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Pics of Normandy Mud and Soil

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  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Berkeley CA/St. Paul MN
Posted by EBergerud on Sunday, March 16, 2014 4:10 AM

It was summer - but dry in Europe isn't dry like the Ukraine. There's lots of rain - that's why this is some of the most fertile land on earth. But it certainly wasn't like a Northern European winter where mud is almost as bad as in Poland. I'd say you have a lot of latitude - might want some splattered mud and some soil pressed into the tracks. Obviously there'd always be a lot of dirt beneath the fenders and some kind of dust or dirt covering. No clean tanks. None. The thing I would keep in mind is that allied tanks in Normandy would probably have been pretty new, and there was a lot of hurry up and wait. My opinion only of course, but I'd think dirt, mud, dust, rain marks etc, but take it easy on chipping. (Obviously you could always put on battle damage - didn't take long for a AFV to be in a mortar or artillery barrage, not to mention MG fire. And I'd guess there would be lots of places to bend something.)

If you're thinking of the Longest Day GB better check with the boss. The period is supposed to end on July 1 - Falaise was about a month later. I was going to model a Free French Sherman but was over ruled.

Eric

 

A model boat is much cheaper than a real one and won't sink with you in it.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Michigan
Posted by ps1scw on Saturday, March 15, 2014 4:48 PM

It was pretty dry by the time Falaise occured correct?  I have a Polish Sherman V that I wanted to work on.  

  • Member since
    February 2010
  • From: Berkeley CA/St. Paul MN
Pics of Normandy Mud and Soil
Posted by EBergerud on Saturday, March 15, 2014 4:13 PM

I posted a few days back in quest on information of what soil color and texture you'd find in fertile country like Normandy - important matter for making mud, dirt and/or dust. Got this address on Armorama for a site belonging to a 4X4 Club in Normandy. Not sure when this rally took place - it was posted in January and from the looks of the clothes that sounds right. Brings back memories of rural Minnesota. During spring there'd be areas that were pretty dry, some fairly moist and some that were almost like a bog. In the north it stays that way kind of all year. My brother lives on the Canadian border and has every mechanical toy imagineable: according to him "the better the 4X4 the farther you get in before you get stuck."

Anyway, this might be help for Normandy dios or a simple weathering job.

http://www.basse-normandie-4x4.com/t90p45-1er-rassemblement-du-forum-basse-normandie-4x4

Eric

 

A model boat is much cheaper than a real one and won't sink with you in it.

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