Painting British Expeditionary Force 1914-1918
By Wargames Atlantic | Published: 2026-10-28
Category: How-to Guides
A step-by-step painting guide for the British Expeditionary Force 1914-1918 miniatures from Wargames Atlantic, covering uniform colors, equipment, and basing tips.
Quick answer
Paint your Wargames Atlantic British Expeditionary Force 1914-1918 miniatures with a simple khaki uniform base, leather equipment, and muted metal tones for a historically accurate look on the tabletop.
Why paint British Expeditionary Force miniatures for 1914-1918?
The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I evolved from the early war 'Old Contemptibles' in khaki service dress to the later war 'Tommies' with steel helmets and webbing. Painting these miniatures requires attention to the shift in uniform details, but the core colors remain consistent: khaki for the tunic and trousers, brown leather for belts and pouches, and muted brass for buttons and badges.
Wargames Atlantic's British Expeditionary Force box provides multi-part plastic figures that cover both early and late war looks, making it ideal for a flexible force. The key challenge is avoiding a flat, monochrome look since the uniform is largely one color. Use shading and subtle contrasts on webbing and skin tones to bring the models to life.
Step-by-step painting guide
- 1. Prime and basecoat the uniform: Prime the model with a light gray or tan primer. Basecoat the tunic and trousers with a khaki color like Vallejo Khaki or Citadel Zandri Dust. Apply two thin coats for even coverage. Avoid using pure tan; add a touch of olive to the khaki for a more realistic WW1 shade.
- 2. Paint the webbing and equipment: Use a dark brown like Citadel Rhinox Hide for the leather belts, pouches, and straps. For late war figures with webbing, use a lighter khaki-gray such as Vallejo English Uniform. Keep the webbing separate from the uniform by using a slightly darker or lighter shade than the base khaki.
- 3. Paint the skin, boots, and metal: Paint exposed skin with a flesh tone (e.g., Citadel Cadian Fleshtone) and shade with Reikland Fleshshade. Boots are black or dark brown. Use Gunmetal or Leadbelcher for buttons, buckles, and rifle barrels, then wash with Nuln Oil. Don't paint every single button; a quick drybrush of silver over the wash works well for mass painting.
- 4. Apply washes for depth: Apply a brown wash like Agrax Earthshade over the entire uniform and equipment to add shadows and define creases. For the metal, use Nuln Oil. Let each wash dry fully before moving on. Too much wash can darken the khaki; wick away excess from flat areas with a dry brush.
- 5. Highlight the uniform and face: Drybrush the uniform with a lighter khaki (e.g., Vallejo Iraqi Sand) to bring out the raised areas. Highlight the face with a lighter skin tone on the nose, cheeks, and brow. Focus highlights on the shoulders, knees, and helmet ridges for maximum tabletop impact.
- 6. Base the miniature: Apply texture paint (e.g., Stirland Mud) or sand and PVA glue. Paint the base in a muddy brown, drybrush with a lighter brown, and add static grass or tufts for a European battlefield look. Match the base color to your wargaming table for a cohesive army display.
Product details
- British Expeditionary Force: The British Expeditionary Force set includes figures from the Phoney War to Dunkirk, covering early war khaki and late war equipment. This gives you the flexibility to build a force for any period of WW1 wargaming, from 1914 to 1918, without needing multiple kits.
British Expeditionary Force
