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Forums - Modelling / Painting |
The painting forum is for the discussion of techniques on the painting, decalling and weathering phases of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
| Topics | 1432 |
| Messages | 7349 |
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| Subject: | Re: Proper German WWII Base COLOR??? |  |
| Date: | Feb 16, 2001 |
| From: | David Nickels | |
Painting guidelines vary a bit from tank to tank. In general, during the War years, tanks left the factory in a dark
grey base coat until February 1943. Tanks being sent to Africa were initially grey also, and were repainted in various
tan, brown and olive green shades. Later, tanks going to Africa were factory painted in suitable tropical colors.
Some tanks painted like this were sent to Southern Russia, as well. From February 1943 onwards, dark yellow was a
factory base coat. Tanks were delivered yellow and individual units applied their own field camo with green, brown,
and more yellow paint. It seems like the early tanks in this scheme often had lighter camouflage. Look at photos
from the Kursk era, and there are a lot of tanks with mainly yellow or light spots of colors added. By 1944 more dark
green and brown were used on the yellow base. By late 44, early 45, tank colors generally changed again. Dark green
was used as a base, with yellow and brown being applied as camo. Also, some tanks were base coated in red oxide
primer, and then painted with green and yellow camouflage. At this time also, factory applied camo became common
instead of field applied. Records indicate that Field Grey could also be used as a tank base color. This is not the
dark grey/panzer grey shade. Evidence of field grey or dark grey tanks from 44-45 is shakey, but plausible. A lot of
tanks painted dark green could be mistaken for grey in b/w photos. |
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