I am looking for a reference for colors that would be correct for late war (44-45) US armor uniforms. This is for a diorama. Using a DML HVSS M4A3E8 outside of Bastogne. Figures are Warriors resin for the tank crew then a various choice of DML and Tamiya for dug in troops. I am not even sure besides the camo for the tank that there IS any change in colors. Maybe a white-wash for the helmets. Using Band of Brothers as a reference I see no difference in uniforms since they were ALWAYS on the front line from drop to end of war. Any help would be appreciated.

I know that a some soldiers used to put white cloth over their helmets but apart from that i would paint them normally but just put some washws and weathering on the uniforms to make them look worn and horrible, but if it is a tank crew i would just add more mud to the boots and trousers.

I think military in scale magazine showed a crew with an overall style uniform which was very light, i cant remember if it were white or a faded khaki / cream color.

Hi
For the Tank crew stay with the tan colours or the basic uniform.
With Infantry check which uniform are they wearing.
If it's the M41 like what was worn on D-Day that needs to be the Tan colours but if there wearing the later war uniform of M43 then that wants to be a shade of OD, if there wearing Greatcoats they are a Brownish colour.
The same applies to there equipment that should be still the Tan colours unless they are wearing the late M43 style squarer backpack which is OD.

Thanks to the both of you. I figured a lil' extra mud and wear to regular issue style would make the most sense. What throws me off a bit is the color image from the figure box shows the four in very light colored jackets, overalls and such BUT the helmets are clearly OD with white wash, so teh pic is not faded.
Anyway, I just want it all to turn out well, not copy the package.

Hey Matthew,
These sites will be of help:

Modelling the U.S. Army

At the Front U.S. Uniforms

Collector's Guild U.S. Uniforms

Hope they're of help.
Cheers

jjumbo

To be accurate, the Airborne Divisions spent quite a bit of time out of the front line, especially in comparison to a normal infantry division.

John

Thanks again for the reference. I also found an old book in my "pile" and it has some good info too. It is Spearhead: 2nd Armored. NOT the group I am modelling BUT anything helps. I also was at a sweet museum in the midwest I have a uniforms and insignias book from. Another to find in "the pile".

The crew are probably wearing the standard tank crew windcheater jacket over extra layers of shirts and underwear, together with the padded bib and braces overtrousers. So no difference in colour above the waist from summer dress.

Can you give us a link to the Warriors figures you are using - that usually helps.

David

It partly depends on what date you are setting your dio. Remember, it didn't start to snow until about dec 23. Then the homemade "winter camo" started cropping up. They didn't get GI issued winter smocks until much later, after the US went on the offensive. So, depending on your time frame, you could go with the normal OD color schemes, or the DIY winter camo, but if you don't have over a foot of snow on the ground I would say go light on the camo. I've never seen a pic of a tank crew with white anything.