Without creating pages of debate, I'd like to know what everyone uses to replicate the red primer used on/in German WWII AFV's.

Is there something adequate straight from the jar, or is a mix usually required?

G

Wayne;

Hi! Yes - the Tamiya "hull red XF-9" is, IMO (and as I use it - sparingly in small chips and on the "rot-oxide" floors and interior parts of a couple of panzers) pretty useful... I lighten it a little with Tamiya "deck tan XF-55" - about 10 red:1 tan - if the hull red makes things too dark. Seeing as I'm going to 1) add on some dark oil wash for staining, and 2) apply some light chalks for dust and road-dirt...

I would bet that most folks would want things more towards the lightened version - maybe even 1:5 mix.

Bob

Yo Wayne,I use Vallejo Model Color#70.982 Cavalry Brown.It looks like this. I know it looks way red,but under natural light,I think it looks good.
If I don't want to get the airbrush out,I'll use Dupli-Color sandable primer #1694 Red Primer in the spray can.You get 12oz.for about 5 bucks Jeff T.

I use Rust-o-Leum ruddy brown primer. Just decant some into a jar. Also, Doc O'Briens Rusty Red pigment works great for chipping or can be thinned with enough ipa or water to shoot through an airbrush.

My first thought when I saw that you use ipa for a thinner was..."What, he uses beer!!?" IPA being India Pale Ale...
Then I realized it also stood for isopropyl alcohol.
Color me with a stupid pencil! LOL

For actually shooting a primer coat over a mixed media build, I use Floquil Railroad Colors 110186 Oxide Red reduced with ordinary lacquer thinner.

The Floquil Polly Scale Model Railroad Color is called Special Oxide Red and is the exact same shade. It will reduce with water for spraying.

In the Tamiya line, I use XF-9 Hull Red.

For hand brushing chips, etc, I use Vallejo 70982 Cavalry Brown.

I really don't obsess over which or what is the "best" match for the prototype color since after adjusting for scale lighting effects, weathering and color modulation the final result will vary the color greatly anyways.

However, just for giggles and grins, here're a couple of happy-snaps of a mid- / late-war German M31 Canteen (Feldflasche 31) with a steel cup. It's been factory primed in red and finished painted in Olive Green.

This canteen, which is in my personal collection, is 100% original, "un-monkey'ed with" and in original paint. As you can see, the primer red is very red.





For comparison purposes, here's a picture of the Poznan, PL StuG IV as it was being recovered. You can see just how red the interior primer was.



HTH,

Red oxide primer can be had in motor spares shops; it makes sense to me to use that rather than trying to match it with something else. But then I like shortcuts and cheap buys (and maybe it shows...)

Thank you all for your contributions. I now have a plan and will begin forthwith.

Those photos are quite revealing aren't they?

G