The Official 1943 70th Anniversary Group Build

I'd go with what Stik summarized,  you got many choices.  

The only concrete proof is what was found on the captured Tiger, now residing at the Bovington tank museum.  Since it was a vehicle from the 504th, it arrived much later and is impossible to prove this same scheme was found on all preceding vehicles.  The other captured Tunisian Tiger was at Aberdeen until recently returned to Germany (permanently?).  I'm not sure if it still has it's original paint or if any in depth study was done, like that of Jentz  when he was present for the refurbishing of the Bovington Tiger.

regards,

Jack

RAL 8020 was the most common color on Africa Tigers. The Olive green used is open to debate. I have read from various sources of German, Italian, and even captured US paints being used. Pretty much all Tigers that would be sent to Africa had reached there by the time of the switch over to Dunkelgelb. By March their supply lines had essentially been cut at sea and in the air. So the likelyhood of a DunkelgelbTiger in Afrika is slim at best.

I don't know where he got it from. The Tiger I'm doing is from 501, so according to that post it should be Desert Brown (RAL8020)

I found this while searching too, its on an old post from here.

1. Here's what the folks at 'Achtung Panzer' have to say about it:

"In 1941, OKH ordered that vehicles in and destined for North Africa were to be painted in yellow brown/sand yellow (RAL 8000) as a base colour with grey green (RAL 7008) for camouflage patterns. Yellow brown was to be used to cover 75% of the vehicle and grey green the rest. In the field, vehicles were often applied with mud and even captured British paints (such is war).

In addition, starting in spring of 1942, vehicles used in the southern parts of Russia, were often applied with tropical camouflage, similar or identical to those used in North Africa. In March of 1942, both colours used in North Africa were replaced by brown (dark sand) (RAL 8020) and dark (panzer) grey (RAL 7021). Brown was to be used to cover 75% of the vehicle and dark grey the rest...

In February of 1943, by the order of OKH, dark grey was replaced by dark yellow (RAL 7028) as the base colour for all German vehicles."

2. From the Squadron "Tiger In Action" book, Armor #27, pg. 17:

"The Tigers of sPzAbt 501, which depolyed to Africa in late 1942, were camoflaged in Desert Brown (RAL8020). Dark Gray (RAL 7027) was authorized to be used as a second color in a disruptive camoflage pattern, but there is no evidence that sPzAbt 501 ever painted their vehicles in this manner.

In the more temperate climates of coastal Tunisia, many of the tanks of sPzAbt 501 were overpsprayed with Olive Green (RAL 7008) to enhance their camouflage...

It is not known if any Tigers went to N. Africa painted in Dark Yellow (RAL 7028, also known as Wehrmacht Olive), which was specified for use as an overall basecoat on all combat and front line support vehicles during 1943 (in March, according to the first reference)."

SO, it seems that at least two references jibe on the base color, RAL 8020. Also noted are the Dark Gray (RAL 7027) and Olive Green (RAL 7008) counter colors, although the Tigers of sPzAbt 501 seemed to only use the green.

The back cover of the Squadron book shows a sPzAbt 501 Tiger in what I would call a true tan, as opposed to the more familiar Dark Yellow (RAL 7028). It also has the olive green counter shade.

This is likely one of the best sites to chart out the RAL colours used during WW2:

www.miniatures.de/colour-ral-farben.html

Testors does have RAL 8020, and is also labeled Afrika Braun 1942, with it's bottle code being MM2102.  Only available in enamel base, I've never seen them do an acrylic version.

Tamiya issued two kits of the early Tiger.  The second kit was specifically labelled 'Afrika Korps' and included an extra sprue to make a more accurate 501 Tiger (which still has a number of fixes required if you like to build that way).

regards,

Jack

I have the Tamiya 1:48 Initial Production

In France, a Tiger would most likely be in Dunkelgelb with a disruptive scheme of Olivgrun or Olivegrun and Rotbraun. In Russia or Italy Dunkelgelb, and later with Rotbraun and/or Olivegrun camo patterns. Which Tiger kit do you have? Early, Mid, or Late production?

Hmm ok thanks, so do any of the colors I have work on later vehicles? Such as France and so forth?

Squadron's Panzer Colours. And I also have a document that I copied off the net a few years back, can't recall where, with all the RAL colours for German armour, to which I have added the appropriate xtracolour numbers. And the two correspond.

Where did you find that?

From what I can gather, Pz's in N Africa in 43 wore RAL 8020 Gelbbraun with 7027 Sandgrau as a disruptive pattern if applied. But I don't think the disruptive pattern was that common.

But I am not sure what the right MM colour would be for that.

I have two paints, Panzer Dunkelgelb 1943 and Afrika Grunbraun 1941. The article in last months magazine said that he was using Dunkelgelb (No. 2085) which when I found is a Grey color, not the yellow, maybe a typo?. It was also being applied to a Panther which as far as I know didn't serve in Africa.

Ok I'm having a problem with color for the Tiger, which Model Master color is right for it being in North Africa?

Sorry to hear about this misfortune, psycho; hopefully you'll heal up quickly.  Having some lower limb issues myself now, I know it's not easy trying to keep your foot up and do modeling at the same time.  Seems to upset the whole balance of things.

Hey, I'm going to try to get some work done and hopefully finish the tiger early next week. I broke a bone in my foot playing football Sunday (my birthday), so I'm out of work for at least another 5 weeks. I can't promise too many pictures though. I broke the bone in a bad spot so I can't put any pressure on it. I'm going to try to do very minimal moving, but I will try to get updates when I can.

Your work is absolutely stunning, Jack! I love everything about your bust!

Stik and Eric, thank you kindly.

There was a time when I use to brush paint exclusively until I got my airbrush.  Following the 'pros' though with their cutting edge techniques, in some areas the hairy stick has come full circle.

regards,

Jack

Stuik, I think he has been coming and going due to work, which has been keeping him away for long periods.

That bust is fantastic! Incredibly lifelike results there!

Has anybody seen this GBs host lately?

Jack

Very impressive. Figure modelers really do know paints and how to apply them. I've even thought if you got good at it that both tanks and ships could be done very nicely by hand.

I've developed a real soft spot for Vallejo Model Colors. You can tell the art paint heritage with the fine pigments and very stable agent. Like the bottles too - great for putting a drop or two onto a palette when trying to find the right color mix, especially when dealing with the pigments that will change a mix greatly with only a small amount. (Cadmium red would qualify I'd say.) Personally I think they air brush very nicely once you get the proportions down and then you've still got a paint that does wonderfully for touch up by hand. I'm not paranoid about solvents, but I do find that I much prefer dealing with the water based paints.

Eric

cmking02 and Bish - thanks again for your comments.

Most of the skin tones were arrived at surprisingly from just two bottles, Brown Sand 70876 being the base coat, followed with lightened layers of this paint mixed with Basic Skintone 70815 - both Vallejo brand.  Shadow areas were created with Burnt Cad. Red 70814 mixed with the sand.  

regards,

Jack

Jack, that is an absolute stunner. The face is amazing and I love the effect on the bion's. Amazing work. I would love to do some busts, but I just don't have the confidence especially for doing skin.

I did finally make a start on my Me 109 last week, I got the wheel bays painted as I was doing my He 111 and I have the cockpit ready for painting as soon as the 111 is ready, so hopefully some pics this week.

So, life is still in the way.  However, at some point you have to get back on the horse.  I finally got some time at the bench, and I worked on the cockpit.  This is the first model I've built that didn't have a decal for the instrument panel.  Here are a couple of pictures:

I couldn't get any better shots with the camera, so I switched to the phone for these two shots:

The cockpit is pretty detailed.  I think for the next plane, I'll try PE.

Everything is brush painted using Vallejo paints.

Wonderful artistry, Jack.  Outstanding work.

cmking02 and Bill, much appreciated your positive comments.

So here is my final set of photos:

regards,

Jack

That is absolute perfection, Jack. I've followed some of your WIP steps and still don't know how you do it. I just can't do figures well. You need to enter that in some contests, it's a sure winner.

Great work, Jack.  The face is very realistic.  Nice pattern on the scarf, too.  Exceptional!

Almost there, just a few touch ups all around, and the plinth display base.  A very cheap alternative to actual wood, it's cast in resin, and even came with a peel and stick felt section for the underside.

http://www.modeldisplayproducts.co.uk/index.php?route=product/category&path=37_46

regards,

Jack

I coarsened the texture on the turret - hard to tell after the weathering. (Looked very convincing initially.) It was rough enough to cause a number to get mulched on one of the decals. So let's just say the Tiger is German.

Gentlemen, thank you for your kind comments re. rusty barrels . I have to admit that I was in doubt whether to post those pix or not, kinda unsure of my work

Here is one more update. This time the damage has been done, no turning back from this one. Be as it is, this hole model is an experiment. I tried to create some bomb fragment damage by punching holes with the exacto knife as I read somewhere on this forum. Fire away, let me know....

Cheers...