This review on Armorama has a pic showing the 2/3 grey 1/3 braun scheme. I assume the Tropen scheme would look the same.
http://www.armorama.co.uk/review/4156

This review on Armorama has a pic showing the 2/3 grey 1/3 braun scheme. I assume the Tropen scheme would look the same.
http://www.armorama.co.uk/review/4156

The painting orders state that the disruptive color should be painted in patches, but this is a totally plausible and acceptable pattern. Before you tear your hair out trying to match colors, buy the AK Interactive Afrika Korps Colors box set. This is a fantastic set. The colors are all accurate, the paint is airbrush ready and shoots like a dream, and instead of spending a whole day on the internet searching, you instantly get it all in one box. $20.95 for 6 colors from www.ak-interactive-usa.com.

World War II German AFV Camouflage Painting Datasheet and Timeline

1. December 1, 1927 – Nr. 17 Erdgelb-matt, Nr. 28 Gruen-matt, Nr. 18 Braun-matt.
2. November 7, 1938 – Nr. 46 Dunkelgrau covering 2/3, Nr. 45 Dunkelbraun covering 1/3.
3. July 31, 1940 – Dunkelgrau RAL 7021.
4. February 18, 1943 – Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 basecoat, Olivgrun RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL 8017.
5. August 19, 1944 – Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 basecoat, Olivgrun RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL 8017 in Hinterhalt – Tarnung (the “Ambush” scheme).
6. September 31, 1944 – Rotoxid primer, “sparingly applied patches” of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Olivgrun RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL 8017.
7. November 20, 1944 – Olivgrun RAL 6003 basecoat, Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Rotbraun RAL 8017 “in sharp contours”. (To go into full effect June 1, 1945).

Tropen Pattern

1. March 17, 1941 – Grunbraun RAL 8000 covering 2/3, Graugrun RAL 7008 covering 1/3.
2. March 25, 1942 – Gelbbraun RAL 8020 covering 2/3, Sandgrau RAL 7027 covering 1/3.

Dates are Inspektorate 2 order dates.
RAL Farbtonkarte of June 1932 and RAL Farbtonkarte of February 10, 1941.
Note that RAL Farbtonkarte was revised in 1953 and 1961. Current RAL numbers, colors and titles DO NOT match World War II Numbers, colors and titles.


Hopefully this answers a lot of questions.

Quoted Text

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World War II German AFV Camouflage Painting Datasheet and Timeline

1. December 1, 1927 – Nr. 17 Erdgelb-matt, Nr. 28 Gruen-matt, Nr. 18 Braun-matt.
2. November 7, 1938 – Nr. 46 Dunkelgrau covering 2/3, Nr. 45 Dunkelbraun covering 1/3.
3. July 31, 1940 – Dunkelgrau RAL 7021.
4. February 18, 1943 – Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 basecoat, Olivgrun RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL 8017.
5. August 19, 1944 – Dunkelgelb RAL 7028 basecoat, Olivgrun RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL 8017 in Hinterhalt – Tarnung (the “Ambush” scheme).
6. September 31, 1944 – Rotoxid primer, “sparingly applied patches” of Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Olivgrun RAL 6003, Rotbraun RAL 8017.
7. November 20, 1944 – Olivgrun RAL 6003 basecoat, Dunkelgelb RAL 7028, Rotbraun RAL 8017 “in sharp contours”. (To go into full effect June 1, 1945).

Tropen Pattern

1. March 17, 1941 – Grunbraun RAL 8000 covering 2/3, Graugrun RAL 7008 covering 1/3.
2. March 25, 1942 – Gelbbraun RAL 8020 covering 2/3, Sandgrau RAL 7027 covering 1/3.

Dates are Inspektorate 2 order dates.
RAL Farbtonkarte of June 1932 and RAL Farbtonkarte of February 10, 1941.
Note that RAL Farbtonkarte was revised in 1953 and 1961. Current RAL numbers, colors and titles DO NOT match World War II Numbers, colors and titles.


Hopefully this answers a lot of questions.

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This is interesting, i am currently building an early DAK Pz. IV F2 and I suspect these would have the March ‘42 tropen scheme, factory applied, over red oxide, correct? No Dunkelgrau underneath, as is ofted depicted? Also that would mean the tools etc. would not be overpainted I believe. Sound about right?

Thanks, I have been scouring photos, its hard to tell exactly, and as most ww2 modelers know, the quality is usually not good. I presume the Bovington Tiger would be a helpful resource for getting an idea of colors and pattern, but I do consider that it is a modern paintjob, and the exact accuracy cannot be confirmed. Also it seems that factory applied paint doesn’t chip easily, and certainly nothing like a hastily applied ‘in the field’ camo. I have run accross an excellent Pz. IV photo which shows the spare tracks painted the same color as the vehicle itself, does anyone know if that is the way they were? I still don’t know how to post photos here or I would post it. Heres a link; http://www.history.jp/images/SK-Dia30-Teil.jpg its a fantastic picture of a tropen Pz IV, showing the gelbraun and Graugrün I believe. Of interesting note is the drivers hatch, which appears dunklegrau on the inside. This may be a colorized photo, so accuracy of hue might not be exact.

Just came across this thread, great source of info - Thank you Matt ..... what would be the best match for inside of 1944 to June 45 Pzrs including hatch inners ??

Also, the OP stated that AFV left the factory with primer showing in the later period of the war. This should be concidered not correct nowadays. The proof that this happened are basiclly non-excisting.