For Dragon’s 1/72 M4 Sherman with wading kit, there is an option for an M4 at Monte Cassino.
My question is, should it actually be black and olive drab instead of tan and olive drab?
Yes, it is valid for Italy.
Do you mean the olive drab and tan is accurate?
Yes he does.
It is more like OD and a dark tan such as a color known as “Light Earth”.
G
Would Tamiya’s Desert Yellow work as a substitute?
Close, very close, but probably too light.
Check this out. http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/list/acrylic_2.htm
The color you want is Flat Earth XF 52, Desert Yellow is XF 59
G
One of the camo coulors used on US tanks in Italy was “earth yellow”. Tamiya’s Desert yellow is close to that color and should work with a bit of lightening up.