My son and I are readying to tear into the Hasegawa 1/72 Morser Karl kit. We want it to be an appropriate paint scheme, and the kit promotes a tan/green/brown mix.
Looking around, there are artist’s depictions of a solid gray, as well as a gray/white camaflouge version. Since the only photos are black and white of course, we’re a bit lost.
What colors were these things originally found in, in reality?
It depends on the time frame as to which paint scheme you use. Originally the mortars would have been painted overall Panzer Gray. After February 18th, 1943, all German vehicles switched to overall Dark Yellow with Olive Green / Redbrown overspray. The mortars would have been subsequently repainted. I have photos of 60cm mortars in both paint schemes and also in whitewash. The barrel changes to 54cm were made between May and August of 1943, so all 54cm mortars would be found in overall Dark Yellow with green/brown overspray. Here is a typical example;
http://www.ww2modelmaker.com/modelpages/VPkarlmor.htm
That is a very impressive work, Gimp. Thank you for sharing.
Are you saying there never really was a gray and white camo look?
Would this be what you mean by “white wash”?
By the way, love your name. My favorite graphics program is called “GIMP,” and I am often called a gimp because I limp around due to a bum ankle I have from an accident a long time ago.
thaty scheme yes is correct if…
is the initial version 60 cms gun ( short barrel ) its a pics with asimilar painting not so white when was used to destroy the maxim gorky bunkers in sevastopol
Now, when I look more closely at the photos, what appears to be whitewash actually looks like mud or Dark Yellow smeared over the original Panzer Grey. The photo on the back cover of German Heavy Mortars is a 60cm with this scheme. In another photo, the officers are wearing greatcoats and some have gloves, it looks like winter and it looks like whitewash over Panzer Grey. [?]
My modeler prefers overall Panzer Gray because after weathering, the rust and wear and tear will look more realistic than the 3-camo color one.
Thanks for the feedback, keep it coming?
Model Maniac, What scale are those, and what brand kits?
They both look quite nice. They are in two differing paint schemes, right?
Every time I see some photo of these beasts I just sit and stare. They’re just so monstrous!
Hi Aric, those are 1:35, the one without rail from Dragon and the one on rail from Trumpeter. Both were painted panzer gray scheme but the latter one looks more rusty because my modeler just followed the boxart. I also have full range of Hasegawa’s 1:72 big guns, i.e., the Leopold on rail, Morser Karl on rail and Morser Karl w/ Panzer IV Loader :
For the 1:35 ones I also have full range. You may locate them from this menu:
http://www.geocities.com/~falconbbs/modelcnt.htm
Happy modelling!
the operation to enlarge the gun reducing caliber from 60 to 54 cms was during 1943 and was in factory, the color of all the 54 cms is minimum dark yellow.
Im agree with you modelmaniac with grey colour the weathering looks better but that historical detail…
your karl in railtransport looks great, i did mine with resin kits and a pound of filler 4 yeras ago and when i watch the new from trumpeteer the diffrence is great in detail and cost 80 dlls versus 400 dlls but in that old old times that was the only way to have the karl in railtransport.