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T34 Green Paint

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  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Chicago, USA
T34 Green Paint
Posted by MonsterZero on Saturday, April 3, 2004 2:32 PM
Go ahead and collect 100 color pictures (Internet, magazines, books, etc.) of Soviet T34 tanks (models or actual vehicles) in "standard" green paint and I GUARANTEE you will not find two vehicles painted the same shade of green.

Is it really impossible to agree on a standard green color that was predominant for those types of vehicles in WW2? I suppose if I painted mine pink nobody would notice. Testors makes "Soviet Armor Green" that's pretty much dark blue with a greenish tint to it, I've never seen anything like it on any vehicles in any color photograph or color illustration. The European magazine "AFV modeller" has a picture of an award-winning T34-85 diorama where the tank is painted a color that looks like 70% yellow + 30% green. Every freaking plastic kit manufacturer recommends a different T34 green paint and the differences are not subtle; I mean they're like night and day!

I know factories could use different shades for a variety of reasons but how do I identify the official green color as recommended by the Red Army? Who manufactures this in enamel or acrylic form and what is it called?

Who can step forward and figure this out once and for all; based on historical data?
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Central Wisconsin
Posted by Spamicus on Saturday, April 3, 2004 8:58 PM
I have a book with a lot of color photos taken by German combat photographers. All of the KV, BT, and T34 tanks are about the same color. Of course you have to keep in mind the photos may have been taken with different lighting conditions and the age of the film, developing proceedure etc. Anyway, the color I've found that comes the closest to those photos is Humbrol #114. Unfortunately, I'm told by some of the other members of the community that color is no longer made. I use the Testor's Russian green and overspray with medium green to tone it down. Then weather heavily. I don't think you're going to get a definative answer to your question.

Steve

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 1:00 AM
I used tamiya acrylic paint called Dark Green on my DML T-34/85. It looks like it came out of the factory a little while ago and hasn't seen too much action and sun. I know what you mean though, how the shades vary in every pic of a t-34. I came across the same problem when I did my t-34. I saw what looked like olive drabs, plain greens and dark greens. I settled for what I had-the dark green and it looks great! Gotta post some pics of it.
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA
Posted by tigerman on Sunday, April 4, 2004 1:14 AM
On my last Soviet tank, I used the now defunct Aeromaster Russian topside green. I'm not sure how accurate it was, but I thought it was a close match to some swatches I've seen.

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

 Eric 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 4, 2004 5:48 AM
MonsterZero,

Do as you wish.

As for me, I am always much more interested to find better a reallistic than an accurate finish, so I always follow my intuition painting my tanks. I have just given the base coat to my T-34 85 and I simply mixed colors until I got what I wanted. Yes, you are right, colors can change from one source to other, but even if you had the exact/authentic/accurate shade, it would change during weathering process later, so you also can start changing it since first painting step, instead of waiting for last, depending th final effect you want in your model.

My tank just now looks very light, but weathering techniques tend to dark base colors, plus I want to make a late war (Berlin, April 1945) T-34, so I imagine it should be light and dusty and no much original base color might be seen under such conditions, for example. Let me some time and I will post some pics soon. ok?

What are you planning to make to yours?

Enjoy modeling!
Lu
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by shermanfreak on Sunday, April 4, 2004 10:31 AM
Mark - I personally think this is one of those cases where you might find it easier to begin a search for the Holy Grail.

The Soviet army during W.W.II built there vehicles in so many different locations, with so many different supplies and suppliers, that I realy don't think there is a "true" official colour to use. Some went into battle with just primer on them.

I can imagine the order from Stalin himself went something like this.
Comrade Tank Builders .... paint our mighty tanks green

And that's probably as official as it got.
Happy Modelling and God Bless Robert
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 8, 2004 2:01 AM
The Testors Russian Armour Green is definitely not the right color for WWII Soviet armour or any period Soviet armour. I suppose one must go to the ex SU countries and look around, maybe Kubinka would be a good place to start.

One suprise about Soviet production is that paint seems to have been produced in only a few factories in huge quantities and are very consistent in color when produced. All the T-34's I've in various places have the same shade of green under daylight conditions. But of course I didn't have any paint chips to match against them.
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