Recommended Colors for Painting 15mm Miniatures
Note: These colors are my recommendations for painting 15mm miniatures. These colors are 'scale' in that they can be used without lightening. They are best used with a white undercoat, in fact I don't recommend any other color. Unless otherwise mentioned, all colors are Vallejo Model Color. Generally, these colors will need a wash of some sort to shade.
Recommended Colors for Painting 15mm Armor
| COLOR SWATCH | NAME | VALLEJO | COMMENTS |
| German N. African Tanks | Tan Yellow 70912 or Desert Yellow 70977 | White added to achieve a bleached look. | |
| German Tank Dark Yellow | Middlestone 70882 | White added to achieve a bleached look. | |
| German Tank Grey | German Grey 70995 & White 70951 or Dark Seagreen 70868 & White 70951 | Ratio is 2 drops to 1 drop White. | |
| German Camo Red Brown | |||
| German Camo Green | |||
| German Red Oxide Primer | |||
| Russian Tank Green | |||
| Russian Medium Tank Green | |||
| Russian Dark Tank Green | |||
| Russian Camo Earth | Added to some 1943 T-34s. | ||
| UK Tank Light Green | Fireflies, CMP vehicles etc... | ||
| UK Tank Dark Green | Bren Carriers, Matilda I/IIs etc... | ||
| UK Desert sand | White can be added for more of a bleached look. | ||
| USA Tank Olive Drab | |||
| USA Vehicle Olive Drab | |||
| USA Brown Tarps | Halftrack roof covers, | ||
| French Tank Base Yellow | Base color on French Cavalry Tanks. | ||
| French Camo Red Brown | Red camo color on French Cavalry Tanks. | ||
| French Camo Green | Green camo color on French Cavalry Tanks. |
Recommended Colors for Painting 15mm Infantry
| GERMANY | NAME | PAINT | COMMENTS |
| Uniform Feldgrau (grey) | German Fieldgrey 70830 & White 951 | So many variations but Vallejo 830 is a good start although too dark for 15mm on its own. I continually play with these mixtures. Ratio is 3 drops of Fieldgrey to 1 drop other. | |
| Uniform Feldgrau (green) | German Fieldgrey 70830 & Buff 976 | ||
| Uniform Feldgrau (yellow) | German Fieldgrey 70830 & Sand Yellow 916 | ||
| Early Helmet (ApfelGrun) | Camoflaged Green 72031 (Game color) & Black 950 | Ratio is 3 drops to 1 drop Black | |
| Mid to Late Helmet | Reflective Green 890 & Black 950 | Ratio is 3 drops to 1 drop Black | |
| Mid to Late Helmet | German Camo Dk Green 979 | ||
| Uniform Afrika Korp. | |||
| Early-war Collar | Black Green 70980 & Black 70950 | A smidge of black, looks fairly to scale for 1939-42 collar. | |
| Gasmask Can / Mess Kit | Extra Dark Green 70896 | Color varied as the war progressed. Good Early-war color | |
| Rifle Strap | Saddle Brown 70940 or Flat Brown 70984 | Either is good, I prefer Flat Brown | |
| Water Bottle Cover | Beige Brown 70875 | Suede leather water bottle cover | |
| Breadbag and Gasmask strap | Khaki 70988 OR Yellow Green 881 | Highlight with white added | |
| Entrenching tool wooden handle | Sunny Skintone 70845 with Iraqui Sand 70819 | Ratio is 1 drop each | |
| Rifles and MG Butts | Liquid Acrylic 820 Mahogany (best) or Cavalry Brown 70982 with Black 70950 | 820 has a nice scale sheen to it. If you don't have 820, a touch of black mixed in to darken the Cavalry brown | |
| High Boots | Black 950 | ||
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Early-war Wehrmacht Splinter camo. Used on Zeltbahn tent quarters/ponchos and helmet covers. Differed slightly from later war covers. | Base Color: Stone Grey 70884 with White 70951 | Ratio is 1 drop of Stone Grey to 1 drop White. |
| Brown Bands: Beige Brown 70875 | |||
| Green Splotches: Intermed. Green 70891 | |||
| Dark Thin Streaks: Black Green 70980 |
| RUSSIA | NAME | PAINT | COMMENTS |
| Early Uniform Khaki | Yellow Green 881 or Dark Yellow 978 | Excellent match for a base color. Slight green tinge. This color can range from brown-khaki to green-khaki. | |
| Early-war Greatcoat and Rain Poncho | US Field Drab 873 | The bundle over the shoulder was either the greatcoat or a rain poncho (Plash-palatka). Various colors for both. | |
| Knapsack and straps | Khaki 988 or Buff 976 | Many variations. | |
| Gasmask bag | Middlestone 118 or Khaki Grey 880 with Beige Brown 875 leather latch | Many variations. | |
| Helmet, Russian Mess tin and Bowl | Reflective Green 890 & Golden Olive 857 & Red | Ratio is 1 to 2 to a smidge. | |
| Enlisted man belt and ammo pouches | Beige Brown 875 | Early war color, many variations. | |
| Officers belt and holster | Flat Brown 984, highlight with Mahogany Brown 846 | Many variations. | |
| Rifles and MG Butts | Liquid Acrylic 820 Mahogany (best) or Cavalry Brown 982 with Black 950 | 820 has a nice scale sheen to it. If you don't have 820, a touch of black mixed in to darken the Cavalry brown. | |
| Rifle Straps | German Cam. Orange Orche 824 | ||
| High Boots | Black 950 |
| UNITED KINGDOM | NAME | PAINT | COMMENTS |
| Canadian Uniform Khaki | |||
| UK Uniform Khaki Europe | |||
| UK Uniform Africa | |||
| UK Helmet | |||
| Rifles and MG Butts | Liquid Acrylic 820 Mahogany (best) or Cavalry Brown 982 with Black 950 | 820 has a nice scale sheen to it. If you don't have 820, a touch of black mixed in to darken the Cavalry brown. |
| UNITED STATES | NAME | PAINT | COMMENTS |
| USA Uniform Europe 44-45 Tunics / Pants | |||
| USA Uniform Europe 44-45 Pants | |||
| USA Helmet | |||
| Rifles and MG Butts | Liquid Acrylic 820 Mahogany (best) or Cavalry Brown 982 with Black 950 | 820 has a nice scale sheen to it. If you don't have 820, a touch of black mixed in to darken the Cavalry brown. |
More to follow...
