Hi Guys,

I just bought the DML 6254 (King Tiger Battle of the Bulge). I ust have a few questions about the King Tiger ambush camo:
1) Do all King Tigers (Henschel) use hard edged ambush scheme camo?
2) Did all the KT in BOTB use hard-edged abush camo?

Any input would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Warthog -

Though there are others in Armorama that have a more detailed knowledge in this area, I'll see if I can at least start it off. Maybe "thebear", "Kelley", "Biggles2", or someone else can add/clarify better.

1) No, not all King Tigers (Henschel) had "ambush scheme". Some of these earlier KTs even had "zimmerit" (prior to Sept 1944 I believe) and used the dunklegelb base and "three colour scheme" for camo.

2) Most references seem to be focused on the BOTB KTs that were part of 6th SS Panzer Army, 1 SS Pz Korp/1 SS Pz Division's sSS Pz Abt 501. These seem to be using the factory red oxide base with hard edged for the dark yellow and dark green with varying degrees of the "ambush scheme" spots. Though pictures of the famous "222" KT seem to look more "soft edged". I've been using Concord Publications books like Battle of Bulge and Panzers of Ardennes Offensive. Can't seem to find much of anything about other KTs that were with the Heer sPz Abt 506 in BOTB.

Not sure how much that helps, but will have defer to the others for better details.

Blade48mrd

Well Mike has done a great job at answering this question...He is right ...Most King Tigers had a factory painted Ambush scheme ..Although the KT's that were supposed to be going to the 509th were different ...They seem to have been dark yellow based with redbrown and bark green soft edged camo's ..Some had the ambush spots..(222) and others didn't (332). A good reference for painting the KT's of the 501 would be the decal sheet from Echelon...



I picked up these decals and I must say they are awesome.

Rick
p.s. I forgot to add their address..
http://pachome1.pacific.net.sg/%7Ekriegsketten/

Any good tamiya color for this red oxide primer? Either out of the bottle or a mix as long as it's Tamiya. Otherwise anything in the water based line I can use.

Glad you posted this question I am getting ready to tackle another KT in the future.

Richard and Arvin -

Thanks for that feedback. Those decal sheets and associated pictures look outstanding. I'm ordering a set or two today. I've got the Dragon KT and another Tamiya KT in stash, maybe one from each Company?Thanks again "bear" and good luck Arvin on your build. Keep us up to date. Tigers rule!

Blade48mrd

The only time I tried to represent red primer oxide I used a mix of Tamiya's hull red and red brown. About 60% HR to 40% RB.

Rick

Thanks Mike & Rick for the replies, they are very useful and nice pics too...

BTW, based on the Echelon instruction, most of the Tiger IIs shown have hard edged camo...including the 222 w/c other posts stated was soft-edged...



If most of them had hard-edged camo, then w/c battalions or specific KTs have soft edged camo?

Cheers

Wow Richard~
Great pic thanks!!!
Ron

Not much to add, Mike and Rick covered it well, just a comment on something you said Arvin.


As has already been mentioned 222 had more of a soft edge. Compare the pic you posted with the Tiger 2 in this pic with the hard edge scheme and you can definitely see the difference.

332 also had a soft edge scheme. There very well may have been others (probably the ones they aquired from the 509th) but these are two that are well documented.

Cheers,
Mike

Yup, the difference is noticeable, thanks Mike. BTW, another thing I noticed from you pic is the 18 tooth drive sprocket. Is this the late KT with 18 tooth sprocket ? This tank is probably from the sPzAbt 506...they used the early 18 tooth drive sprocket....

Cheers

Alvin it looks more like a late war vehicle instead of one of those from the 506th ..Notice there is no more Jack or jack block ..also the longer tubes for venting the gas...but you might be right ... As for the question about 222 being hard edged I don't agree but there are some pictures of the other side that might have been repainted for adding the numbers that looks like it has a sharper edge...Here are some picture that were posted on M-L when this was discussed a while back ...sorry I can't remember who posted these picture in the first place ...





Rick

Actually Arvin as Rick has guessed already this particular Tiger 2 is not from the 506, it is thought to be from sPz Abt 510. I should have mentioned that in my original post, sorry. It is a very late T2 (possibly one of the last) and is an excellent example of a late; no jack or block, late 18 tooth sprocket, the longer vent lines, factory hard edge scheme, anti-schrapnel plates covering the rear vents, track cable apparently stowed on the rear deck, (you can just see the end hanging off the rear)and the transport tracks, which it seems the last Tiger 2's to come off the production line were equipped with.

Cheers,
Mike

Thank you very much to both of you Rick and Mike for clearing up things....they are certainly very useful.

BTW, I also read somewhere that the 222 was combination of hard and soft edge. According to the write-up, it was probably because it was supposed to be part of the 509 but was confiscated to augment the requirement of the 501. It was also stated that there were some camo modifications in the field...the 222 on the left is somewhat different from the right...

Cheers

Arvin