Stuff what I been painting

Back to painting 15mm and I’m turning my attention to some tanks. As I like my ww2 Italian campaign (see my other projects!) I’m going to start building up some US forces. In this case, some tanks for the US 1st Armoured Division otherwise known as the Old Ironsides.

This Division was landed at Anzio and spent several months dug in there while the US and British army groups to the South tried to crack Monte Cassino. While they tried to attack out of the beach head, they also had to repel a number of German attacks, most notably from the Herman Goring Division that was across the battle line from them.

During late May 1944, as Monte Cassino finally fell, they did lead the US break out of Anzio.

For my US tanks, I wanted to differentiate them from my British VIII army ones in painting style. My British tanks are muddied and chipped so I’ve opted for a much cleaner look for the US tanks. I’m also going for a dusty look rather than mud – not entirely historical given the heavy rains and mud during the Gothic line fighting but again, something different.

I’m also trying out some enamel paints here for the first time. Everything is base coated using usual acrylics but I’ve then applied an enamel pin wash. I liked this and it was very easy to use despite the smell. So this might become my go to method.

I’ve also used an enamel dust effect. This I found harder to use and get right and I’ve been a little heavy handed in places. I definitely need more practice here.

So rolling off the production line, we have,

2 M4 Sherman 105mm tanks

2 Platoons of 5 M4 Sherman 76mm tanks

1 Platoon of 4 M5 Stuart tanks