I am very new to military modelling, although i have been building car models for about 20 years now.

i have bought Dragon Models 1/35 scale Desperate Defense Korsun Pocket '44
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXLJE1

So i am looking at the site here and looking all over the internet, and i think i found the correct color for the base paint of the uniform, but i want to make sure before i buy the paint.
in the picture the soldiers are wearing a camo, but i want to make a solid color uniform.
From what i read all over it looks like the paint should be tamiya XF-65 (Field Gray), or maybe XF-63 (German Gray )
are one of these color's correct or is it something different.

i know i have to detail the folds and stuff slightly darker, but i need to have the base coat color to start with

thanks for your help in advanced, and this is a great site, i have been on it non stop since i decided to build a military kit

Field Grey is the right basic color for the standard WWII German uniform. German Grey, or what is sometimes called Panzer Grey is for tanks and equipment. Keep in mind that there are variations in color due to materials, fading, etc. so different shades of green in the same spectrum (grey/green) would be ok. Keep in mind though that some of the camo uniform components were not made in the standard field grey color so it may be incorrect to paint them as such.

Being new to military subjects you may want to pick up some Osprey books on WWII German infantry to help with finding uniform/equipment colors. They have several good titles, you should be able to find one that will cover your current subject. It will explain the uniform components, colors, cut, variation, etc., so it would be a good starting point to plan how things should be painted.

Good Luck!

Hi Mike ,

Welcome , great to hear you have come over to Military modelling, the German Army issued reversible parkas from the winter 1942-43 the first ones where white on onside an Mouse Gray on the other, under standing order the Gray or Camouflage sides would have been worn out due to the white getting dirty easily, Obviously the white was used on operations in snow.
IF you do a search on "Parka" on the following site, you will se some reproduction examples which dive some idea of the colours.

http://www.richardaunderwood.com/

As far a paints are concerned what do you like using , About two years ago I started using Acrylics for the first time and am getting on okay with them Have a look a the Valejo and Life colour Ranges Since they do set of German Uniform Paints Which May be a good way to start off,

Remember , Uniforms fade get dirty , Are manufactured by different producers in different areas so resulting in slight differences in colour in the finished products,

hope this helps getting you started ,

Best wishes,
Jerry

Hi Mike

Welcome to Amorama

The set you've chosen if my memory serves me correctly has great box art images by Ron Volstad. Ron posts on this site from time to time and has a huge knowledge on these subjects.

As already pointed out Field Grey was a colour used for uniforms, (its quite green grey really rather than grey grey) but this was supplemented by other uniforms and the Germans were one of the leading countries to start using camoflage uniforms.

There were several types used not only by the Army but also by the Waffen SS units, so depending on what unit is depicted and what time frame gives you guidelines to decide which to depict.

Note I say guidelines because as with all things these were not hard and fast rules. Uniforms could be swapped by soldiers, replaced and issued at different times. Also with the reversible stuff its quite common to see a variation between top jacket and trousers combinations.

With supplies getting low you'll also get a mixture, as shown in the set, some in padded reversible suits, others in old greatcoats. Even old greatcoats with camo jacket over the top.

Many people are using the Vallejo range these days for figure painting. They are acrylic based paint, dilute with water or their own thinner and is readily available. The only drawback I have found is the lack of reference numbers to it on box art such as the one you have.

But if you go to the Vallejo site they do do a cross reference chart.

As for extending your painting skills and finding out more about the various colours I'd recommend Calvin Tans book on figure painting.

Modelling Waffen-SS Figures (Osprey Modelling) (Paperback)
by Calvin Tan

He shows the colours he uses and these are Vallejo referenced.


A word of caution when going to buy Vallejo paints. When you make a note of the colour number you want also to make a note of its "position number" This is because the Vallejo dispensing rack follows the given position number in its paint location not the paint colour itself.

Field Grey for example is number 70. 830 but it's position is 102, so it's place is 102 on the rack.
It saves a lot of headaches and time in the store.

Also look out on this site for colour mixes.

http://www.coloradominiatures.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=5

If you scroll down the page it gives you some suggestions on colour mixes.

If you've never used acrylics please read the notes on Vallejo's home site about application and use. This goes for most paints of this type, they are thin coating transparent by nature paints that you use this facility to build up colour and tone.

Good luck.

Check out this site (Amorama) and others such as Missing Lynx for painting tutorials.

Alan

Hey guys
Thanks for the fast and great responses. I picked up lifecolors paints, the german WW2 uniform #1 set. i got it for 30 dollars shipped, which i think is probably a pretty good price, but i could be wrong

I cant wait for everything to arrive. the kits will arrive tomorrow and i have some paints on order too. my LHS doesnt carry many good paints, so everything must be purchased online for me.

thanks for the link to that fellows site, it will be a great help.
Once i get everything going, i will post up in here what i have

i will probably do a mix and match of the soldiers uniforms, some camo and some the field gray

thanks again guys, and if you want to post up anymore tips/hints/info, i would love to hear it

Hi Mike

Gets good comments from modellers, mainly seems to find favour with the vehicle/tank modellers, which is what I'll be buying them for, but if its good paint its good paint whatever it's used for.

Here is a comparison chart in case you need it.

http://www.astromodel.it/menulife.htm

Alan

Mike have a look on vallejos site they have a very good tutorial to get you started on acrylics

the link is as follows:

http://www.acrylicosvallejo.com/

Jerry

i picked up some vallejo face paint kit, comes with 6 or 7 different flesh paints colors.

i think i am all set now with everything i need to make the figures

i cant wait for everything to arrive

ya tamiya has field grey and german grey are good colors for painting gerrie in world war 2

choose the one You like it..

i also picked up a nice tank kit, Dragon Kit 6352 - Panzerkampfwagen VI(P)
http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/prodd.asp?pid=DRA6352


kamil,
are those uniforms all the same one, just different shades??

the figures came in today. i am shocked on how small they are. much smaller then i thought. i cant wait to get started

This is a topic that comes up often in Civil War discussions. Prior to the introduction of analine dyes (from coal tar), most fabrics were dyed with natural colors (iron filings, vegetable colors, beetles in the case of the Redcoats, etc.). These pigments varied enormously in color range, and most vegetable dyes fade with sunlight.

One of the reasons the South was known for their "butternut" uniforms was because their logwood, sumac and other dyes faded to brown or olive in the sun.

The examples above show how wear (and time) can fade colors. The clear variations in material are also a factor, as different blends of thread will "take" dye differently. I don't know enough about German uniform manufacture to say, but I suspect the exegencies of war meant they were more interested in getting garments in the field than in whether they were exactly alike.

does anyone know what the logo on the bicep part of the sleeve on the second one from the left. it is round and looks like a v with a line through it. does that indicate a specific kind of soldier