The Browning .50 caliber M2HB heavy machine gun has been around for nearly 100 years, a remarkable feat in a span of years when battlefield technology has evolved immensely. The M2’s deadly flexibility in use as an infantry support weapon and mounting on aircraft, land vehicles and naval vessels has served the US and many other military organizations around the world over its history. Clearly, this gun not only has fire power but also significant staying power.

I’ve been gearing up for my first Bolt Action tournament at Nu Brand Gaming in Brooklyn, NY, and the M2 was one the one missing piece to my US 101st Airborne force I really wanted to get ready for the table. I got a deal on the metal cast model from Warlord Games and have chosen to paint it up as an Airborne support weapon unit. Some pics of the finished gun and its four-man crew are found below along with my simple approach to getting models painted up and ready for action.

Painting 28mm US Airborne Support Weapons

1. Clean flash from metal models with a sharp knife and glue to metal washer or plastic bases.
2. Apply filler putty to bases. When dry, scrape off excess with a sharp knife.
3. Base coat models and bases with flat black spray primer.
4. Paint uniforms and bandages on helmets with Tallarn Sand.
5. Paint helmets and knee and elbow patches with Waaagh! Flesh.
6. Paint faces and hands with Tallarn Flesh.
7. Paint webbing and packs with Baneblade Brown.
8. Paint bases, boots, gun stocks and helmet straps with Dark Brown.
9. Apply Agrax Earthshade wash to uniforms, helmet netting, webbing and packs.
10. Mix 50/50 Baneblade Brown and Off White and lightly dry brush packs, webbing and socks.
11. Lightly dry brush bases, gun stocks, helmet netting, holsters and elbow and shoulder patches with Baneblade Brown.
12. Paint metal gun, bazooka and mortar parts with black and finish with a light dry brush of metallic silver.
13. Paint eyes with small dots of Off White and Dark Brown. Clean up around eyes with Tallarn Flesh.
14. Mix 50/50 Tallarn Flesh and Off White and brush highlights on cheekbones, chins, forehead, nose and hands.
15. Apply Company B decals to shoulders and helmets, followed by a coat of Solvaset decal fixative from Walthers.
16. Cover bases in white glue and cover in 50/50 mix of fine light green and dark green grass flock.
17. Glue small pieces of clump foliage to base.
18. Spray coat completed models with matte finish.