Painting tartan on a 28mm Jacobite Highlander from the Flags of War 1745 Rebellion range

On the 274th anniversary of the Battle of Culloden I present a guide to painting tartan quickly on a 28mm Jacobite Highlander miniature. The miniature is from the Flags of War 1745 Rebellion range.
Paints used:
Coat d'arms Grey Primer
Army Painter Dark Tone
Army Painter Quickshade Wash Mixing Medium
Army Painter Spaceship Exterior
Vallejo Model Color Carmine Red
Vallejo Game Color Sick Green
Vallejo Model Color Deep Green
Vallejo Model Color Flat Yellow

[@rogercastle9406]

Great thanks very much off to try it.

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Enjoy getting the brushes out!

[@basicminiaturepainting]

Very cool work

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Cheers mate!

[@kitswithkaren5003]

Nice tutorial 👍

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Thanks buddy.

[@middleagedmtber2164]

I’ve just bought a napoleonics highlander Sprue on eBay (15 guys) lol .Just to try tartan before I dip my toe and buy 60 of them .Thanks for sharing .Great way to do tartan .cheers mate.

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Good luck - it's so rewarding when it comes good!

[@squigs1917]

Thanks for this, we have a very similar method so I glad I'm on the right track, always good to see how others go about this tricky challenge

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Many ways to skin a cat, but this seems to work for me too!

[@BigMrFirebird]

The best overall tutorial I've found so far. I'm just finishing off the Jacobite Highlander range by Front Rank (now Footsore). One difference I've learned is to block in all the basic colours including the tartan and then apply a wash of Army Painter's Soft Tone. The wash does mute the tartan rather than have it stand out so bold, but it''s still there. Then I've highlighted the tartan like the rest of the figure and I'm pretty happy with the result. Might be a while before I paint any more though. :)

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

My methods are always developing and a wash after doing the pattern is something I have used, especially on the regimental tartans. Might experiment again the next time I paint some tartan again.

[@northernprep4821]

Very helpful ,thanks for the tips,must get round to giving it a go some day soon!

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@philRminiatures]

Inspired job, beautiful and realistic tartans!

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Thanks very much Phil

[@gordontaylor2294]

Thanks for this video, most encouraging. Got some highlanders I bought quite a while ago but have never painted due to the thought of painting tartan, think I will get them out and have a go not. Thanks again

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

I hope it helps you get the highlanders on the table!

[@johnhart7704]

Really great video tutorial . Painting tartan is one of those things that always seems daunting . But you have set out the process in such a straight forward fashion it has tempted me to paint some tartan myself .

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Glad I could be the source of some inspiration for you! Thanks for watching.

[@iainthepict55]

Interested in your technique here,completely different to what i was planning to do.Also the tartan being quite bright surprised me,i figured it would be very muted due to the old style dyes and the bad weather fading everything?.Going to try this on my box of montrose highlanders although how long this will take me is another matter!,cheers.

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

I must admit to using artistic licence on the colour choice. I figure that if you are going to do a tartan pattern it's better if everyone can see that you've gone to the difficulty of doing plaid! There are some surprisingly bright colours in Osprey's The Scottish Jacobite Army 1745-46 to copy as well.

[@maryhinge6334]

Great tutorial. I did some tartan troops recently and you’re right, it’s not as hard as you think it might be. You just need a solid method and plenty of patience.

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

Yes indeed!

[@gavinbooth]

I enjoyed the tutorial and the advice given I have some government set to paint in 18mm and 54mm so topical ! Regards Gav.

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

I got some government highlanders in the recent kickstarter so there'll be tartan on both sides when I eventually get round to them.

[@MayhemGames]

I really like this tutorial! I have been painting my tartan a bit muted on purpose, as I was of the mind it would be during the 45, but you make this look quite easy, while warning it takes practice! (It also takes a fair bit of patience!!) Any advice on the Black Watch tartan?

[@CullodenPaintingStudio]

I saw a video by Braemar Media that had some re-enactors in very bright plaid and I am happy to go along with that. Looks better on the table I think too. The Black Watch is difficult as there are so many black lines in the real thing dividing the blue and green into squares. I would use a blue base coat and do thick blue-green lines that leave the blue and blue-green the same width. I'd layer deeper green at the intersecting points and finally I'd use thin black lines through the centres of all the green and blue areas. It's hard to balance realism and what can be done on a 28mm model though.

[@MayhemGames]

@@CullodenPaintingStudio Thanks for the advice! Some color is never amiss!