Cyberpunk RED Combat Zone Paint Set

Colors for ruined districts

Combat Zone is a skirmish tabletop game from the world of Cyberpunk RED in which small gangs fight over burnt-out blocks in the middle of a city. The subject matches that: concrete with cracks, charred sheet metal, makeshift cover and clothing nobody washes. The set is tailored to this setting and carries damped tones with a few sharp accents.

Dirt is not painted, it is stippled

An evenly painted area looks false on a model like this. Stippling is more effective, that is dabbing with the tip of an old brush with shortened bristles. Load a little paint, tap perpendicularly into the area and let the ground show through in places. The irregular structure that arises suggests stains and shabbiness better than any continuous application.

A worn edge with a sponge

For flaked and rusted sheet metal a piece of foam sponge suits. Dip it into a dark tone, wipe the surplus off onto paper so that only a hint is left, and tap it lightly onto the edges and corners. The chipping sits where the model would really rub: above the knees, on the edges of the plates and around the handles. The smaller it is, the more believable it looks.

When an airbrush comes in handy

With an airbrush, lay the ground and a uniform cast from above that ties the scene together. The rest is handwork. The colorant is too thick for an airbrush, so thin it and spray at a lower pressure, so that the thin coat is not atomized before it settles on the surface. Keep the nozzle close and rather add a pass, as one heavy dose would flood the engraving and the surface would lose its crispness.