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Tropen Scheme?

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  • Member since
    November 2010
Tropen Scheme?
Posted by Matt575 on Saturday, February 11, 2012 5:57 PM

I am building Dragon's Panzer IV Ausf F2, and I'm having trouble deciding which tamiya acrylics to use for the scheme. Anyone have any input?

For reference, this is thekit http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/dragon/dr6360.html

If you scroll down, It is the first scheme. I believe it's a Tropen scheme, but I am not sure.

Thank you for input you might have!

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Saturday, February 11, 2012 9:24 PM

Well the DML scheme refers to 1942, but dark Yellow wasn't introduced until February 1943. 

Between July and October 1942 37 “specials” reached North Africa, but only 30 were present at the start of the second battle of Alamein.  These would definitely be dark sand RAL 8020.                                                              (As a side note Ausf F2s were known as the Mark IV Special to the British.  In June 1942 all F2s were re-designated as Ausf G). 

  Pz.Rgt.8, 15 Pz. Division though would still be kicking around until the final surrender in Tunisia on May 12th 1943.  So in a round about way, yes to Tamiya's dark yellow.

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    November 2010
Posted by Matt575 on Saturday, February 11, 2012 10:48 PM

Dark Yellow it is than, already have some of that which is great! What would you recommend for the dark spots? 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: ON, Canada
Posted by jgeratic on Saturday, February 11, 2012 11:22 PM

...dark spots?

You must be referring to this scheme?

That is Russian front, and again the kit has this labelled 1942.  Ignoring the date go ahead with dark yellow.  You seem to be a fan of Tamiya so closest match for "dark" spots, use either olive green or red brown.

regards,

Jack

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Sunday, February 12, 2012 12:19 PM

The 1942 scheme that is in that kit is indeed a "Tropen" scheme of RAL 8000 (two-thirds) and RAL 7008 (one-third). The 2nd "Tropen" scheme was ordered in March '42 of two-thirds RAL 8020 and one-third RAL 7027 but the depots were ordered to use up their existing stocks of the first Tropen scheme before switching over. There are well documented photo cases of tanks in southern Russia sporting Tropen schemes as it was one of the "zones" where Tropen schemes were authorized for. DML is representing a vehicle done deliberately in the scheme for service in Russia or as a vehicle meant for Afrika but diverted to Russia sporting the older Tropen scheme.

I don't know that Tamiya has any equivalents for either of the Tropen schemes unfortunately...but I'm not an acrylics guy, I work exclusively in enamels. Testors Model Master enamels include both schemes, you might look at those as a start point to determine a closer shade in Tamiya acrylics or may need to resort to mixing your own to get there. 

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