Parker from D-Minus One here, A friend of mine at the store was looking to get some models painted up for an upcoming battle report that he’s doing for his own gaming club’s publication.
He wanted to continue to use the SS Panzergrenadier list out of “Nuts” that was so successful for him in the tourney, but he was stuck using a pile of unpainted figs. I have been looking to try my hand at a commission for a while, and so I offered to paint his two Sturmtigers for $10. He agreed, and so began my first commission!
I started by airbrushing a coat of Vallejo Dark Yellow over the models. As an aside, airbrushing these models was probably the most frustrating airbrushing session I have had so far. My compressor was giving me shit, the paint wasn’t mixing well with the thinner – just a bunch of little mechanical problems delaying my progress.
After the Dark Yellow I applied the Camo Brown. In hindsight I definitely should have done two coats of the brown (spray, let it dry, then spray again) but I didn’t have enough confidence in my airbrush and my own abilities to risk ruining what was already a pretty good first coat.
After the brown came the green, which is applied in less quantities than the brown. By now the airbrush and compressor were really acting up, so there were a couple mishaps with the green.
I then started the detailing. The metal parts (shovels, axes, and the treads) were painted with German Grey. The handles of the shovels and axes were painted with some sort of brown I had lying around. Most notably I used Cavalry Brown to paint the exhaust pipes, and then dabbed a little brown onto the pipes using foam to show a little wear and tear. I also added a few “scratch marks” using German Grey and a No. 2 Pencil. This was all followed by an ink wash using Didi’s Magic Ink – Brown.
My now very shiny model was nearly complete. I applied some Burnt Sienna Pigment to the treads to make them look worn and rusted (at least, that was the idea), and used a No. 2 Pencil to add a few more scratch marks on the hull. Finally, I applied a spray of Testor’s Dullcote.
And that is the finished product. You’ll notice that I still have a lot to learn about using inks to simulate a rust effect (look to the right of the gun barrel’s shadow), and I really wish I could re-do the tracks (trust me, they do look better in person, but still not great). Overall though I think my buddy will be happy with the results. I hope you guys are seeing what even beginner-level painters can accomplish with the right tools and a plan.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to checkout Parker’s great FoW Hobby blog over at D Minus One -MBG
About the Author: Rob Baer
Rob Baer
Job Title: Managing Editor
Founded Spikey Bits in 2009
Socials: Rob Baer on Facebook and @catdaddymbg on X
About Rob Baer: Founder, Publisher, & Managing Editor of Spikey Bits, the leading tabletop gaming news website focused on the hobby side of wargaming and miniatures.
Rob also co-founded and currently hosts the Long War Podcast, which has over 350 episodes and focuses on tabletop miniatures gaming, specializing in Warhammer 40k. and spent six years writing for Bell of Lost Souls.
Every year, along with his co-hosts, he helps host the Long War 40k Doubles Tournament at Adepticon and the Long War 40k Doubles at Las Vegas Open, which attracts over 350 players from around the world.
Rob has won many Warhammer 40k Tournaments over the years, including multiple first-place finishes in Warhammer 40k Grand Tournaments over the years and even winning 1st place at the Adepticon 40k Team Tournament.
With over 30 years of experience in retail and distribution, Rob knows all the products and exactly which ones are the best. As a member of GAMA (Game Manufacturers Association), he advocates for gaming stores and manufacturers in these difficult times, always looking for the next big thing to feature for the miniatures hobby, helping everyone to provide the value consumers want.
While he’s played every edition of Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy (since 5th Edition) and has been hobbying on miniatures since the 1980s, Titans of all sizes will always be his favorite! It’s even rumored that his hobby vault rivals the Solemnance Galleries, containing rulebooks filled with lore from editions long past, ancient packs of black-bordered Magic Cards, and models made of both pewter and resin.
