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Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Painting The MAN / MHN Ambush Camouflage Scheme
with Blake Coster

In my last article, I demonstrated how to hand-paint what I called the ‘Corn Chip’ representation of the Ambush camouflage scheme as applied by the MAN and MHN factories, on the Flames Of War Panther G miniature.

Read part one of Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage here…
Read part two of Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage here...
Read part three of Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage here...

As in my previous articles, I've demonstrated how to paint these schemes using different methods of application. In this article, I will demonstrate how to paint the 'Corn Chip' scheme using an airbrush and masking techniques. As you can imagine, re-creating the 'Disc' scheme on a Flames Of War miniature is quite tricky therefore the ‘Corn Chip’ scheme, while not exactly historically accurate, will provide the illusion of the ‘Disc’ scheme while still (fingers crossed) staying within the painting abilities of most Flames Of War enthusiasts.

Left: The rear of a Panther G finished in Ambush camouflage over a layer of Zimmerit anti-magnetic paste.

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Panther G (GE062) In the following weeks I will conclude this series of articles by demonstrating (or should that be attempt) to re-create the ‘Disc’ camouflage scheme as close to its historical counterpart as possible.

But first, let’s look at how to paint the ‘Corn Chip’ scheme using an airbrush and masking techniques. Once again, my model of choice is the Panther G (GE062) with Zimmerit.

Learn more about the Panther G here...

Right: The Panther G with Zimmerit.
Painting 'Disc' Ambush Camouflage
I’ve assembled my Panther G once more using new plastic components (now available individually via Special Order, learn more about the Plastic Panther sprue here) and primed the model using Black (FWP300). This is my personal preference; feel free to use whatever method you prefer. After priming, I’ve temporarily attached the turret and the hull to some empty paint pots to give me something to hold as I apply the base colour and camouflage scheme.

Next, I’ve applied the Dunkelgelb (Dark Yellow) base colour; a quick and easy way to do this is to use Panther Yellow (Mid / Late) from the War Paint spray can range (i.e. CWP210). But if you're unsure of what colour to use or are looking for a suggested colour guide, Jeremy has done all the hard work for you and has written a guide to painting Dunkelgelb.

Read Jeremy's Painting Dunkelgelb article here...

Below:
The Panther G fully assembled, primed and with the Dark Yellow base colour. 

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Step One:
Planning

When attempting this scheme or any camouflage scheme for that matter, I strongly recommend that you take some time to plan out exactly how you’d like the scheme to look on the vehicle. The key to this scheme once more is the shapes of the patches of Olive Green and Red Brown; since we'll be using masking techniques it will be possible to create slightly more irregular-shaped patches of Olive Green and Red Brown. The edges will be more well-defined as will the 'Corn Chip' shapes.

Below: An example of what the finished camouflage scheme will look like, hopefully.

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage

My friend Sean (a member of the Battlefront Graphic Design team) has created a PDF that you can download and use to plan out your Panther camouflage schemes.

Download a PDF of the Panther Camouflage Scheme Planner here…

Once you’ve planned out your scheme, its time to transfer it to the miniature using masking techniques before we can begin the actual painting process. Once more, for my Olive Green colour I will use Army Green (FWP342) and Battlefield Brown (FWP324) for my Red Brown colour. These are the colours recommended by Battlefront but again these are only suggestions, so feel free to use whatever you feel it best.

Right: An example of the Panther camouflage scheme planner.

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage

Step Two:
Masking the Olive Green and Red Brown Patches

To create the shapes for masking the patches of Olive Green and Red Brown, I managed to acquire a hole punch from a local arts and crafts store that was perfect for the job.

Left: The hole punch (1/16th inch).

After some experimenting, I was able it to create the shapes I was after by repeatedly punching holes into plastic card. However, using this plastic card stencil would prove problematic due to the size and shape of the miniature.

Right & Far Right: Creating the shapes for the patches using a piece of plastic card.

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Therefore, I applied a piece of masking tape to the plastic card before punching out each shape. The plastic card backing provided the masking tape with some structural integrity as the holes were punched out.

Left & Far Left: Punching out the shape using the masking tape with a plastic card backing.
After carefully removing the masking tape from the plastic card, I was able to apply it to the miniature over any surface; flat or curved.

Right & Far Right:
Carefully peeling the masking tape of the plastic card and applying it to the Panther turret.
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
The plastic backing card also provide a solid surface to further cut down the mask to better fit the model.

Left & Far Left: Cutting the mask down to better fit the miniature.
Next, I punched out a number of different stencils of various shapes and sizes before carefully placing them on the turret. It is within these shapes that my patches of Olive Green and Red Brown will be added. Now for the 'Corn Chip' shapes.

Right: The Panther turret how with masking tape stencils for the Olive Green and Red Brown patches.

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Using a hobby knife, I cut the 'Corn Chip' shapes from a piece of masking tape. Then I carefully place them on the turret at different angles.

Left: Cut the 'Corn Chip' shapes and adding them to the turret.
Finally, I used Blu-Tac to mask the sections of the turret where I want the Dark Yellow base colour to remain. Next, I repeated the process on the Panther hull.

Right & Far Right:
The Panther turret and hull with Blu-Tac fully masked and ready for painting.
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Below: A closer look at the fully masked Panther turret and hull.
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage I begun the painting process by applying the Olive Green to both the turret and hull.

Left & Far Left: The Olive Green appled to both the turret and hull.
Next, I broke-up the areas of Olive Green with Red Brown.

Right & Far Right: The Red Brown applied to break-up the patches of Olive Green.

Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Once the paint had dried, it was time to literially unmasked the Panther G and reveal the new paint job.

Left: The remains of the masking tape and Blu-Tac.
Below: The Panther G revealed.
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
My only regret is that I should of made the patches larger and covered more of the base Dark Yellow colour. But that being said, I’ll add this example to my painting queue at home; apply a wash, paint the details, etc., so I can show off all of these examples at the end of this series of articles.

Join me next time as I attempt to replicate the ‘Disc’ Ambush scheme
as close to its historical counterpart as possible.

Till then, happy painting.

~ Blake.
Below: The past examples of the various techniques and Ambush camouflage schemes used on the Panther.
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage
Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage Hinterhalt: The Art of Panther Camouflage


Last Updated On Monday, June 22, 2015