M3 Lee Camo?

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Hi All.

I am currently building the Tamiya M3 Lee.
I have been led to believe that during the North African campaign, a few of these tanks wore a camo pattern. Am I correct in this assumption and if so, do any of you know what the pattern/colours were?

Many thanks,

Corvus

2

Hi Corvus ( boet ) I am not too sure but I have seen a camo pattern in light sand and o/d on a model by Don Skinner a while ago but it might of been a Grant MK1 Im not sure if this helps but as if this Grant existed but if it did it is possible that the lee would of as well.

Tim

3

I just searched the web and come up with anything. Not saying that they didn’t camo it, but in all my books I have yet to see one in camo for the Africa campaign. Bryan

4

I’ve seen some Shermans lately with a sand/OD camo scheme (like the Dragon M4A1 re-release) that were used in Italy and the Pacific, so I think you could get away with it on the Lee IMHO.

5

This is the sand/OD camo that Pete referred to. One of my ongoing projects

6

From what I can find most Lee’s were the solid O.D. I do remember seeing a Lee that had a in the field brushed on camo. Sorta like what they did in Europe with white wash but with sand brown.
I don’t know how accurate this pict. is but you can see it here.

http://www.militarymodeler.com/portal/category_234/content_1760/contentview.html

7

The info/chat is much appreciated.

Thanks for the “boet” Tim. Where did you hear this? (Expat?)
I have also never come across a Lee with a camo pattern. I was contemplating doing a “in the field” camo job as Stug also suggested. What I thought of doing is painting it all in OD and then roughly applying a sand on most of the exterior, but leaving the edges on the vehicle and hatches OD. Does this make sense?

8

That sounds like a good way to go. I’m sure somewhere there were Lee’s camoed up but as of yet no pictures. Doesn’t mean they weren’t!!