Hi,

Just curious here if the antennas used by the various combatants on their AFVs in World War II were of certain specific colors. On the models I've made so far I've just painted them as I painted the vehicles, in the same color, but is this correct? On reflection I would thing they would be either a blackish or maybe a dark blue type of color. But this may vary with the country too. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks and take care. sgrity

I paint radio antennae in a dark grey, I think it looks better than straight black. Although, you brought up an interesting question since I don't know what color they really were. Anyone?

I don't think the actual antenna was painted, although flags were attached which were colored. I gave up trying to achieve a "metal" look to thin sprue, and now cheat with the following from DiscountModels:

after market antenna
1/35 antenna
1/72 antenna

Mike

On Italian AFVs they've always been the same color as the AFV's base coat. I've seen original antennas from Staghounds, Humbers MKII, and Shermans that were a slightly lighter than olive drab and all of them were semi-gloss.
Ciao

Modern antenna haven't changed much in the last 30+ years. They are made out of fiberglass that surrounds a copper core, hence not metallic look. The outer coating used to be a semi-gloss OD green, more recent antenna are flat forest green. Some M1s were issued with very skinny black painted copper antennas. There are photos of one of these in my motor pool M1 album.

Great information!
Now, how about those German antennae?

When I was last on the Army museum in my city, the antennas for WWII AFV and tanks were as the same color as the tank / AFV.

I think it is so because if one see an metallic antenna sticking up in the air, he or she understand that it is something there, so, for that reason it would be wase of time to paint the camoflage on the tank.

What do you think about this theory?

Hi guys,In the sixties when I was a young MOD we used to by surplus tank ariels to fit on our Lambrettas they were always Olive drab. Hey I just got promoted!!