A few questions on German engine painting (softskins and tanks):

1. I've been searching the web and this site to get some info and thoughts on great techniques, details, and approaches for painting and "weathering" german armor engines. Anyone have any suggestions for how to approach?

2. I know that there's been a rigorous debate about how much weathering and grime German armor actually got in reality, given the German military's quick turn on keeping vehicles looking good. But what about engines and engine compartments? Like any engine, I assume they were pretty oily and grimy and while exteriors were cleaned/repainted regularly, I assume the engines and engine compartments weren't?

3. What are the typical "paint layers" for the German engines? I know on the exterior, it's: raw metal> red primer > Camo... but on an engine, it's aluminum silver > paint > rust > oil.... ???

4. What are the typical wire color for engine wiring? I see lots of red wires in modern restoration pics, but not sure if that's accurate or just modern replacements.

Thanks!!

Not 100% positive, but from most of the photos I have seen the block appears to be a metallic blue/gray, very close to late 60s Pontiac engines.
http://www.fahrzeuge-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/Maybach_HL_230_P30_05-1.jpg

http://www.fahrzeuge-der-wehrmacht.de/Bilder/Maybach_HL-230_Ch_01-1.jpg