Shermandudes, I humbly stand before you with my Panzer cap in hand....

I'm fairly certain that the units in the Italian campaign camouflaged their tanks. Of course there is always the white wash camouflage used in the winter or 1944.

Also, the crews were constantly touching up their camouflage when possible. This meant that there might be several different shades of OD on the tank. Like the Major said, with a whitewash scheme, the possibilites for application can become interesting, if you can call OD and white to be 'interesting'!

I think the M4A3E8 105mm was used in Korea also. Some really cool schemes there!

Ron

The biggest problem ausf, is that the particular Sherman you are building is a very late production version of the 105. From looking through some of the references I have, it did appear in the ETO late during W.W.II. I have some pics of them entering Germany but really haven't found anything earlier yet.
So in answer to your three questions:
1. Yes the U.S. had some camouflaged vehicles in the ETO. Usually black over O.D. but on occasion some where 3 colours such as black, light green, and O.D.
(Haven't seen an M4 105 HVSS done this way though)

2. As for camo nets, just about anything goes. Drape away !!!

3. As for the Ardennes, like I stated earlier these were very late variants an may not have been at the front yet (but not 100% sure). Most captured vehicles were gun tanks. Because the 105 was not a front line vehicle the odds are greatly reduced the Germans had many of these. Most captured Shermans I have seen are of the 75mm, 76mm and Firefly variety.

Question is, is your heart fixed on building a W.W.II variant? If not then the options are greatly increased. Even have a couple of pics of them captured in Iraq.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak Question is, is your heart fixed on building a W.W.II variant? If not then the options are greatly increased. Even have a couple of pics of them captured in Iraq.

Unfortunately yes. I wanted to build the landing snorkels, which is a no go for this variant. I wouldn't even mind a desert pattern, again no go. I've read some books on Korea but it just doesn't interest me.
I guess I'll settle for piling it high with tarps, nets, boxes, cans and such and maybe an orange aircraft banner, I always liked the idea of those.
Were the 105s around by Bastogne?

QUOTE: Originally posted by ausf Were the 105s around by Bastogne?

Plenty of 105's around ..... Vertical Volute everywhere ..... Horizontal though, refer back to previous post.

Yeah I was just hoping to squeak by under that not 100% sure qualification. I guess it's all nice and pretty OD for me.