At present I’m building a Tiger I Ausf E (Dragon kit #6383) for Tigerman’s ‘Steel Cats’ GB.
The scheme I’ve chosen is for an Italian Tiger I (probably at Anzio) in 1944.
The scheme is the usual Dunky basecoat which I have covered by my usual Tamiya Dark Yellow/Deck Tan mix (50/50). The cammo is light, sparse 'slithers of Rotbraun and Olivgrun - I like it as it will allow plenty of basecoat to show through which will help the weathering look great.
Now, I could use Tamiya Red Brown and Dark Green but I’d like to use something different. I’m thinking of using either Vallejo Model Air or the new AK ‘1945 German Late Colours’ that incorporate the correct RAL colours - the set has two shades of DY, two shades of Rotbraun and two shades of Olivgrun.
BUT I do like Vallejo Model Air and using it will be a lot cheaper - can anyone tell me what the best colours are from the Model Air range to match the Rotbraun and Olivgrun? What colour names of Model Air do I need to buy to make the closest match?
Ben, Seriously… Don’t get hung up on “correct RAL colours” If research has shown us anything it’s that the colors of German armored vehicles was anything but consistent. Even studying black and white photos one can see a huge variety of color saturation for both base color and secondary camo colors without taking into account dust and lighting conditions. My only advice is to choose a lighter color than you think you need since generally speaking all of the colors will darken to a degree as weathering progresses.
[dto:] What he said… RAL color adherance to standards for the Olive Green and Red Brown ended when the can was opened and the colors applied. Tiger Is were not camoflaged at the factory so the variables were too many in the field. Pick the ones you like best out of what you mentioned that you have already.
Yeah, what they said… but seriously, IIRC the camo colors were thinned and applied in the field with whatever they could get their hands on (especially late war), so you can imagine the variables at work. Thinning ratio, what they used to thin, how thick it was applied, application method, over dirt/dust, whatever. I approach it as there is no real right/wrong. Only that it generally looks correct and I like the way it turned out. In my case, it’s the painting skill that is the limiting factor… [;)] HTH
I think also, if you go to the Vallejo site you will find a manufacturer paint cross reference chart. You can pick the RLM color and find the corresponding Model Air, Panzer Aces, etc., color.