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WWII British AFV color?

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  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
WWII British AFV color?
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 10:18 AM

Okay, so I know that British AFVs had slightly different paint colors from the US olive drab...and the Achilles I'm working on right now calls for Gunze H80/54 Khaki Green. Which, conveniently, doesn't match up with any paint from any other brand.

I've used Gunze Mr. Color in the past, and while I liked it well enough, I'd prefer to stick to either Tamiya, Vallejo or Model Master enamel, all of which I can source locally.

So what matches up well with British armor (i.e. Firefly, Achilles, etc)? What have others used?

I'm thinking Tamiya XF-61 (Dark Green) or XF-70 (also Dark Green) may do well. Especially if the Khaki Green/Olive Drab divide is essentially the same found on aircraft. And I found a Tasca Firefly build that used XF-61 to great effect:

http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/britain/shermanfieflyvccw_1.html

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 11:10 AM

I'm not totally sure, but Tamiya's Khakii-Drab was recommended. I think it was to be mixed with something else. I figured close enough. LOL

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 11:26 AM

Yeah, I'm pretty sure at some point the TLAR principle will have to be invoked...figured I'd check, though.

 

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 11:27 AM

Keep checking. I'm not a big fan of combining paints. I can never remember the formula and there will undoubtedly be plenty of waste.

   http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y269/wing_nut_5o/PANZERJAGERGB.jpg

 Eric 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 11:45 AM

Sweet. Found this on another forum: 

The mix for SCC 15 in Vallejo is equal parts 70924 and 70888. This happens to be dead match to the original. SCC 15 and Olive Drab No. 9 are not the same colour when new, the British colour faded to a green shade whereas, according to a Sherman driver...the US colour was definitely browner.

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 1:30 PM

Oh British WWII AFV colors are a fun study in change. In a nutshell they started the war in either Khaki (a brown shade) or Medium Bronze Green. After Lend Lease vehicles started to arrive, around early/mid 1944 they adopted Khaki Drab, a shade similar to Olive Drab. By the end of the war they were starting to go back to a Bronze Green on Commonwealth built late model AFVs. The Middle East, Far East, and Western Desert/MTO (Sicily/Italy) had a whole different batch of colors used during the war.

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 1:34 PM

stikpusher

Oh British WWII AFV colors are a fun study in change. In a nutshell they started the war in either Khaki (a brown shade) or Medium Bronze Green. After Lend Lease vehicles started to arrive, around early/mid 1944 they adopted Khaki Drab, a shade similar to Olive Drab. By the end of the war they were starting to go back to a Bronze Green on Commonwealth built late model AFVs. The Middle East, Far East, and Western Desert/MTO (Sicily/Italy) had a whole different batch of colors used during the war.

So basically like the US Navy that couldn't ever seem to settle on something?

Found another recommendation of 4 parts Tamiya Olive Green to 3 parts Tamiya Olive Drab...think I'm going to go that route. Now to get the Achilles closer to painty goodness!

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 1:54 PM

Something like that. They were not so freewheeling as the Germans on vehicle camo but adapted to the local conditions quite well as needed. The OG/OD mix sounds like a good combo. I have used Humbrol's and XtraColour's Khaki Drab (I figured Brit company would make Brit colors more accurately) and neither is matched to one another, but give a somewhat similar medium olive green shade.

Check out this link for more info

http://www.mafva.net/other%20pages/Starmer%20camo.htm

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
Posted by madmike on Wednesday, March 2, 2011 6:16 PM

Mike Starmer is the expert on all things British AFV colours as he has done extensive research and written several guides.

I have an Italian theatre 1:72 Italeri Bishop that is base coated in a Vallejo mix SCC2 that I have still not worked out as yet how to finish.

I use primarily Vallejo paints so mixes of that brand are useful to me. I have found Mike is quite happy to discuss via email the best approach.

Below is a compilation PDF of many Mike Starmer postings over the last few years, as well as info from him via email. Happy to share, though it is a tad rough. I do however recommend his published guides as they are excellent.

Colour Mix Compilation help

"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei
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