How to Paint WWII Infantry Fast – Olive Drab, Field Grey, 4BO Recipes
How to Paint WWII Infantry Fast – Olive Drab, Field Grey, 4BO Recipes
Painting entire WWII platoons doesn’t have to take weeks. With a few smart techniques and streamlined color recipes, you can paint WWII infantry fast while still achieving realistic, tabletop-quality results. This guide covers the essential speed-painting workflow plus quick color mixes for U.S. Olive Drab, German Field Grey, and Soviet 4BO Green—the three most common WWII uniforms in games like Bolt Action.
Internal Link: Find paints, washes, and brushes here: Bolt Action Supplies at Tistaminis
Quick Summary
- Focus: Efficient painting workflow using batch methods and contrast layering.
- Goal: Realistic infantry that look great at arm’s length with minimal steps.
- Timeframe: 10–15 minutes per model once the recipe is practiced.
Step-by-Step Speed Workflow
1) Prime in Volume
Mount your models on sticks or handles and prime with a color that matches your main uniform—olive drab, grey, or green. This reduces painting steps later. For example, a dark khaki primer works for U.S. infantry, while neutral grey fits German troops.
2) Basecoat Uniforms
Use broad, slightly thinned coats for smoother coverage. Don’t worry about minor overlaps; washes will unify tones later. Try airbrushing or large brushes for squads of ten or more to save time.
3) Add Webbing and Gear
Block in straps, helmets, and boots next. Keep to a limited palette—two leather browns, one khaki, one metal. Fewer paints mean faster batches and more visual consistency across units.
4) Wash Everything Together
Apply a medium-brown wash like Agrax Earthshade or a custom 1:1 mix of brown and black ink diluted with water. This instantly adds shadows and depth while tying colors together. Let dry fully before highlighting.
5) Drybrush or Layer Highlights
Lightly drybrush uniforms with a lighter tone of the base color. This picks up folds and textures without precision work. For faces and details, a touch of flesh highlight brings character back quickly.
6) Touch Up & Base
Reapply a few crisp edge lines on rifles or helmets for sharpness, then base your models with texture paste or sand. A tan drybrush and grass tuft make them table-ready.
Fast Color Recipes – Olive Drab, Field Grey, 4BO Green
U.S. Olive Drab Recipe
- Prime: Black or dark khaki.
- Basecoat: Olive Drab (e.g., Vallejo 887 Brown Violet).
- Wash: Brown wash (Agrax Earthshade or custom 1:1 Sepia + Black Ink).
- Highlight: Olive Drab + Buff (2:1), drybrushed lightly.
- Webbing: Khaki or Green Ochre; boots in Flat Brown.
German Field Grey Recipe
- Prime: Grey or black.
- Basecoat: Field Grey (e.g., Vallejo 830 German Fieldgrey WWII).
- Wash: Dark Tone or Black Wash to deepen recesses.
- Highlight: Field Grey + Pale Grey Green (2:1), focused on folds.
- Equipment: Brown leather straps, green-grey breadbag, dark grey helmet.
Soviet 4BO Green Recipe
- Prime: Olive drab or black.
- Basecoat: 4BO Russian Green (e.g., Vallejo 894 Russian Green).
- Wash: Brown-green wash (Agrax Earthshade or custom Sepia + Green Ink).
- Highlight: Add Buff or Light Green to base for soft drybrush edges.
- Belts & Boots: Black-brown mix; weapons in dark gunmetal drybrushed silver.
Batch Painting Tips
- Paint in squads: Ten models at a time maximize rhythm and drying efficiency.
- Limit palette swaps: Work all helmets, then all rifles, then all boots—minimize color changes.
- Use matte varnish: A quick spray coat protects your work and removes shine from washes.
- Don’t over-highlight: Tabletop distance hides micro detail—focus on contrast and clarity.
Optional Advanced Touches
- Weathering: Add mud by stippling brown paint and drybrushing lighter dust.
- Decals: Seal before and after application for smooth finish on helmets or armbands.
- Filters: A thin glaze of complementary color unifies tone across units.
Image Suggestions
- Hero banner: Three painted infantry squads side by side—U.S., German, Soviet—each with their distinct tone.
- Step sequence: Primed → washed → highlighted stages on a single model.
- Workbench shot: Paint bottles labeled “Olive Drab,” “Field Grey,” and “4BO” beside finished minis.
FAQs – Painting WWII Infantry Fast (tap + to expand)
Use colored primers close to your uniform shade, apply controlled washes, and drybrush highlights. This minimizes layers while keeping definition strong at tabletop distance.
Vallejo 887 Brown Violet as a base, highlighted with Buff in a 2:1 mix. A brown wash unifies tones and enhances depth fast.
Add a touch of green to highlights. Field Grey should lean slightly greenish, not pure grey—weathering with tan or brown glazes helps realism.
4BO was an earthy olive-green used on uniforms and vehicles. Vallejo 894 Russian Green or similar shades work well for speed-painting infantry and tanks alike.
Yes—keep separate color stations for each tone, but work all priming, washing, and varnish steps together to save time.
Absolutely. A matte varnish protects your miniatures from handling wear and unifies the finish, removing shine from washes.
Find hobby paints, weathering supplies, and tools here: Bolt Action Supplies at Tistaminis.
Ready to Paint Smarter?
Speed-painting WWII infantry is about consistency, not perfection. With efficient color recipes and batch-friendly techniques, you can field full platoons that look great in any scenario. Prime right, wash smart, and highlight fast—your army will be battle-ready in no time.
Shop paints and supplies: Bolt Action Supplies at Tistaminis