When the Afrika korp was sent to help the Italians did they show up in field grey uniforms or were they issued tropical gear while still in Germany. I remember Hans vin Luck in his memoirs saying he was issued gear but that was around 1942. What would it have been like for the original 5th light division entraining for the ports of Italy ?
Photos show most troops arriving in Tripoli in the tropical uniforms. Although they also show many of the tank crews still in the continental black panzer uniform.
Thank you for this info, I’m still in the processes of planning a diorama with parts of the Afrika korp being rail headed to Italy. Do you happen to know if the Afrika korp insignia would have been on the early equipment also?
Im thinking of having a tank crew being railheaded to the east while another crew is heading the opposite direction in tropical gear and the title being called “where you headed “
The DAK palm tree? That looks to have been applied after they arrived in Africa. The vehicles in Panzer regiment 5 were still sporting 3. Panzer Division markings when they arrived.
Yes the DAK palm tree i wasnt to sure if it was thought of before or after they came to Afrika.
Uniforms where field grey but was quickly sun bleached to the light tan color we are use to seeing. The first panzers to sent over was still in the dark grey paint and the crew wearing the black uniforms. Later in the war in north Afrika the uniforms issued was still field grey, but they was also using captured British uniforms as well.
The tropical uniforms were made from olive green fabric, not field gray. The initial uniform featured knee high lace up boots and riding breeches. The design was based off a pre WWI German African colonies uniform design. Later experience in battle showed the pants and boots to be impractical and those items were changed to a low ankle boot and loose fitting trousers. The tropical sun helmet was mostly discarded as well in favor of the field cap.
As Stik mentions, the tropical uniform was not only a different colour, but also a light but durable cotton fabric. The continental fieldgrey uniform was made of wool.
The black panzer uniform definitely shows up in Tripoli, but that was just for parade purposes - definitely not combat. Early on you might see the odd black side cap worn:
Another forum, there’s a couple photos posted after the statement is made ‘In Naples the troops are fully outfitted with tropical uniforms in preparation for service in North Africa.’
http://afrikakorps.forumcrea.com/viewtopic.php?pid=18251
regards,
Jack
my mistake you are correct the color was olive green. But the color did sun bleach quickly in the desert. It’s been a long night at work I should of double checked my previous post before entering it.
Thanks for these pictures. I was thinking it would make sense for them to be outfitted with tropical gear in the ports of Italy rather then in Germany while entraining Because it’d be winter time and cold in Germany vs. Warm and sunny in an Italian port on the Mediterranean.
I have also read that some cut down the high lased up boots and breeches. Have also read the uniform color called a reed green or olive green light weigth tropical fabric with canvass type belts in a light green/tan color.
The uniforms faded from the extreme desert heat and sun so you will have a vast variation in clothing shades ranging from a darker green hue to faded light shades. Tops and bottoms also faded differently.
I have been working on this DAK figure just to give you an idea. The shorts a a tad lighter than the top and the high boots are a tad darker.
That looks amazing, the transition of light to dark is excellent. I think if i did some guys in tropical gear at the train station they’d be abot as dark as the shorts all around. Did you use any kind of modulation sets for this figure?
PJ, that is very good looking DAK figure. [Y]
For a Naples/Italy embarkation scenario, you would be looking at new unfaded uniforms. Several of my book references state that the material was produced in a number of shades, ranging from a dark olive drab to a light beige tan. All this means is you don’t have to chase down the perfect colour. In a group setting, photos tend to indicate uniformity of colour, but then something like this appears - unsure if it is photo quality, lighting or…?
Some officers would also take their continental uniform insignias (cheast eagle, shoulder boards and collar litzen) and place them on their new uniforms. These had a dark background as opposed to the regulation orange-brown.
regards,
Jack
Thanks Jack!
TL
I lightened the green paint to get the desired shades. Then did an oil wash to pop the details, cleaned up the shadows then dry brushed a lighter green to bring out the high points.
The skin colors is a Vallejo skin tone base coat, then oils were used for tonal changes.
Thats a gat picture, now I’m starting to get an idea of what i want to do. Thank you ! I think I’m going to make it more of a in Germany scenario with vehicles heading east and west. I’m not positive yet though. I like the idea of multiple figures in tropical and conintnetal uniforms though!
Ive started using the Andrea miniatures paint sets, and occasionally some Mig ones. How many paints did you use on that figure and did you do it all drybrushing or did you airbrush some of it ?
Haven’t used Andrea but have heard great things about them.
I used Model Master enamel med green and white to mix my colors. For the skin as posted above. No air brushing, just careful dry brushing. My washes are home brew with Testors enamel thinner and artist oil paints. A coat of flat clear lacquer is sprayed over to kill any gloss.
I’ll have to give that a try. I tried using Mig’s German Grey for a figure and it said it worked better for airbrushing. It didn’t look awful but i feel like dry brushing is better
Must be air brushing the base coat but at 1/35 or even 1/16 hand brushing is fine. You’ll be surprised how much dry brushing will pop out details.
http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/t/177822.aspx? page=2
here’s my Bison II build I show how I painted the Afrika korp figures for it.