Just got the Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.F2 by Dragon, # 6360.
The kit instructions references 7 different colour schemes and markings but only with one colour scheme decoded in colour references.
Crap.
For # 431 of Pz.Rgt.36, 14.Pz.Division, Russia 1942 they want us to mix 70% Dunkel Gelb and 30% Wood Brown for the base colour and patch it up with German Grey.
Can someone please verify that this is right, it just does not look right.
There are documented cases where units added RAL 8000 or 8020 interspersed with the standard Panzer Gray finish on the Eastern Front in 1942. I’ve no idea if the color mixing they are suggesting yields either of those colors, but they pattern they are referencing is legit.
Here’s a handy link for checking chips for the RAL colors (it’s a modern chart and 8020 is no longer used): http://www.lacorss.com/ral.htm
and here for general reference on colors used at different time periods for German armor: http://www.panzerworld.net/colours
Thx wbill, the RAL link was very useful.
Since Dragon only bothered to give the coulour references to 1 out of 7 scems it just seemed a good idea to check it out.
Thank You!
From my research, I have come up with this info:
The standard base colour in use up until early '43 was Panzer Grey. When vehicles went to Russia, they were to be overpainted with Dark Yellow in a random disruptive pattern 2/3rds PG to 1/3rd DY - basically the reverse of what was being applied in North Africa (where Yellow-Brown was being used instead of the Dark Yellow). Dark Yellow as a base colour wasn’t specified until about Feb '43. The colour mix Dragon are suggesting would correlate with a Nth Africa vehicle, but I doubt reasonably new Pz IV F2’s would’ve been pulled from the battles there to fight in Russia.
I think Dragon may be somewhat confused on it’s color names, but not entirely wrong.
On March 25th, 1942, orders were given for an interim paint scheme designated as “Tropen”, which was for service in “Tunisia and with some units sent to southern Russia”, (see Thomas Jentz, Germany’s Tiger Tanks, D.W. to Tiger I, page 190, Appendix F). These were to be sprayed in a two-toned scheme of 2/3 Braun (RAL 8020) and 1/3 Grau (RAL 7027). This is the scheme that the Bovington Tiger currently wears.
Note that the Grau (RAL 7027) is not Panzer Gray, but a much lighter, gray-green color.
Here is a color plate of a Panzer IV F2 of the 14th Pz. Dv., painted in this scheme;
This plate is from page 126 of Wehrmacht Panzer Divisions 1939-45. Amber Publishing.
Obviously, we need to give a little latitude for the apparent color differences here.
Right, now it makes a bit more sense. This is the scheme recommended for use in North Africa from about May '42 till it’s end (Sand-Grey disruptive patterns over Yellow-Brown. As a variation on the theme, PzAbt 501 Tigers received the 8020 base colour, but with 7008 Green-Grey patterns when they arrived in Africa, whilst 501’s Tigers in Tunisia stayed in Panzer Grey but got an overspray of 6003 Olive Green (info courtesy of Actung Panzer)
I have seen something similar in the DAK link bellow but that is rather RAL8000 Gelbbraun (Yellow Brown) with clouds of RAL7008 Graugrun (Grey Green).
http://www.panzerbaer.de/colours/wh_camo-c.htm
Thank you guys, Kykeon, your reference is the part 
I only need to figure out what Dragon intended to show with their remaining 6 sceemes :S
Yep, this was the earlier Nth Africa camo scheme recommended for use from early '41 to early '42 - basically when the Germans first landed in-country to help out the Italians.