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Painting a Japanese Soldier

There’s something about West Wind Productions WW2 Japanese I really like.  They’re full of character and a joy to paint.  Although described as 28mm they’re closer to old-fashioned 25mm and have a “roughness” about them I find totally charming.

Before explaining how I paint them I have to say that I take a certain artistic license with the uniform, preferring the shirts whiter than was probably common.  Why?  Because I like the way they look.

Flesh
I pretty much follow the scheme I use for my Vietnamese troops.  It’s slightly different as I use mainly West Wind figures.  Start off with Games Workshop (GW) Bestial Brown; then highlight with Vallejo (V) Orange Brown; next mix some Medium Flesh (V) into the orange Brown. This is followed with Medium Flesh (V); Sunny Skin Tone (V) and finally a fleck of Buff (V) to finish off.  Mouth and eyebrows are lined with Chocolate Brown (V); shadows under the nose, under the eyes and ears are done with Bestial Brown (GW).

Shirt
Base coat is Japanese Uniform (V); then mix in some Buff (V); then Buff on its own and finally White. Rank patches on collar are Flat Red (V) with a yellow dot, or stripe depending upon rank.

Trousers/Tunic
English Uniform (V); then mix in some Japanese Uniform (V); finally Japanese Uniform on its own.

Puttees
Simply Chocolate Brown, then highlight with English Uniform. The tapes are done in Buff.

Boots
Chocolate Brown; then highlight with Bestial Brown and a final highlight of Orange Brown.