WWII German tarps

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

I haven’t found any satisfactory answer to this question: What color were tarps in the German military in WWII? I’m building the Dragon Pz.Sfl.IVb, and I’ve found a picture of one with two tarps covering the open top. I’m not happy with my interior, so I want to put these tarps on top. But I can find nothing to tell me WHAT COLOR THEY WERE. http://forum.valka.cz/files/000pziv105hovitzer_0001.jpg is one of the pictures I’m working with. I’m not an artist or a photographer, so I don’t know how to compare things like “wash” and “tone.” (a friend is an artist and photographer, and he keeps using these terms and I just can’t get them into my thick skull)

Can anyone help? And, what should I use for tarp material? I think tissue paper would be too thin, as this tarp looks a little thick.

2

Famo, I asked this same question when I did one for my Hummel build. Basically, it was whatever the Germans had. It could be field grey, OD, grey. I say experiment and go for it.

Bob

3

Fomocomav, try using google and enter “german world war ll uniforms and accessories”. I pulled it up, and there are all sorts of sites you can look at.

Hope this helps.

4

I’ve been scanning the websites you suggested, and I have found just about everything OTHER than tarps. I had much of the zeltbahn stuff already, and I have ideas for using a few of those, but I need tarp colors. And not color pictures, color names. I know that even color photographs from WWII are not trustworthy. I’m going to go with M1Carbines’ suggestion and just choose a grey or OD color. Probably OD or Field Grey, since they will liven up a completely grey vehicle.

Now, if anyone has any ideas on how to get the camo patterns onto scale zeltbahn, THAT would be really helpful. I want to try to print it onto something, but I think plain paper would be too stiff.

5

I paint mine in a faded grey or faded green, seems to work. Hope this helps …Kenny

6

I like your tarps, they are what I am hoping for with mine! Thanks for the picture!

7

Fomocomav,

Try Khaki, Its a good natural color.

Tom

8

Famo, you could print it onto paper, then white glue it to regular tin foil. let it dry and mold into place.

Bob

9

Check out the site, ww2incolor.com, under German artillery in the menu, and start with page 24. There is a Pak gun covered in a field green color tarp. It doesn’t look like it is colorized. There are some photos with khaki tarps.

10

PANZERJAGER,

This build had to be either green or grey, as to the picture. I’m going to go with khaki for some builds of YELLOW armor. I’ve got some mobile flak guns that are going to need some stowage.

M1Carbine, I ended up printing the zeltbahn onto cardstock, then used a razor blade to delaminate the paper down to almost one layer. The ink was showing through in some places. Then, I used permanent marker for coloring the back, since it wouldn’t be seen very much at all. Then, I soaked the paper, and draped it where I’m going to put it on the finished build, so that it could get a little bit of shape. Once the vehicle is done, I’ll put them on again, and use white glue to get them to stick where they belong. I thought the paper would make it too thick to fold correctly. I’ll try using the foil when I go to make more.

richs26,

Thanks for the link. I DO like the color photos. And seeing the tarp was good.

When I started this thread, I needed to know what colors were available, and if grey was one of them, since I didn’t know what color I needed to paint the tarps to cover the open top. I’ve learned from a friend that black and white photos are nearly useless to determine colors, since the colors can act differently with different films and procesing. Thanks to all of you for giving me a list of colors that I can choose from. THAT is what I needed most! The links and suggestions are bonus’!