Just a quick spotlight and light tutorial article today. There are some really exciting things happening in the background here at Iron Dice. Unfortunately, they are taking away from my writing time but it will be worth it! Look forward to some teasers soon.

One of the first purchases I made for my Soviet army was a plastic Warlord Games T-34/76. I snagged it for a song and a dance on eBay. It is a pretty nice kit that fits together well and I think it painted up nicely. I painted it borrowing a lot from Herbert Erpaderp’s method. I liked how his T-34 came out so I added my own methods to his technique. I went for a used and dirty look like the tank had seen a few weeks of urban combat or maneuvers in the dust of the steppe.

This bad boy has provided a little muscle to my mid-war Soviet forces. Ivan feels it’s a welcome reinforcement for his platoon. Plus, it’s a rolling motivational poster, so HQ approves.

Below is my paint recipe. Please keep in mind I translated it from my phone notes and it is not a proper tutorial or anything. As always, I am happy to clarify if needed!

Base Coat

• Prime black with Rustoleum flat black
• Airbrush Vallejo Air Russian Green 4BO

• Airbrush Russian Green 4BO with Vallejo Buff mixed 4:1 on the sharp edges and high points of the tank

• Dry brush angled edges Russian Green 4BO and Buff mix 2:1

Tracks

• Paint tracks and road wheel rubber Vallejo Black Gray, leave green showing on the metal parts
• Wash tracks with Vallejo Air Light Rust and airbrush thinner in 1:1 mix
• Dry brush the edges and contact points of the tracks with Vallejo Gun Metal

Details

• The headlight glass is painted with Army Painter Spaceship Exterior
• Black wash diluted with airbrush thinner on engine deck vent details
• Paint towing cables, spare tracks and hull machinegun Black Gray

Weathering

• Overall wash on Green armor of Secret Weapon Green Armor wash, water, and secret weapon black green 1:1:2 mix, avoid pooling on flat surfaces

• Apply gloss varnish where decals will go

• Apply decals

• Dirty up decals with undiluted Army Painter Soft Tone

• Apply sponge chipping with a mix of 7:3 Vallejo Black Grey and Vallejo Mahogany Brown

• Seal entire model with gloss varnish

• Apply AK Interactive enamel Dark Brown Wash for Green Vehicles with an airbrush on armor and anything green
• Airbrush AK Interactive Track Wash on tracks

• Reduce wash with white spirits and makeup sponge to your liking

• Add some soot by exhaust with a light spritz of airbrushed black paint

• Airbrush seal coat with Vallejo Mecha Matte varnish

Paints Used

Rustoleum Flat Black

Vallejo

• Russian Green 4Bo – 71.017
• Buff -70.976
• Black Gray – 70.862
• Light Rust – 71.129
• Gun Metal – 70.863
• Black Shade – 70.822
• Mahogany Brown – 70.846
• Gloss Varnish – 70.510
• Mecha Matte Varnish – 27.702
• Black primer – 73.602
• Airbrush Thinner – 71.161

Army Painter

• Spaceship Exterior
• Soft Tone

Secret Weapon

• Green Armor Wash
• Black Green Wash

AK Interactive

• Dark Brown Wash for Green Vehicles
• Track Wash
• White Spirits