amount of paint

Thanks a lot, oh and hatewall, I've already found that post, and it was very informative and helpful.

Slight variations in shading is good unless you have your figures in full dress. If you have access to MM paints, you should be pretty good to go out of the bottle except for shadows and highlights and that can be done a brushful at a time for each figure.

Somethng to consider, you're using three differnt manufaturers here with differnt levels of detail. The Dragon stuff is going to be much crisper in detail than the ohter two. The Italeri set is at least 25 years old and the poses are quite stiff. If you're mixing these figures in a dio, make sure you use the same equipment, since you're likely to see size vaviations in rifles, canteens, etc.

Neo,

Please see my post about Bastogne winter equipment. These are facts from a historian.

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33605

One note, the italari set of screaming eagles paratroopers has US flag brassiards molded on the arms. these were only used during a jump and would not be found on troopers in battle.

Thanks. Does anyone kow of any stores that carry the pipettes?

Perhaps you can come up with a "formula" for the colours you need, like "1 part Olive Drab and 2 parts Dark green". That way you won't have to worry about saving paint, and getting the colour right again isn't as hard as you think. Besides, I often read here that weathering and wear causes some slight colour variation in uniforms, which is always a handy excuse for slight differences in uniform colour on your figure.

Can't help with the colors themselves.

Depending on the amount of paint needed I either mix a batch and store it in empty spare bottles or set up a factory line and use the paint in one go.
Got quiet a selection of pre-mixed base-colours that are thinned and adjusted as I need them.

As for measuring amounts I use plastic pipettes from a chemical or arts supply store.

HTH.

Oh, and I'm trying to use Model Master Enamels, if that makes any difference