Help with WWII German Camo patterns

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I’ve recently returned to modeling German armor after SEVERAL years and need some help locating some good reference material for painting German camo patterns on different types of vehicles. I realize that there were no set patterns, each dependent on the region, and/or the local commanders preference, but any info (web sites preferably) would be GREATLY appreciated !!

I’ve been modeling HO/HOn3 model trains professionally for the past 10 years, so I don’t have a lot of info on this subject (yet)…Any help you can offer would be fantastic !!

2

Can’t help you with any reference…

But Camoflague were applied by the crew of the tank themselves… just to clear that up [:D]

3

This is a question to which there are no right answers. With a few exceptions, the vehicles came out of the factory in overall Panzer Grey or Dark Yellow, and were camouflaged locally, often bt the tank crews themselves, according to local conditions and the idesa of local commanders. To this end, each German tank came with its own spray gun and compressor.

The best approach, I’ve found, is to find photographs of the individual vehicle you’re modelling (not always easy) or, failing that, look at pictures of vehicles deployed in the same area at the same time. And remember that rear echelon vehicles were often not camouflaged at all.

Cheers,

Chris.

4

Another point is that the camo paint issued to the units was gasoline-soluable, so that’s what they used to thin it for application, often with varying degrees of viscosity that affected the tint. Some crews applied it with a brushes and mops, unthinned, as well…

5

Many of the sites available in the past are now gone. Here are a few that are left;

http://panzerwaffe.pl/krzemek/galeria.htm

http://www.chamtec.com/tank.htm

http://byrden.com/panzers/Colours/

http://www.panzerworld.net/colours.html

http://ww2drawings.jexiste.fr/Files/1-Vehicles/Axis/1-Germany/German-Armor.htm

It’s a start, but nothing beats a well stocked home library. Start collecting some books. [;)]

Publishers like; Schiffer, JJ Fedorowicz, Osprey, Concord, Squadron/Signal, Kagero and many others cover German armor camouflage.

6

THANK YOU Kykeon !!!

I have cheched out the web sites and will spend hours (I’m sure) looking through them…especially the first two…only wish they had an English version !! These were exactly what I was looking for and I hope other members of this forum have the chance to see them.

As for the books…my library will grow over time and as funds allow…thanks for the publishers referals !

7

Thamks for the responce Hans !

I had heard most of this before…except for the paint being gasoline soluable…this will definitely help in weathering the paint jobs as the gas spillage from refueling would have an effect on the camoflage…Thanks again !

8

No sweat… Just remember that the German tanks were deisel-fueled… It’s not going to affect the paint the same way gas would… Mostly, diesel spills act lke oil and just attract dust…

9

HVH: most German tanks were petrol fueled, not Diesel.

10

You’re right… I thought the Maybachs were diesels… Disregard my last…

11

Thanks Chris !!

All you guys have been a great help already and I hope you have a chance to check out the links that I’ve received already…some excellent reference material.

Thanks again to Hans regarding the petrol (diesel) fuel…That will definitely help on the final weathering.

I will be posting some pictures after my models are finished and I hope everyone will enjoy them. I have 4 models in progress so they should be ready pretty soon.