HI gang. I want to do a model of the M-13/40 as captured by the Aussie 6th Cav Reg in 1940 (actually it’d be good to do a model of the M-11/39 too). My research indicates it was painted green as opposed to the sand colour Italeri suggest. Any clues what colours the Italians would’ve used then? My initial thought was perhaps they dipped into the same paint pots as the Germans. All help appreciated
Most of refs go with the sand, but some are green and one is even red-brownish w/green stripes. No mention of color though.
Italian M13/39-40s were painted overall Grey-Green (F34159) for service in Europe. - Squadron’s; Italian Medium Tanks in Action.
The base color of sand brown can be mixed by combining Tamiya Desert Yellow and Flat Earth mixed 1:1 (I’ll double check for you). You can leave the whole tank that color or add camo with the Dark Grey-green and Red brown. As I’ve discovered, and as other modelers have pointed out , you shouldn’t go too crazy with the idea of “official colors”. There’s a difference between factory applied paint and field applied paint. I’ve learned that if your colors are basically in the ballpark, and if it looks good to you, then go right ahead.
Thanks anyway vartan041, but I was specifically after some sort of a colour ref for their green. The Aussie 6th Armoured Division Cavalry Regiment captured a number of these tanks from the Italians in the assault on Bardia December 1940, & applied white kangaroo stencils to the sides of the tanks. The Anzac Steel website quotes that the tanks were in fact green as opposed to the usual sand/yellow desert colour. I also plan on doing a captured Vichy R35 with Aussie markings. Just something a little different…
When the German Army first landed in North Africa, their tanks were still painted in overall Panzer Grey, due primarily to their hurried deployment. This may be the case with the Italians as well. With little time for preparation before being shipped out, the tanks could have arrived in North Africa still painted in their European colors, in this case, Grey Green (FS34159).
The Germans were sent to North Africa in a hurry because of the Italian Army’s failure against Commonwealth forces. The Italians had time to prepare for the invasion on the North African territories.
OK, then maybe the Italians were just too lazy to repaint their vehicles…
Or maybe they thought the original Green-Grey was suitable for this terrain.
Or maybe they liked sticking out like a sore thumb.
Who really knows why they were left in Grey-Green, that is not important, the fact of the matter is that they were. Italian divisions such as the Ariete Armored Division were still receiving M13/40s delivered in factory painted Green-Grey until at least early 1941, possibly even later. These tanks were then painted Yellow Sand (FS20260) soon after their arrival in Tripoli.
Beauty kykeon, that’s the info I needed. Paint bought yesterday. Now I’ve just gotta find the kit. BTW, you wouldn’t happen to have matches for the rest of their camo colours, would you? I’ve gone off on a bit of a tangent; whilst looking for the 13/40, I found Italeri’s Semovente 75/18, & thought about adding that to the pile + any others I can track down.
The only other Italian color listed in Italian Medium Tanks in Action is Red-Brown, (Terracotta), FS20100. In the color plate section, there is a M 11/39 in a grayish-brown and green camo, however no FS number for these colors are given. Perhaps these are leftover pre-war colors?
Well those 3 colours would just about cover most subjects I should think, based on the colour plates I found from G Bradford during the week.