specifically, those fighting with the 2nd Parachute Battalion at Arnhem Bridge.
These figures are part of the Arnhem Heroes Kickstarter which is being run by Empress Miniatures and the sculpts have been made by the amazing Paul Hicks. These British Airborne figures are absolutely sensational, the detail is so crisp and the effort behind the research of each model is just amazing. If you like what you see in this video, be sure to get around the Kickstarter, more pledges means the potential for even more miniatures.
Arnhem Heroes Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/arnhemheroes/arnhem-heroes?fbclid=IwAR3wrEO9Por6mjqXpnSdZqhDJevG9lUPUVMDNaPV9Rz5SFJ136P_-rp7UYQ
Arnhem Heroes Miniatures – Review:
https://youtu.be/MgHXT7L7h5s
Arnhem Heroes Kickstarter focuses on the British Airborne soldiers positioned in John Frost’s (2nd Parachute Battalion) perimeter during the Battle for Arnhem (Market Garden). Each model is unique and tells its own story. The Kickstarter commences on the 24th of March, you can sign up to be notified of the launch without any financial commitment.
Empress Miniatures have a huge range of 28mm miniatures, ranging from the English Civil War all the way up to current conflicts. If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out any of their range, I’d highly recommend changing that.
Empress Miniatures: https://www.empressminiatures.com/
I’ve put together a paint list for all those that have requested it 🙂 All paints listed below are Vallejo, unless otherwise stated;
Middlestone (AK Interactive) – Smock
English Uniform – Uniform
Retractive Green – Smock
Saddle Brown – Smock
Khaki – Smock & Smock Drybrush
Stone Grey – Smock Highlight
Khaki Grey – Uniform Highlight
Russian Uniform WWII – Webbing
Iraqi Sand – Webbing Highlight (mixed with Russian Uni)
Flat Earth – Wood
New Wood – Wood Highlight
Italian Tank Crew – Scarf
German Camo Bright Green – Scarf Highlight
German Grey – Metal, Boots & Binoculars
Black – Beret
Wine Red (AK Interactive)
Umbar Wash
Nuln Oil Wash (Citadel)
German Camo Medium Brown – Binocular Straps, Facial Hair Highlights
Orange Brown – Binocular Straps Highlights
German Camo Black Brown – Hair/Facial Hair
Basalt Grey – Binoculars Highlights
Flesh & Skin Set (AK Interactive)
Just a few paints lol … but, you don’t have to use all of these. If you follow the guide, I show two points of which you can stop and reduce the amount of paints being used by half but still have an amazing figure for the tabletop!
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#history #ww2 #28mm #wargaming #airborne #british #kickstarter #tabletopgaming
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Just as great as usual. One day – maybe in 2024? – I go for a 15mm army for FoW of the 1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade so I will come back here. (Just have to find out the colour if their barrets… blue? beige? green?)
I agree with what you said about eyes. Even in 28mm not needed I think.
Great job Kristian!👍
The sculpts on these figures are top notch. The facial features are impressive! The colors you chose for the Dennison smock work perfectly. Thank you!
Brilliant! Have bought the Kickstarter and am looking forward to putting them on the table. Could you write down the painting guide, the colours you used? Then we won’t have to scroll back and forth in the video. Thanks mate! 🙏🏻
Excellent work mate.
Another fantastic video. Also backed the Kickstarter.
Love the video! Any chance you can leave a list of paints in the video description?
Great paint job and the minis look great!
great video as always! fantastic end result
Great tutorial. When I painted my Airborne a couple of years ago, I made the deliberate choice to go brighter on the camo patches to make the figures "pop".
Just as a bit of rivet-counting, if that figure is based on the officer in that photo then the cap badge is incorrect – he was in charge of one of the Field Security Sections of the Military Police, so the cap badge would have been a brass/bronze crown over cypher within laurels (only Parachute Regiment had the silver wings; everyone else had their normal Corps or regimental cap badges).
Looks great! What do you use to thin the AK paints? I have been having a lot of trouble with them.
I've put together a paint list for all those that have requested it 🙂 All paints listed below are Vallejo, unless otherwise stated;
Middlestone (AK Interactive) – Smock
English Uniform – Uniform
Retractive Green – Smock
Saddle Brown – Smock
Khaki – Smock & Smock Drybrush
Stone Grey – Smock Highlight
Khaki Grey – Uniform Highlight
Russian Uniform WWII – Webbing
Iraqi Sand – Webbing Highlight (mixed with Russian Uni)
Flat Earth – Wood
New Wood – Wood Highlight
Italian Tank Crew – Scarf
German Camo Bright Green – Scarf Highlight
German Grey – Metal, Boots & Binoculars
Black – Beret
Wine Red (AK Interactive)
Umbar Wash
Nuln Oil Wash (Citadel)
German Camo Medium Brown – Binocular Straps, Facial Hair Highlights
Orange Brown – Binocular Straps Highlights
German Camo Black Brown – Hair/Facial Hair
Basalt Grey – Binoculars Highlights
Flesh & Skin Set (AK Interactive)
Just a few paints lol … but, you don't have to use all of these. If you follow the guide, I show two points of which you can stop and reduce the amount of paints being used by half but still have an amazing figure for the tabletop!
British Airborne Berets are Maroon try Vallejo Violet Red.
Liar, liar pants on fire, you're using 1/16th figures & passing them off as 28mm:-) I mean you must be, great detail once again mate. For you it's Empress, for me, Artisan, I have fallen in love with their heroic block like figures, to each their own of course. Incidentally, am also sitting in that same boat as you regarding eyes, (it's a pretty full boat). Anyway, great job & if I ever do Brits I'll refer to this but for now there are US Airborne somewhere over the pacific heading my way. Cheers.
Nice video, very good as painting guide for these brave men in the British Paratroopers… 🙂
how do you paint the camouflage and helmets of these paratroopers?
Lovely job mate, such cracking sculpts by Paul Hicks. Your tutorials are just getting better and better as well, great stuff.
I really struggle to find AK Interactive paints to buy online from a UK supplier – can anyone suggest the best place to buy from? Cheers
I went the full monty too. Very nice work by the way. One question. What do you use as a primer?
Much appreciated thanks for sharing 👍
me again. how do you paint piat? and how do you paint this bullet container for it?