SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

what color is German WWII Field Grey?

25423 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
what color is German WWII Field Grey?
Posted by mgh on Sunday, March 17, 2013 4:00 PM

I am building Dragon's Pz.Kpfw.38 Ausf.E/F

The color chart calls for Field Grey (Feld Grau(1)).  I had some Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey, and tried it, and man oh man is it green!  I found a post somewhere in which someone said they used Tamiya XF-22 for a WWII German Field Grey, and of course when I look for RLM colors, there is no Tamiya recommendation.

I am not concerned about having the most "accurate" color, but would like to be in the ballpark.  I understand Field Grey is a little like Olive Drab, especially in service, it could be many different shades.

What do you use for Feld Grau?  I have a small selection of Tamiya colors to choose from, and could mix something up, but of course would prefer to use a color right out of the bottle Smile

Thanks for any suggestions. 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Sunday, March 17, 2013 4:29 PM

The Tamiya Field Grey is pretty spot on, Field Grey is green. XF 22 is also a greenish colour and is often used for RLM 02. But i also useing it for Reed Green, a colour used for German SP crew uniforms. But i am not to sure about useing either colour of German armour. I am guessing your build is early war, in which case it should be Pz Grey, for which you can use Tamiya XF 63.

RLM colours are used for the German airforce, for the Army its RAL.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Central USA
Posted by qmiester on Sunday, March 17, 2013 5:00 PM

As noted above, German Field Grey is not an RLM number, rather an RAL number.  Somewhere I have a reference which gives the RAL colors in addition to the RLM colors (I'll see if I can find it).  And IIRC correctly the field grey is a darker grey than the RL02 and lighter than the Panzer Grey used on early war vehicles.

Quincy
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Sunday, March 17, 2013 5:49 PM

I concur with Bish.  Disregard DML's instruction to use Field Grey but use Dark Grey instead

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Australia
Posted by Blitzwing on Sunday, March 17, 2013 6:16 PM

Dragon painting instructions usually provide paint references for Gunze paints, so while the name Field Grey 1 is not necessarily an accurate description, the paint number which I'm guessing is H32 is a dark grey colour which should be about right to what you are looking for. Different paint companies use different names for their colours, so field grey, olive drab, khaki etc can vary quite a bit from one paint company to another. You are better off looking up the numbers that are provided to see what the colours look like rather than going off colour names.

URL=http://picasion.com/]

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Sunday, March 17, 2013 6:26 PM

Many thanks for the replies, and the clarification between RLM and RAL.

Just my luck, among the dozen or so colors I have, there is no XF-63.  I do have XF-20, medium gray, so I will work with that and add a little black.  It's either that or put it off until I can get to the local hobby shop.  All he has is mini bottles, but I think (hope) he has a decent selection of colors.

Thanks again for the help.

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Gothenburg
Posted by JohanT on Monday, March 18, 2013 3:48 PM

Hi mgh,

Go Tamiya XF-63, German Grey.

This is a bit to dark for scale effect, you might want to lighten it.

Maybe Tamiya XF-57 Buff, you will need that when weathering / dusting off  the kit anyway.

I would not use Tamiya XF-2 white to lighten since it is...white.

RLM = Reichsluftfahrtsministerium (in typical German way that is actually 3 words, Reichs=Imperial, Luftfahrt=Aviation, Ministerium=Department/Ministry)

RAL = Reichs-Ausschuß für Lieferbedingungen und Gütesicherung (German Institute for Quality Assurance)

Very Best Regards

Johan

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Gothenburg
Posted by JohanT on Monday, March 18, 2013 4:17 PM

This is a Pz.Kpwf. II;

There is no green in Panzer Grey. 

Your tank should go no where near Field Gray which is a greenish fabric color. 

Very Best Regards

Johan

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England
Posted by Bish on Monday, March 18, 2013 4:39 PM

JohanT

 

I would not use Tamiya XF-2 white to lighten since it is...white.

This is a good piece of advice. You would automatically assume that to lighten something, you can use white. I know i used to think that. I then did it to some OD and it looked grey.

There is some suggestion that Field Grey may have been used late in the war when other colours where in short supply. But certainly not on an early war tank.

I am a Norfolk man and i glory in being so

 

On the bench: Airfix 1/72nd Harrier GR.3/Fujimi 1/72nd Ju 87D-3

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 5:48 AM

T26E4

I concur with Bish.  Disregard DML's instruction to use Field Grey but use Dark Grey instead

DEFINITELY. Tamiya's "Field Grey" is mislabeled--it should be labelled "Panzer Dark Green" as it's a perfect choice for that "missing" color in their line. Somebody screwed up on that one. Clown

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 8:30 AM

I had in my mind's eye that the grey had a hint of blue, but the picture JohanT posted (thanks for posting that) it looks like it leans towards brown.  

I put a few drops of Sea Blue in with the XF-20, and I like the color, but it is too dark and too blue compared to the picture.

Thanks for the feedback!

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 10:01 AM

None of us should feel too comfortable w/our color perception.  See how good you are;

www.echalk.co.uk/.../colourPerception.html

www.echalk.co.uk/.../colourPerception2.html

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 10:10 AM

That's excellent Roy!  

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Chambersburg, Pa.
Posted by Bob H. on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2:26 PM

Roy, thanks for posting those links. They are very eye opening... to say the least.

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 6:27 PM

You're welcome. The more I learn, the more I learn that I have a LOT more to learn!

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.