War in the Desert - African campaign GB - 12/9/07 to 5/13/08

This subject is open to a lot of debate.  That being said, as of February  18, 1943 "dark yellow" was the base colour for all vehicles leaving the production lines.  I'm not sure what, if any, reinforcements were sent to Tunisia after this date so can't say if this colour appeared in the desert.
Vehicles before said date were sent to north africa in the standard panzer grey and were later in the field modified with desert paint colours.  In 1943 these would be Braun RAL 8020 with Grau RAL 7027 used as an optional camou pattern.
There was also mention of tigers being a dark green or even olive colour.  These were most likely panzer grey with an overspray of olive-green which gave it's dark green appearance.

As for paint manufactures, there is a few to choose from: Testors, White Ensign Models, Life Color Paints, Xtracolor, Xtracrylix, Agama.  If anyone knows of others, please do chip in.

Some articles to read:

http://www.panzerworld.net/colours

http://www.achtungpanzer.com/articles/camo.htm 

Jack 

Another question for the experienced Armor modelers.  What is the best paint color to represent the German Africa Dark Yellow , circa 1943?  I prefer enamels, but am OK with Acrylics as well.

Regards,  Rick

A question for you tank guys out there, is anybody planning on doing the Tasca 1/35 M4A1 for this build?  From what I've read it sure looks like a great kit.

rjkplasticmod wrote:

bufflehead wrote: Thanks jgeratic1!  I totally forgot about the 10th Panzer Division being present during that timeframe.  Turns out that Dragon kit does have markings for the 10th Panzer Div in Tunisia, 1943.  I also read that the kit can be made into a very early Ausf L by deleting the turret side vision ports.  I may go this route....OR.....I may do a PzKpfw III Ausf H.  The Dragon kit I have in my stash has markings for the 15th Panzer Div, also Tunisia 1943.  I want to do a Pz III that was used during the early engagements with the Americans in Tunisia. The Concord publications Armor At War Series, "Panzers in North Africa", has several reference pics Panzer III Ausf.L's.  For the most part, they don't identify the unit, but one is clearly referenced as the 15th Panzer-Division, Tunisia, 1943. Regards,  Rick

Thanks Rick!  That's great info!  I'm going to pick that one up and also "The Panzerkampfwagen III at War"  that they also publish!

bufflehead wrote:

Thanks jgeratic1!  I totally forgot about the 10th Panzer Division being present during that timeframe.  Turns out that Dragon kit does have markings for the 10th Panzer Div in Tunisia, 1943.  I also read that the kit can be made into a very early Ausf L by deleting the turret side vision ports.  I may go this route....OR.....I may do a PzKpfw III Ausf H.  The Dragon kit I have in my stash has markings for the 15th Panzer Div, also Tunisia 1943.  I want to do a Pz III that was used during the early engagements with the Americans in Tunisia.

The Concord publications Armor At War Series, "Panzers in North Africa", has several reference pics Panzer III Ausf.L's.  For the most part, they don't identify the unit, but one is clearly referenced as the 15th Panzer-Division, Tunisia, 1943.

Regards,  Rick

Thanks jgeratic1!  I totally forgot about the 10th Panzer Division being present during that timeframe.  Turns out that Dragon kit does have markings for the 10th Panzer Div in Tunisia, 1943.  I also read that the kit can be made into a very early Ausf L by deleting the turret side vision ports.  I may go this route....OR.....I may do a PzKpfw III Ausf H.  The Dragon kit I have in my stash has markings for the 15th Panzer Div, also Tunisia 1943.  I want to do a Pz III that was used during the early engagements with the Americans in Tunisia.

1942 November 8 (that's today, 65 years ago )

"'Operation Torch' underway in North West Africa-Allied expeditonary force appears off ports of Algiers, Oran and Casablanca."

Courtsey of my Ghosts calander...

bufflehead wrote:

Yeah!  I was wondering what happened to this GB idea since it was presented in the Armor forum!!  Didn't see this thread until just now!  Hermes, put me down for a Dragon M4A1, American 1st Armored Division!  I've had this kit for several months, all AM parts already bought and its ready to go!  I also want to do a PzKpfw III DAK version....does anyone know if the Ausf J version was used by the 5th or 21st Panzer divisions during the Sidi Bou Zid, Kasserine Pass or El Guettar engagements?  I'd love to build Dragon's new Ausf J Smart Kit OOB for this! Thanks and I'm looking forward to getting started.

 .... that's a tough question, even tougher to find photo evidence.  I think it is safe to say yes, there was a few still kicking about in Tunisia, but not many.  I know the panzer IIIJ, or mark III special as the British called it, was present at Gazala (May 26 to June 21, 1942) and a source stated the number of this type as being only 19.  Production of this type had begun in March, 1941 while in June of 1942 the L version took over - which is more prevelant with the Tunisian campaign and the 10th panzer division.  With regards to the battles you mention, the only hard evidence I could find was the OOB from a game, stating at Sidi Bou Zid that   Kampfgruppe Stenkoff composition included four Pz IIIj.

Yeah!  I was wondering what happened to this GB idea since it was presented in the Armor forum!!  Didn't see this thread until just now! 

Hermes, put me down for a Dragon M4A1, American 1st Armored Division!  I've had this kit for several months, all AM parts already bought and its ready to go! 

I also want to do a PzKpfw III DAK version....does anyone know if the Ausf J version was used by the 5th or 21st Panzer divisions during the Sidi Bou Zid, Kasserine Pass or El Guettar engagements?  I'd love to build Dragon's new Ausf J Smart Kit OOB for this!

Thanks and I'm looking forward to getting started.

Ummmm... ... ... ... is it Dec 9th yet?

Hermesminiatures wrote:

That Revell/Monogram P-38 is one of the reasons I build armor

Worst aircraft kit you mean.

I recently threw together a Maquette T-34 which certainly won the award for worst armor kit.

The kit you have is a re-box of the ancient Monogram kit.  Not a great kit even in it's day.  The Hasegawa tooling is much nicer.

Regards,  Rick

In 1/48, the best P-38 is by Hasegawa with the MRC/Academy second.  In 1/72, the Academy is by far the best.  All IMHO of course.

Regards,  Rick

ok, I have an Academy P 40 and some Canadian decals for the British air, I have a Tamiya  Revell Spit for American Air now to find some German Air power....is it December yet?

My son has informed me he does not really want to do airpower so he will be doing US/British/German armor I still plan on doing some armor too {probably in 1/48}

Wish I could buy myself a kit as a present every time I finished one

You can count me in with DML's Pz.Kpfw.IV Ausf.D 3 in 1. The kit is my congrats present for almost finishing my Tiger for the Kursk GB on time. 

I'm very stoked for this one, again....

jgeratic1 wrote:

I'm sure Canadian individuals did serve in North Africa, but they were mixed in with other Commonwealth troops/units.  With regards to the Mediterranean theatre, the first totally canuck units landed in Sicily on July 10th, 1943. These being the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Army Tank Brigade.

O ok my bad, I just saw that the decals were included in the Tamiya kit for the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade and I just assumed that it was in North Africa. I'll just stick with Pz.IV I guess. Thanks.

Just a little side note here, but I love these GBs that include both armor and A/C. It's a good way to raise interest in modeling subjects outside of your usual scope.

I'm trying to decide which unit to assign my PzII to. I probably have the markings for just about everything.

Thanks for the information! I will look into a kit and get back to you guys hopefully later today but by the weekend for sure,

Leaadas wrote:

I would be interested in joining doing a P-38, but in a very limited search I couldn't find out what kind of paint scheme they had in North Africa. Was it all NMF? If so I will have to pass as I think a NMF is beyond my modeling skills at this time.

I'm away from my sources at this time, but I believe that Bob is right and that most if not all P-38s that flew in North Africa were OD/NG.  Here's mine from about a year ago, with custom markings for a friend who flew in North Africa with the 14th FG/37th FS.  This is the Monogram (AKA Hasegawa) kit that includes decals for 'Tangerine' that also flew in North Africa:

Mark

Leaadas wrote:

I would be interested in joining doing a P-38, but in a very limited search I couldn't find out what kind of paint scheme they had in North Africa. Was it all NMF? If so I will have to pass as I think a NMF is beyond my modeling skills at this time.

Based on my limited research (and the Pro-Modeler kit I have in the stash) they were OD/grey and the F or G versions.  If memory serves me correct, Meteor has some decals that fit the theme.