Jerry, the notes indicate that the tank in the upper photo, 280354, was completed on or about 18 Dec 44. the second, 280356, was completed on or about 20 Dec 44, a difference of two days. Production of KTs in Dec 44 started with Fgst.Nr. 280322 and ended with 280377. Both of these tanks fall within that run and were allocated to Wa Pruf 6 as test vehicles. There's no denying that patterns were factory applied from 19 Aug 44 (and 9 Sept 44 without zimmerit). Since none of the guys who are on top of this were alive, let alone seeing every tank rolling out of Henschel from Aug 44 to March 45, they can't say with 100% certainty that all of the camo patterns were identical. These two photos, however, absolutely show two tanks, completed within two days of each other, with two distinct variations if the hard edge camo pattern. So, are you gonna take the word of armchair "experten" or what you see in contemporary photos which say otherwise?

Both have the hard edge camo; but, both patterns are completely different from each other. That would kick the "standard" pattern line of thought to the curb.

"Pattern", by definition, is a repeated decorative design. The amount of each color of paint applied does not constitute a pattern. If that paint was applied in specific shapes and locations, and also conforming within reasonable variances of an accepted template, that would be a pattern. That would describe Panther Gs produced by MAN, DB and MNH since these factories were also affected by both the 19 Aug and 9 Sept 44 Wa Pruf 6 orders. In the case of MAN, the pattern applied differed significantly between vehicles produced in Sept and Dec 44. I mention that because one of the identifying features of Panthers produced by those manufacturers were the distinctive camouflage patterns used by each. What is seen in the two KT photos are, in fact, two different, dissimilar patterns applied to two vehicles completed just two days apart. That has nothing to do with the amount of each paint color which was stated in the Wa Pruf orders, not the their arrangements, shapes or locations. There are more than enough variation between the two to distinguish them from what is described as the "standard" factory-applied ambush "pattern" as documented in photos taken within the same time period.

Greetings all,

I am building Dragon's Late Production KT (6232) and trying to settle on a realistic paint scheme.

I will be building this as a "last" production KT with one piece tracks, rainguard on the sight, extended fuel vents, ribbed fenders, six extra track links on each turret side, camo D-loops etc. Hopefully that gives you a good time period for the vehicle I am going for.

I am NOT interested in building a specific vehicle. I like ambush scheme, however I was hoping to incorprate red oxide primer and grey gun barrel primer into the build. Would a hull finished in ambush camo and a red oxide turret be realistic? Plain dark yellow hull with red oxide turret? Any examples of KT's with barrels in raw grey primer? Is it realistic to have the turret and hull finished in different scheme?

Appreciate all advice and suggestions!