ACU Paint scheme

[Deleted]

If anyone is familiar with the ACU pattern on US Army uniforms, perhaps they could help me figure out how to paint my Guard as such. I think that an army with modern camo patterns would be cooler than the "chocolate chip" desert camo of the Gulf War.

[Deleted]

I haven't tried painting it myself, but I think the best way to mimic ACU is to paint flecktarn style dots using three different shades of gray.

[Deleted]

What shades would you suggest? And what is flekctarn style?

[syphon]

Flecktarn (German: "pattern camouflage"; also known as Flecktarnmuster, Fleckentarn or simply Fleck) is a 3-, 4-, 5- or 6-colour disruptive camouflage pattern. The use of spots creates a "dithering" effect, which eliminates hard boundaries between the different colours in much the same way the squares in the newest digital camouflage patterns do. The pattern is designed for use in temperate woodland terrain. It has been adapted as desert camouflage by varying the colours. Thank you, Wikipedia.

[telecustom]

Well, as I look at my ACUs. The colors I see are: Fortress Grey, Codex Grey, and Shadow Grey. Have fun painting the pattern. That is going to be alot of dots.

[Commissar]

Yes, ALOT of dots, but you can do it comrade! Have faith! ...and patience....lol.

[Deleted]

Well, thanks guys for all of the helpful hints. I'll really work on that!

[ssgtdude (M.I.A)]

Easy way yo do this is to use masking tape. You can use paint bombs (Spray cans), air brush, or even brushes with this.

Take the base coat, (Your lightest color) then mask off with masking tape. Since you are looking to emulate the digital look you will need to use th 1/16 or 1/8" tape Or, you could use the same masking tape they use to make curves with. With a sharp hobby knife cut into the tape in the square. Remember to only cut the tape not so much pressure that you are cutting into the paint below it.

After the masking is applied you can go ahead and put down your next color of paint. Leaving the old masking tape in place you will now add another layer of tape. cut the digital squares

Then paint. After paint is dried you are ready to reveal the product.


Remember when using any sort of masking the golden rule. That which is masked will protect that which is under it. So basically you need to know that you are painting in reverse pattern.

Since paint tends to bleed under masking tape I would advise to spray a coat of sealer down to seal the edges. Makes no sense to go through the trouble for masking and then pull the tape off and see that the paint bled under the tape.

When using tape make sure you get a good seal. This includes in the panel lines as well. Any place for paint to get under your masking is a potential problem.

[Deleted]

Thanks SSGT.