Woodland Multicam Tutorial – Painting Realistic Camo for Miniatures

Multicam can easily overpower small-scale models if the shapes are too large or the contrast too harsh. The key is controlled layering and reducing pattern size to match scale.

Here’s how I painted this test piece:

Step 1 – Prime

I primed the plasticard with Vallejo Grey Primer. A neutral grey provides a balanced colour tone, better paint adhesion and accurate visibility of later layers. Let it fully cure before proceeding.

Step 2 – Base Layer

Base colour: Vallejo Model Colour – Russian Uniform WWII.

Apply an even, thin coat across the entire surface. This forms the foundation green for the pattern.

Step 3 – Dark Yellow Layer (Major Coverage)

Colour used: Vallejo Dark Yellow.

Using a semi-random pattern, I covered approximately 80–90% of the base colour, leaving some Russian Uniform visible underneath.

Maintain soft-edged, organic and slightly stretched shapes. At this stage, it will appear very yellow on camera but will look much more green in person.

Step 4 – Khaki Overlay

Colour: Vallejo Khaki.

Add smaller patches covering about 10% of the previous layer, occasionally connecting some of the dark yellow shapes.

This breaks up the larger areas and adds depth.

Step 5 – Khaki Grey

Colour: Vallejo Khaki Grey.

Introduce mid-tone patches to soften transitions and reduce contrast.

Keep these shapes smaller than the previous layers.

Step 6 – Beige Brown

Colour: Vallejo Beige Brown.

Now add the darker brown shapes.These should:

Cut across earlier colours

Be irregular.

Help create visual rhythm across the pattern for proper camouflage reading.

 

Step 7: White “Anchor” Marks

Use Vallejo White paint to add small, thin, slightly curved, and evenly spaced white dashes across the pattern. These should be visual highlights, not dominant elements.

Step 8: Agrax Earthshade Wash

Apply a controlled Agrax Earthshade wash to unify the pattern. This will tone down the white, add depth, blend transitions and bring scale realism. Allow the wash to dry completely before judging the result.

Final Thoughts

In person, the pattern reads correctly to scale and avoids looking cartoonish or oversized.

Key takeaways:

- Reduce pattern size for accurate scale.

- Build colour gradually.

- Let the wash unify everything.

- Don’t overthink randomness; multicam is controlled chaos.

Paint List Used:

- Vallejo Russian Uniform WWII

- Vallejo Dark Yellow

- Vallejo Khaki

- Vallejo Khaki Grey

- Vallejo Beige Brown

- Vallejo White

- Agrax Earthshade