Hi,

I'm building a Brummbär mid production (Dragon 6500 kit) and I'm planning to leave the commander's hatch open, I'm wondering what color should have the hatches ... should they be ivory or the base color of the outside of the tank (Dunkelgelb in my case)?

What do you think?

Generally hatches were painted the base color of the vehicle. Occasionally you'll find one in "ivory", but those are rarities.

I think I would be more blunt and assertive about this than was Bob!

"The inside surfaces of hatch covers were painted the external hull base color" - from at latest later 1940.

I very strongly doubt any brummie ever had an "elfinbein" (sort of ivory) hatch-surface visible!

Bob

Tank crews religiously even applied mud to their pioneer tools so as to dampen any shiny metal. Toilet tissue was dark colored. Like Bob said earlier, an occasional oddball is spotted in photos early during the conflict. None (that I'm aware of) after although not if you look at modelers' work

I just learned over time that in most wartime situations it's a good practice to never say never.

True! But I think modelers tend to skew the frequencies of rarities. For some humor, look at this:

Things I learned about military history from models

Your statement is very true, Roy. ..... and I have an older version of that same list bookmarked on my desktop. I found it sometime back and forever find humor in it.

what about every german tank has to have at least one panel that the painter forgot to paint ,so it left the factory with red primer showing ..?

Rick

I thought that was a fact: red primer with chalk marks in action!

Thank you for your comments! I've finally painted the hatch with Dunkelgelb.

PS:The post about WWII facts is great! Following this document, I'm planning to show the commander with almost all of his body outside the vehicle

IF you are considering a dio for this... maybe a piano parked by the roadside with several full steins on it would be good!

Having also read that post of hilarious (but TRUE! Honest!) WWII facts!

Bob

Thanks for posting that, Roy!

My addition: The Battle of the Bulge only lasted until the liberation of Bastogne and was entirely fought by the 101st Airborne and the 4th Armored Division.

And Monty saved the Allies in NWE by setting a firm defense to stop the Germans during the BoB, That was the real reason they turned back, not the Airborne or any American troops.

A. Hitler was the best Allied leader we had working against the German Army or Waffen SS.