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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
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Dragon 6394 Pz. III J North Africa
seabee1526
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Michigan, United States
Joined: September 14, 2007
KitMaker: 185 posts
Armorama: 130 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2018 - 09:33 PM UTC
Hello, I'm working on my Dragon Pz.III J (6394) with tropen scheme. Would the J be accurate in the RAL 8000/7008 or RAL 8020/7027. Thanks in advance.
k_mero4
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 26, 2017
KitMaker: 393 posts
Armorama: 369 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2018 - 11:00 PM UTC
Hi, Steven!
In my opinion, it is RAL 8020/7027. I do not exclude the use of other colors as well.
Kalin
k_mero4
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Sofiya, Bulgaria
Joined: November 26, 2017
KitMaker: 393 posts
Armorama: 369 posts
Posted: Monday, March 12, 2018 - 11:05 PM UTC
There will be no initial painting with Dunkelgrau (PAL7021), subsequently repainted with RAL 8020/7027.
AgentG
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Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
Armorama: 1,095 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 09:11 AM UTC
The short barreled early J arrived early enough to be RAL 8000 with RAL 7008 patterns.
A long barreled J, or "Mark 3 Special" would have been RAL 8020 with RAL 7027 patterns. The "Special" arrived in May/June 1942.

After the initial DAK, almost all the armor arrived already painted in the tropen base color be it RAL 8000 or 8020.

Panzer Regiment 8 came in June '41 and their Pz III's were delivered in RAL 8000.

G
seabee1526
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Michigan, United States
Joined: September 14, 2007
KitMaker: 185 posts
Armorama: 130 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 06:05 PM UTC
I have a set of Lifecolor German WWII Tank Set 1 paints and ran a test. RAL 8000 from this set is VERY dark brown...not at all what I thought it would be. Is that accurate? I understood it to be more of desert tan than brown.

8020 / 7027 came out as a very light pinkish tone of tan (8020)and a grey-green (7027).

RAL7008 is not part of that set.
AgentG
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Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
Armorama: 1,095 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 08:31 PM UTC
RAL 8000 is a darker brown with a twinge of green Google images of the "Bovington Tiger" for reference.7008 is a khaki green gray close in tone to 8000. They are almost indistinguishable from one another in BW photos.

8020 is a much lighter sand color. There are debates over 7027 but most agree Lifecolor got it mostly right as a pale gray green.

G
Paska
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Washington, United States
Joined: August 30, 2004
KitMaker: 55 posts
Armorama: 54 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 09:32 PM UTC
The kit Seabee1526 is building is Dragon's 6394. This is the earliest version of the Ausf J armed with the Kwk 39 L/60, it does not include the later added spaced armor applied to the front hull and mantle. These vehicles were first issued to the DAK in March of 1942. These vehicles are not to be confused with the May/June deliveries of Pz.III J, which were fitted with the additional spaced armor, in addition to the L/60 gun. (See photo caption in Jentz's; Panzertruppen, Vol I, page 180.)

Since order HM 1942 #315, changing the Tropen Scheme to RAL 8020/7027, was not issued until March 25th, 1942, it is most likely that these first L/60 armed Ausf Js arrived painted in the earlier scheme of RAL 8000/7008, as existing supplies of the earlier Tropen I scheme would be used up before switching to the later Tropen II scheme, and they arrived well within the time frame of this transition.
AgentG
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Nevada, United States
Joined: December 21, 2008
KitMaker: 1,109 posts
Armorama: 1,095 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 13, 2018 - 10:34 PM UTC

Quoted Text

The kit Seabee1526 is building is Dragon's 6394. This is the earliest version of the Ausf J armed with the Kwk 39 L/60, it does not include the later added spaced armor applied to the front hull and mantle. These vehicles were first issued to the DAK in March of 1942. These vehicles are not to be confused with the May/June deliveries of Pz.III J, which were fitted with the additional spaced armor, in addition to the L/60 gun. (See photo caption in Jentz's; Panzertruppen, Vol I, page 180.)

Since order HM 1942 #315, changing the Tropen Scheme to RAL 8020/7027, was not issued until March 25th, 1942, it is most likely that these first L/60 armed Ausf Js arrived painted in the earlier scheme of RAL 8000/7008, as existing supplies of the earlier Tropen I scheme would be used up before switching to the later Tropen II scheme, and they arrived well within the time frame of this transition.


and there you have it!

G
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