Finishing up a Tamiya 1/35 Pz II C and have plenty of german tents/rolls, boxes with panzerfaust shells, etc from value gear lying around

Don't see too many pics with stowage (assuming this is because it was a "light " tank") but wondered what items would be period correct and what colors are the German tents/rolls/tarps etc typically ? Simple greens/grays/tans?

Brian:

Hi!

OK. There are plenty of pics showing the Pz.II as a "beast-of-burden" during campaign movements and road-marches in France, the Low Countries, Poland, the Balkans, Russia and N. Africa during the 1939 - '42 period. They often carried crew packs, helmets, tents and bed-rolls, gas-cans, crates, ammo-boxes. Stuff. Lots of info available on "period" and "theater" colors used on this stuff.

The "Zeltbahn" or shelter-half was standard issue to all German soldiers - including Panzer crew. These "zelts" came in standard camo patterns on one side and a dark field-gray color on the other. They were often wrapped around bedrolls. Google "German WWII shelter-half" and see LOTS of nice color images that can serve as painting guides (and there are 1/35 scale printed zelts available!). Other tarps and tents were generally the same dark field-gray color.

Helmets, gas-mask carriers, trenching-tools, water-bottles, bread-bags all appeared as stowage. Paint according to images as seen for standard German issue and theater. (Panzer crew had all this stuff - but probably NOT cam'd helmets in most cases - so the basic colors likely pertained).

Cheers! Bob

Do not use any flavor of Panzerfaust, as it hadn't been invented in 1940. The horizontal section of the engine deck (the left side) was often used for stowage, despite it blocking the view from the radio operator's rear vision port.
Be aware that the vented panel on the deck just behind the turret is actually the radio man's hatch, which was hinged internally to open to the rear (it's only seen open for parade photos). For survival purposes, this wouldn't be covered with gear, but the area immediately behind it was.