Painting British Napoleonic Highlanders Step by Step

Quick Answer

Start by priming your Victrix Highlanders, then paint the tartan in a simple block-and-line method before layering flesh and metal. This sequence keeps the kilt tidy and avoids smudging.

Painting Steps for 28mm Napoleonic Highlanders

1. 1. Prime and Base the Kilt: Prime the miniature with a light grey or white spray. Paint the kilt area with a dark blue base (e.g., Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue). Keep the paint thin to preserve the pleat details. Common mistake: thick paint fills the pleats. Use two thin coats instead.
2. 2. Add the Tartan Pattern: Paint thin horizontal and vertical lines of a lighter blue (e.g., Vallejo Medium Blue) across the kilt. Then add thin red lines (e.g., Vallejo Gory Red) crossing at the same intervals. Let each line dry before adding the next to avoid bleeding. Checkpoint: step back and check the pattern is even. Uneven spacing is less noticeable at arm's length.
3. 3. Paint the Red Jacket: Apply a base coat of bright red (e.g., Vallejo Red) to the jacket. Use a fine brush to avoid getting red on the kilt or white crossbelts. Shade with a red-brown wash (e.g., Agrax Earthshade). Common mistake: red paint seeping onto the kilt. Paint the jacket before the white crossbelts so you can tidy edges.
4. 4. Paint Flesh and Hands: Use a flesh tone (e.g., Vallejo Basic Skin Tone) for the face and hands. Apply a thin brown wash (e.g., Reikland Fleshshade) to the face to define the eyes and jawline. Paint the eyes last with a tiny dot of white and a black pupil. Checkpoint: if the face looks too dark, reapply the base flesh tone on the cheeks and nose after the wash dries.
5. 5. Paint Metal and Equipment: Paint the musket barrel, bayonet, and buttons with gunmetal (e.g., Vallejo Gunmetal). Highlight the edges with a silver (e.g., Vallejo Silver). Paint the backpacks and cartridge box with dark brown (e.g., Vallejo German Camo Black Brown). Common mistake: silver highlights on the musket barrel look too bright. Drybrush the barrel with gunmetal instead of silver for a worn look.
6. 6. Paint the Highland Bonnet and Feathers: Paint the bonnet dark blue to match the kilt. The feather plume can be white, red, or black depending on the regiment. Use a fine brush to paint the feather tip and a wash to add depth. Checkpoint: the feather should stand out against the bonnet. If it blends in, repaint the bonnet a shade darker.
7. 7. Base and Varnish: Glue the miniature to a 20mm round or 25x25mm square base. Apply texture paint (e.g., Vallejo Brown Earth) and drybrush with a light tan. Once dry, spray with a matte varnish to protect the paint job. Common mistake: varnish frosting. Apply in thin coats on a dry, low-humidity day.

Products Used in This Guide

• British Napoleonic Highlander Flank Companies: This set contains 60 high quality 28mm Napoleonic miniatures including 4 officers, 4 standard bearers, 4 pipers, 4 drummers, 4 NCOs, 24 infantry in march attack/advancing poses, 12 infantry in standing firing/loading poses, 4 infantry kneeling firing, 72 heads in feathered Highland Bonnets, and 48 backpacks. You get enough poses to build a full flank company with command elements, so you can practice the tartan technique on the line infantry before tackling the pipers and officers.