Russian Green 17ml

Russian Green is an acrylic paint from the AK Interactive Standard range, formulated with high pigmentation to achieve solid, even coverage in one or two coats. Water-based with a satin finish, it is the reference shade for Soviet armoured vehicles of the Second World War and the Cold War period, and works equally well with a brush or an airbrush. Feroca is the official AK Interactive distributor in Spain, so you can buy it with a full guarantee of authenticity.

Technical specifications

What it is used for

Russian Green is the standard colour of the Soviet Red Army, and remains essential in any military modelling collection. Its versatility makes it useful beyond historical scale models:

• Base coat for Soviet armoured vehicles of the Second World War: T-34, IS-2, SU-85, KV-1, and the entire family of armoured vehicles from the 1941–1945 period.
• Warsaw Pact vehicles and military equipment from the Cold War period.
• Wargame miniatures with a Soviet military theme or science-fiction military factions with a historical aesthetic.
• Dioramas set on the Eastern Front: a chromatic base on which to apply weathering techniques, chipping, washes, and pigments.
• Cosplay and props: pieces of stylised military equipment, helmets, resin or foam accessories that require that characteristic green shade.
• SFX projects and scenography where a saturated, recognisable military green is needed.

How to use it

1. Surface preparation: apply a suitable primer (grey or black depending on the finish you are looking for) and let it dry completely before painting. A clean, grease-free surface ensures proper adhesion.
2. Shake well: shake the bottle for at least 30 seconds. The mixing ball inside helps to homogenise the pigment. Open the bottle and stir with a toothpick if you have not used it for a while.
3. Thinning: for brush use, apply it straight from the bottle or add a few drops of distilled water or acrylic retarder. For airbrush, thin it 30–50% with distilled water or AK acrylic thinner until it reaches a skimmed-milk consistency.
4. Application: apply in thin, even coats. With a brush, work in the direction of the detail. With an airbrush, maintain a pressure of 12–15 psi and a distance of about 15–20 cm from the piece.
5. Drying between coats: allow 20–30 minutes of drying time before applying a second coat or continuing with washes and shading. Full drying for wet-on-wet techniques takes several minutes; for dry techniques, wait at least one hour.
6. Cleaning: clean the brush or airbrush with water and soap while the paint is still wet. If it has already dried, use an acrylic cleaner.
7. Final varnish: to protect the piece and prepare it for washes and filters, apply a matt or satin varnish according to the desired finish.

Tips and tricks

How to achieve realistic weathering on Russian Green

Russian Green responds very well to chipping techniques. Apply a coat of lacquer between the primer and the base colour, then work the weathering with water and a stiff-bristle brush, or use the salt technique before the top coat dries. You can also use the dry brushing method with a lighter shade mixed with Russian Green to simulate wear from use in high-friction areas such as edges, hatches, and tracks.

Colour modulation and zenithal priming

To add depth and volume, use Russian Green as the base shade and add white or a very desaturated yellow for the highlighted areas. For the shadows, mix in a dark brown or black in very small proportions. The zenithal airbrush technique works especially well here: black primer, a zenithal grey coat, and then translucent Russian Green applied in thin layers.

Compatibility with washes and pigments

Once dry and varnished with a gloss varnish, the surface is ideal for receiving oil washes or acrylic washes from the AK range. Earth, mud, and dust pigments adhere perfectly to the final matt finish and complement Russian Green with dirt, rust, and battlefield dust effects typical of the Eastern Front.

Frequently asked questions