So looking ahead to my next build here I want to do 2 models related into a simple (if not some what detailed if have time and money) Diorama. The setting will be Central West Germany. Some where some what close to the Fulda Gap. I plan to use for my vehicles two sets

Tamiya's M1 Abrams(MM-224A) and M3 Bradley CFV (3631)





Along with some infantry (Tamiya 35153)



I want to have the M3 and 4 foot soldiers acting as well Acav scouts! ALong with the M1 on the road behind...But that is for another post to get more details in about the setting and such.

I am trying to model this up straight from the kits here as my first major undertaking. I was thinking about MERDC patterns but it would seem all the M1's and M2/3's were never painted in MERDC while station in Germany.I have looked through many REFORGER pics but don't seem to catch anything just a few field camo's here and there among US forces. So here are my questions for anyone who might know or have a source for this!

1.Were there any units painted in MERDC that were Cav units with the Abrams and Bradley's?

2. So if not painted in MERDC what was the green they were painted, what is a good match for this Tamiya's Dark Green? Or is there a different color that was officially used from off the production line of these?

3. Did Cav scouts ever paint "field craft" camouflage on their vehicles frequently can I get a source of examples please? Would these apply to both M1's and the M3 scouts?

4. Infantry Camo & Uniforms, will the infantry set I have work for the foot scouts(painted in woodland not chocolate chip)?

5. If I am really set on MERDC and wanted a Cav unit with MERDC...Well could it have happened? Say a state side Cav unit shipped over there as part of REFORGER?

Thank you for reading!
-CK16

Just about every thing in Germany was the factory OD green or forest green. If memory serves, MERDC was more of a stateside thing. BDUs were ALL woodland, there was no cchip in service anywhere in Europe. Tamiyas infantry set that is all woodland is a great set for the look of USAREUR in 1980s. Good luck!

Try the old 194th Armored Brigade in Fort Knox. Armored divisions and separate brgades had cavalry units in them as division scouts, so there would be ACAV unit in an armored division. The 194th being a stateside unit had everything in MERDC and would deploy to Europe, but... some of the time units coming for REFORGER used equipment from stocks in Europe that was Forest Green (the base color of the MERDC camouflage)

There could also be the First Cavalry Division and the old First squadron of the First Cavalry regiment which was division scouts? so you'd have the interesting bumper codes of 1CAV 1/1CAV?

I just noticed the bumper codes on the boxtop of the Tamiya M3 is for 2nd Armored Division, 41st Infantry so would be from the scout section of regular armored infantry. But I know it's so romantic to do _ACR on the bumper. If MERDC you'll have to settle for divisional/brigade scouts and find one that has CAV in the title.

So I would need to create these view ports?

I think the 4 periscope rear hatch was introduced on the M3A1.

What about anti-slip coating, was it on early Abrams and Bradley's? If so best way to apply it and a guide to where to apply it at on the hull and turret?

Was looking at Mr .Surfacer 500 but if something is easier to get state side what works?