ATOM German WWII Accessories Set

Twelve colors for the things that hang on a tank

Gear, crates, tarpaulins and tools decide whether a finished vehicle looks lived in or like a bare casting. That is exactly what this twelve-piece set is aimed at. Field Grey and British Uniform cover fabric, Leather the straps and holsters, Wood the handles and small crates, Olivgrün with Yellow Green the boxes and jerrycans, Dunkelgelb and Rotbraun RAL 8012 the camouflage patches, Dark Rust the rusting sheet metal, Satin Black the rubber, and the pair of metal tones Gun Metal and Black the shovels, chains and gun barrels.

The time span of the set

The red-brown RAL 8012 appeared in the crews' equipment together with the dark yellow in 1943, whereas the field gray of the uniforms accompanied the German army from the first day of the war. The set thus reaches into both halves of the conflict and serves equally well on figures as on the load stowed on the hull.

Working with the paints

The binder is acrylic and the tools are cleaned with water once the work is done. On small gear this has a practical consequence: a stroke that goes wrong can be wiped away with a damp brush before it dries, without harming the coat underneath. The consistency is ready for the airbrush as well, but on crates and jerrycans the paint is picked up straight with a brush. On a mixing palette the tones combine easily, so the set also manages shades that are not directly in it, for example faded tarpaulin or dusty leather.

What to think about in advance

The accessories are painted only once the camouflage of the vehicle is finished, otherwise their fine detail is lost under further coats. Straps and belts stand out if they are given a dark wash once dry and their edges are then lightened a little. On wood it helps to go over the base tone with an almost dry brush and to suggest the grain; without it the crate stays a brown block.