There are no reference pictures of the final 4? elefants that fought in early 45 in the defense of Berlin. Would they still be painted in the “net-style” or “lizard” camo? Or possibly something different? I’m trying to model one of these vehicles and wanted some opinions as to what their camo would be at that stage in the war. Thanks for any input!
Paradox01
good question paradox i think lizzard but the only time ive seen one was an old news reel thing after the fall with kids crawling on one. you gatta wonder how much of the camo is just primer? good luck i wish i knew.
In The Combat History of Schwere Panzerjager Abteilung 653 is a color plate of one of the last Elefants in Berlin. It is not in the typical “net” style, but a diffuse pattern of short green and brown squiggles over dark yellow, with about 50% of the brown squiggles roughly following the pattern of the green ones. The zimmerit is heavily chipped. There is also a photograph of one of these last beasts, which were reassigned to sPzJgAbt 614. No markings are present, not even a Balkenkreuz.
Arg, I hate that damn camo pattern - so damn…ugly lol But if thats what it was - what can ya do? Thanks for the input guys!
Is it this one you meen ?
I would love to see that picture of the Elefent in Berlin. I’ve been wanting to do a diorama of an Elefant in the final battle, but can’t find any reference material. I don’t suppose you could scan that and e-mail it to me could you?
Dan; It is a very similar pattern to the model you posted, although the color plate I have is a considerably sparser and more open pattern, with few of the squiggles touching each other.
Scott; The photo on page 429 of The Combat History of sPzJgAbt 653 doesn’t look much like Berlin. There aren’t any buildings visible and it just looks like it’s stuck in the mud somewhere. I’d like to believe that the photo is genuine, that is to say that it was actually one of the last Elefants and was actually taken somewhere near where they say it’s supposed to be, but who knows. For the $100 this book costs, it better be!
The photo is so washed-out that you can only barely make out the camo at all. The caption reads; “The last 4 Elephant tank destroyers operated in the Konigswusterhausen, Zossen and Berlin areas, where they met their fate. Most of the support units from the 614th Heavy Panzerjager Company succeeded in breaking out of the Berlin pocket.”
Here is the color plate;
And here is the photo;
