Camo Scheme for my Zvezda 1/100 IS-2

Before I actually get down to the nitty-gritty of painting a camouflage pattern on my IS-2, there is the little matter of applying the decals. There isn't always insignia on WW2 Soviet tanks, in fact sometimes they left the factory and went straight into action 'as was', but more usually at least a vehicle number was applied.

IS-2 model 1943, 88th Independent Guards Heavy Tank Regiment, Berlin, April 1945.
Source: Tanks-Encyclopaedia.com

As a graphic designer I really like the Soviet fonts, but finding good decals in 15mm scale can be a little challenging (Zvezda does not supply any with the model). My usual source of smaller scale armour decals is Minibits.net as they have a rather good selection of historic and generic numbers, letters, military emblems and national symbols in 15mm scale.

I had already purchased their 'Russian WWII 'Cryllic style' numbers [1:100-1:76]' decal sheet for my 'Battle of Kursk' project's T-34s and was tempted to use it for my IS-2 as well...

But at the last minute I changed my mind and went hunting through my decal stash for something more suitable for the IS-2's larger turret. I managed to find a nice set of Cyrillic numbers which had been for a 1/72 BA-10 armoured car, but seemed to just the size I was after.

As usual I prepared my model surface for decals by painting on a small area of gloss varnish, just where the  numbers would go. Once the varnish was dry, I used some Microscale MicroSet setting solution to seat the decal. I find that MicroSet and MicroSol liquids help prevent silvering and hide the decals carrier film (although it can be clearly seen in the above photo, for now).

Once satisfied the decal is smooth, straight and adhering perfectly I let it dry and the dab on some MicroSol around the edges of the decals carrier film. This should further help the film blend in to the model's base coat and make the decal look like it has been painted on.

I conclude the process with a thin coat of satin varnish, to permanently fix the decal and protect it during the weathering stages.

The Camouflage Pattern
I'd decided that I wanted a winter camo pattern for my IS-2. Should I decide to add more late WW2 Soviet tanks to it (for a game of GF9 'TANKS!') I wanted to distinguish these Soviet vehicles from my mid-war 'Kursk' collection (which will be in plain Russian Green for the summer months of the war).

I didn't really want to do an all-over 'white-washed' winter scheme, so looked around for something a little different. Tanks-Encyclopaedia came to my aid with a couple of very nice examples of winter camp schemes...

29th Guards Heavy Tank Battalion, Poland, early 1945. Source: Tanks-Encyclopedia.com

Partial winter camouflage, Eastern Prussia, February 1945. Source: Tanks-Encyclopaedia.com

Initially, I favoured the 'dotty' pattern, but the thought of painting all those on at 15mm scale eventually put me off! The 'snow tiger' pattern won me over as it's just the sort of thing that can be done well with just a brush.

I'll began by sketching out the outlines of the 'snow stripes' using a white chinagraph pencil...

Next: Camo Scheme Painting.