I’m currently painting some 1/16 scale figures for a possible diorama.
The figures represent late-World War II German regular soldiers (a PAK 40 gun crew, to be exact). The figures are dressed in standard Wehrmacht uniforms. I know toward the end of the war the German uniforms were more and more simplified, the collar badges made smaller, less use of silver thread, the pockets just patches with no extra creases. The figures have all of that.
It’s just amusing to read all of the hot air about the “right” uniform color. Yeah, it’s “Feldgrau (Field Grey).” But I was doing some research, seeing if there were other variations. I ran across a display of five captured late-war German uniform tunics, displayed side-by-side. What I saw in the color photo was five different shades of Field Grey, ranging from what looked like a faded “right” color to an almost dark-greenish khaki shade.
So here’s an idea: Why don’t we stop listening to the paint companies trying to tell us “THIS IS THE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT COLOR! (and sell us an expensive paint set in the process)” and remember wartime shortages and lower fabric qualities can really affect the color of a uniform. Even the American uniforms weren’t the same color all the time.
Just a thought.
I don’t listen,same thing goes for 4BO,OD,and Dunkelgelb.
You pick one thats available to you,and pleasing to your eye,and go with it.
I don’t hear paint companies saying it, as much as individual modelers trying to convince everyone else that the paint they use is absolutely the only 100% accurate shade of Feldgrau/Olive Drab/Non-specular Blue Gray/Black/White/Yellow…
There is the official government standard that is put out to the paint and dye manufacturers, and then there is what is actually produced… then comes the fading from use, wear, weather, washing/cleaning, etc.
Agreed, but the paint companies are certainly taking advantage of the arguments!
link955nh
With some very rare exceptions for a particular historically accurate specific item. The “correct” color of something is the color you have (or wish to mix up yourself) and use. If after your paint “it” then find you don’t like it then you can just repaint it to suit you.
An old proverb given to me as a very young lad was: *Beauty (your model) is in the eye of the beholder, the rest of 'em can just get over it" 
I ignore 'em. I go by what looks right to my eye, and I use photo references as much as possible. The Hyperscalers can kvetch over FS numbers, it’s not for me.
The FS numbers are the starting point (or ANA/BSC/RAL/RLM) for a color when applied to a new piece of equipment at the factory. Then service life takes its toll and changes things up.
I can think of all the MERDC painted equipment that I served around, and BDUs & Jungle Fatigues that I wore, in the mid 80’s and the amount of variety that I saw in those “standard” colors. I was a modeler before I enlisted and knew what they were supposed to look like according to the paint companies…
@link955nh
Good post. I feel the same. My colors on my models are very close but I’ve wasted money buying too many colors. Lol
In my experience, as long as you’re not painting it bright pink with purple camo, you’ll probably be close to reality.
And what’s wrong with bright pink with purple camo? Who knows, that might be the next fashion trend.
Weelll,not always true
True. While it wouldn’t do much for concealment the opposing troops would either be too confused to shoot or incapacitated with laughter.