What color would you use to paint SADF Nutria uniforms?

Nutrias have uniforms?

Oh that is good!!!! They might wear them when no one is looking!!!!!!!!

I know that the British wear Fur hats, but Fur uniforms?

Hey Ray,

Sorry, but were the Nutria's the old browns issues to troepies in the 70's/80's in the days of the SADF? Or the camo issues to special ops of the same period? Or the new camo kit of the SANDF?

Rudi

70's and 80's. I was thinking perhaps Citadel graveyard earth would do, but I am looking for other opinions. Have any? Besides small furry animal jokes of course. I do admit it was good though.

IIRC it was a bit darker than British BD's of WW2 and the 60's. So rather deeper than Humbrol's Flat Earth - however I think Flat Earth would give you a good field worn, sun bleeched SADF field uniform...

Nice to see another Blade Runner fan, Raymond

But wasn't it called Nutra Brown, not Nutria?

Nope went and checked my references, and It is Nutria. Just like wise guy's small furry critter. (I still chuckle)

You're right, Raymond. Just had a dig through my Osprey South African Special Forces and it gives it as NURIA. My mistake.

I am going to try Humbrul dark earth, and the Citadel graveyard earth. I want to see the dif between the two, and experiment alittle. Will let you know what I come up with.

Hi Raymond.

Rudi just put me on to this post.. interesting ref to Nutria!!!..
As I can see right now the colors are a cross between humbrol 26 "Khaki" and Humbrol 72 "Khaki drill" The main thing is depending on the unit and where they were stationed as weather and training made a difference to the colour at the end.

I remember looking and out of 600 troops seeing 200 variations of khaki.

The other thing is the habits of the servicemen at the time. One was to spray one side of your uniform with proxide to fade a specific pattern into it while ironing.. illegal but common. This resulted in a faded area on the inside leg seam, a faded line across the back shoulder and also on the back seam line of the arm that after a few months was almost grey brown. (Humbrol m72 )

(Unfortunatly my wife threw my uniform away a few years ago or I could how you).

Regards
Roland

What was the purpose of this habit, Raymond?

what habit? I have so many of them.

OOops, sorry. I meant Roland not Raymond . What was the reason for this habit of spraying certain parts of the uniform with peroxide to fade it?

There were a couple of reasons 1) The military disipline required knife edge seams on parade uniforms, by fading the inside panel, one enhanced the look of the seam when ironing.
2) Using peroxide one softend the cloth, as browns when new were hard and uncomfortable.
3) The darker colour of new browns tended to stick out in the bush, by fading it one tended to get a two tone finish on the uniform that helped in camo in long grass and blended in a bit better.
4) It also looked cool and tended to differentiate the seasoned troop "Ou Man" froom the rookies - The habit of ironing in a line across the back of the shoulder for every six months served . Later these habits where discouraged due to damage to uniforms.
- Bear in mind most Servicemen in the 80's where conscripts and where treated like dirt if they where considered "new" in the military or had not yet been on ops.

Hope this helps some.
cheers
Roland

Thanks Roland. Very interesting.

We did similar things in the Marines. We had the old style cammo uniforms when they switched over to the new woodland pattern in 82, and refused to stop wearing them. You could tell the "Salts" from the "Boots" We also didn't spit shine our boots. They did. Plus Tattoo's, scars, and other small things set us apart. If you looked at our formations you could tell us apart. All Marines, but to different degrees.

Has anyone used White Ensign armor colors? I hear that they are to be rather good paint. Anyone?

Good news! Just got A Heller 1/35 Super Frelon Helocopter kit!!! Why is this good news you may ask? Because I can use it for another Bushwar Diorama! A few tweaks here and there, and it will be SAAF! It looks as more troopies are in the offing.

Humbrol 26 straight from the tin for newer uniforms, add a little white for a slight fade, Citadel Grafeyard Earth for a faded uniform, and Humbrol 119 with a touch of Humbrol 155 for really faded. You need to play around with these for the different variations in color, as it will not be consistant. This is good, as all unifroms are different, like individuals. Also Lifecolor UA016 (FS 30118) will work with adding of a lighter color/colors. For the "Super faded look" you can use Humbrol 93 adding a touch of Humbrol 26. Please feel free to let your artistic side shine through, and play around with any and all variations. I might come up with some more too. These are all test shots?mixtures done on a scrap piece of plastic. Now for the vehicles! Later.

That would be GRAVEYARD, not grafeyard.

http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=84991 This is an interesting site. They have some good ideas, considering that they paint "runts". I paint "runts" too at times. 40k and such. By the way, I am feeling great this morning. This research gig really gets mr going. Now to fix my financial portfolio. LOL Be sure to check out the rest of the posts on the main page at this site too.

I am also looking for FN FAL's. Anybody know where I can get a lot of them on the cheap?

I found the FN RAL's. A company out of Austrailia makes them in resin. 41.00AUD for 18 of them. Any how they have been ordered. I am sitting here working, surfing, and listening to the Gettysburg soundtrack. It always inspires me. The bloodiest day in my nations history. 53000+ dead in one battle and all were Americans. I have stood on the hill at Cemetary ridge, and looked out over the field where Gen Pickett's 15000 Men marched to meet their enemy. I found myself crying thinking of the sacrifice tjose young men made, and how much courage it took to march across that mile or open ground into the teeth of the Union guns. I am inspired! will post more later. Have a wonderful day Gentlemen.