Painting the Alvis Stalwart “Stolly” in 28mm
A grey primer, green base coat and a few camouflage patches take the 28mm Alvis Stalwart “Stolly” from the bench to the table. RichC’s original painting notes show how he finished the wheels, removable sides and cargo bed.
The full-size Stalwart
The Stalwart was a six-wheel-drive amphibious load carrier built by Alvis. The FV620 Mk1 entered British Army service in 1963; the later FV622 Mk2 followed in 1966. The Sarissa kit represents the Mk1.
Designed to carry up to five tonnes of supplies over rough ground, it was used to resupply units in the field, including the British Army of the Rhine. Sweden also operated Stalwarts.
In the water, two Dowty water-jet units provided propulsion. That made it a rather different prospect from a conventional cargo truck.
- Role
- High Mobility Load Carrier
- Drive
- 6 × 6
- Payload
- Up to 5 tonnes
- Weight
- About 9 tonnes
- Length
- About 6.36m
- Width
- About 2.62m
- Road speed
- About 40mph
- Water propulsion
- Dowty water jets
- Protection and weapons
- Unarmoured and unarmed load carrier
For a closer look at the later Mk2, watch Inside the Chieftain’s Hatch: FV622 Stalwart MkII.
RichC’s painting notes
RichC shared the following account in July 2020.
It's such a great wagon that it found its way into civilian hands and has been seen painted as a thunderbird 2 and other weird schemes. I'm going for one stationed on the Rhine.
Grey primer and a green base
Starting out I used a light coat of a grey primer spray followed by a green.
The dark-green wash
Next, a quick all-over wash of a dark green colour is used to create some shadow and depth. it also adds to a bit more of a weathered look.
Red-brown camouflage
Camo schemes break up the pattern. Here I used a red-brown, applied in blotches, only a few would go on to the lower hull and probably only on the front. Don't worry too much about mistakes, I just concentrated on making the edges smooth and probably no more than a quarter of the green covered over.
Dark-grey camouflage and wheels
I used a really dark grey with some black added next, it fades in the sun after all. I used it to add more camo as with the red-brown I covered about a third of the green. I also used the same colour to complete the wheels.
Drybrushing the cargo bed
Now it's a bit of earth colour to drybrush inside the removable sides and bed of the truck. Once done I used a very light dusting of the same colour all over the Stolly to wether it in just a bit. Just remember to wipe out that extra paint on a tissue before brushing over the model.
Add it to my collection... and plan for a game of course ;)
Cheers RichC
The finished model
The Stolly kit and another amphibian
Find the 28mm Stalwart Mk1 kit in the store. For a different amphibious load carrier, the 28mm DUKW is also part of the range.
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