Painting 1/72 WWII infantry is one of the most rewarding challenges in miniature modeling. At this scale, every detail matters—uniform colors, shading, gear placement, and weathering all contribute to historical accuracy and realism. Whether you're building dioramas, wargaming forces, or adding troops to a larger collection, this guide will walk you through the exact steps to achieve clean, impressive results.
1. Preparation: Cleaning & Priming
Small-scale miniatures require excellent surface prep.
Steps:
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Remove flash and mold lines using a hobby knife or fine file.
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Wash the figures with warm water + dish soap (removes oils).
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Let dry completely.
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Prime with a light grey or bone-white primer.
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Black primer can hide details on 1/72 scale.
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Tip:
Spray lightly. Over-priming will fill in tiny, sculpted details.
2. Base Coating the Uniform
WWII uniforms vary widely by nation, but for German, American, Soviet, and British infantry, stick to historically accurate tones.
Examples:
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German Field Grey: Slightly greenish grey
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American M1943 Uniform: Olive drab
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British Battledress: Brownish khaki
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Soviet Infantry: Green-khaki mix
Thin your paints so they flow into folds without hiding details.
3. Painting the Equipment
At this scale, equipment defines the silhouette.
German example gear colors:
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Bread bag: Green grey
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Ammo pouches: Black or tan leather
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Helmet: Field grey with subtle highlight
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Gas canister: Dark grey green
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Boots: Black with slight brown dusting
Carefully pick out shapes with a fine brush (00 or 000).
4. Adding Shadows & Highlights
Shading gives 1/72 infantry depth.
Simple technique:
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Wash with dark brown or sepia
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Highlight with the original uniform color + a touch of light grey
Rule of thumb:
At 1/72, the contrast must be slightly exaggerated to show up clearly.
5. Faces & Hands
You only need three tones:
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Base flesh
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Brown wash
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Small highlight on nose, cheek, chin, and knuckles
Avoid black dots for eyes—it makes them look buggy at this scale.
6. Weathering for Realism
Subtle weathering can transform the figure:
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Drybrush boots with tan to simulate dust
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Add dark brown around knees/elbows to simulate dirt
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Add tiny metallic scratches on helmets for combat wear
7. Sealing the Miniature
After all painting is complete:
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Spray matte varnish
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Add a second coat for wargaming figures (extra protection)
Conclusion
Painting 1/72 WWII infantry is easier than many think once you break it down into layers. With accurate colors, clean preparation, and simple shading, even beginners can produce highly realistic troops.
Want a painting guide for a specific army? Just ask and I’ll create it.