G’day tread heads, just got the new AFV Aussie Centurion and it looks great. Got some nice ideas in it like glass molded in clear, turned aluminum guntube, etc. Now I got a question about Aussie colos in 'Nam. AFV calls out Gunze Olive Drab #2, the same color they reference for US armor. I thought the Austrailian equipment was dark green (might be wrong here), anybody got any ideas on that? RickM
Hi Rick
If you visit the Australian Vietnam Veterans Museum website at www.vietnamvetsmuseum.org you can see a photo of an Australian mk v Centurion. It is not one that saw service in Vietnam but it is the same colour.
Humbrol nr 30 would be a good start with as a base colour. Add some yellow and white to suggest fading. I believe that the Australian armour at that time were painted with an anti infra red element in the paint.
hope this helps
regards John Loughman , Model Curator
Rick: Our Cents were delivered to Australia in the same British Bronze Green which was in use at the time. Either, whilst here or when they arrived in country (can’t remember which) they were then painted in our Lustreless Olive Drab (correct colour match avail from White Ensign). They remained in this colour in theatre, before receiving their own cam scheme back in Australia. For some really great refs & general info on this tank, go to: www.anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com.
HTH
Just tried the ANZAC Steel link it didn’t work, it should actually be http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/
Yeh ok, whatever. As long as you found it. If my address didn’t work, then a google search would’ve come up trumps anyway. Hope you all found some good info there.
Some great info on that ANZAC website! I know this is a bit of topic, but in the same general area about Aussie armor in Vietnam. Did the M113 FSV’s also arrive in country (Vietnam) in Bronze Green or were they in OD when they deployed?
The 113’s were originally supplied by Uncle Sam in the relevant Olive Drab of the time up till about '68, thereafter gradually receiving our Lustreless Olive Drab. That’s not to say some didn’t survive in US Olive Drab up to the time of being painted in AusCam.
Looks like this is a good kit. I have 2, will build one OOTB, and the other i will be using the ledgends conversion for extra parts. I’ve always wonderd about the colors too
For Shaun68, thanks for the color info. Might give the White Ensign a try. For everyone else who responded, thanx much appreciate the info. Color memories can fade a lot. I was in "Nam in 67-68 in the Delta with the brown water navy but no where near any Aussie forces so didn’t get to see any of the equipment. Ask me what color the PBR’s were and all I can tell ya is I remember them being dark green (BTW White Ensign has USN Riverine Green) if anyones interested in doing a PBR. RickM (Marty)
Marty, you may want to locate Firestorm Models (sorry I don’t have a link). They have mastered some resin accessories for this kit, not the least of which is a better mantlet cover.
IIRC, www.modelmecca.com was/is supposed to carry Firestorm Models? I have this kit and do want to get a mantlet cover from Firestorm.