|
|
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 | 1365 |
| Messages | 6918 |
|
|
| Subject: | Re: Jagdtiger primer color ? |  |
| Date: | Feb 21, 2007 |
| From: | Gerald Owens | |
Humbrol Brick Red is supposed to be a decent match for German red oxide primer.
That said, from December 1944, all armored vehicle parts were supposed to be finished in Olivgrun by the subcontractors prior to delivery to the assembly plant (in this case, Nibelungenwerke in St. Valentin, Austria). Disruptive cammo using Dunkelgelb and/or Rotbraun was to be applied at the assembly plant in hard edged bands. This policy was to be phased in by March, 1945 at the latest.
The 10 Porsche-chassis Jagdtiger were built earlier, and had the base coat of Dunkelgelb with disruptive bands of Olivgrun and Rotbraun, and nearly all had Zimmerit.
The Henschel-chassis vehicles were delivered much later, and some would likely have had have had the interim camouflage of exposed red primer with bands of Oligrun and Dunkelgelb. The Henschel vehicles did not have Zimmerit. It's not known exactly when Nibelungenwerke switched over to the final Olivgrun-based cammo system.
As for the units, there were only two. The 653rd was established first, with a 44 vehicle organization almost identical to a Tiger battalion, and used the conventional three digit numbering system. This was followed by the 512th, organized around a smaller, 30 gun battalion in three companies. However, the three companies operated separately, and the company commanders never even met. The first company, commanded by Ernst, used the prefix X followed by a numeral in white painted high on the superstructure sides, while Carius' second company used a Y. Both companies were trapped in the Ruhr Pocket in April, 1945. The Jagdtigers finished in an overall single color (presumably Olivgrun) were the incomplete third company, which was being fitted out further east in the Harz Mountains. On paper they used a "3--" numbering system, but never got around to painting numbers on their vehicles. Most had transportation tracks only due to materiel shortages.
The last four vehicles issued at the factory days before the end of the war were placed under the command of an SS officer, but their combat career was only about a day, as the Russian and American Armies had met nearby, and they surrendered to the US. They had pattern painted camouflage, and one had a teddy bear painted on the upper fighting compartment next to the gun mantlet. |
| |
|
|
|
