Seeing as I’ve managed to source an AM barrel for my new 1/48 Tiger WIP I’d like to have the barrel looking like a relaced version.
I’ve seen a few photos of WWII tanks and actual models where the barrel has been replaced but has not been painted - it has been left in a grey ‘metal primer’ colour. I really like this look where the barrel has been left like this but the rest of the build is fully painted - in this case it will be Dunky Yellow with a ‘worm’ pattern Dark Green.
I’d like to do that with my AM barrel. First off is that feasible or were there only very special circumstances when this happened. If this is ok to go with what sort of colour (Tamiya for example) should I go with?
Also, does the barrel and muzzle brake stay the same colour of grey?
Red oxide primer is a close match.The muzzle brake was threaded on the end, it would be interesting to model it in a different color as well, or match the tank. Squadron / Signal walk around reference book has great pictures of crews changing the barrel. Wear & battle damage takes its toll and this was a common up grade in the field, as out of action tanks became cannibalized to keep the ones in action in better condition.
It is feasible but wasn’t a common sight to see tanks running around with unpainted barrels. Changing out the gun barrel on a tank required time in a field workshop or depot and that same workshop would’ve had access to the necessary paint and equipment to match the barrel to the tank before sending it back out to fight. Only under emergency/urgent conditions would the barrel have been changed out and then not painted…again, bearing in mind that changing out the barrel required dismounting the entire gun to do this which more often than not also required removing the turret from the vehicle and was a massive undertaking. Definitely not something that was done haphazardly or in a rushed fashion if you see what I mean. [;)]
German gun barrels were painted in a heat resistant lacquer paint that was a dark gray color and the muzzle brakes were manufactured by the same plant that did the barrels, so I’d go with keeping them in the same color vs. having one in red oxide primer or painted vs. the barrel being left in the lacquer primer if you did decide to go that route. The muzzle brakes were subjected to the same type of heat/stress as the barrel for the most part so it stands to reason they would be treated in similar fashion as the barrel itself.
FWIW, it’s becoming an increasing fad (just like leaving various parts in red oxide primer was) to do this to gun barrels, especially later war tanks/vehicles, so you’ll see it on models much more frequently than you would’ve on actual vehicles IMHO. HTH! [;)]
Thanks for the helpful information guys! It was just an idea but bearing in mind what Bill has said the dio is only going to be a quick spot of Field maintenance so I’ll keep her fully painted.
