I wanted to get some feed back from all of you. Should I paint the tools on my sherman or do I paint them olive? It seems to me that for contests you should paint the handles brown or wood and the heads sliver or whatever. But if I am right I thought that the tools where painted whatever color the tank was painted.....Well let me know I am getting ready to paint my Sherman!!

Robert,
Saw on the History Channel the other week an episode of WWII in Color.
It was on tankers. As I watched it, I saw some tanks with the pioneer tools with wood colored handles and bare metal. On others the tools were base color (OD)and in some cases camouflaged to match the two tone color (OD / sand) on the tanks.
I think this may be one of those situations where you can pretty much follow what you like and be safe in the decision you make on painting.
Joe

I have always painted the wooden handles on the tools brown and the metal tools and parts a steel color. But I have sen pictures of new equipment that was olive color. Personally I paint the the brown and steel to add a little bit of color.

From the mid-1930's to the 1950's or 60's tank pioneer tools (shovel, axe, pick mattock and handle, crow bar, and sledge) were bought from commercial vendors and could be delivered to the Government in several ways: overall OD, wood handles varnished with metal painted black, and wood handles varnished with metal unpainted but oiled. Note that the tools weren't bought in sets, but 1000 shovels from one place, 5000 crow bars from another place, and so on. Thus you could could have any sort of combination.

Most people use varnished wood/ unpainted metal just to add some color to the model.

KL

Whatever you do, don't use silver. Ever. Use a dark steel color, like MM Burnt Metal (pretty fresh tool) or Burnt Iron (lightly oxidized older tool) metalizers. You can add a touch of MM Steel on the cutting edges to show wear, but never silver.
Take a look in a tool shed or flea market at the color of tools.

As I guessed, most people including myself, paintthe wood colour just to add contrast and effect. Looks much better in my eyes.
A good tip for doing the timber.
First, paint wood a yellow or buff colour.
When fully cured, paint again with burnt sienna OILS and then brush off again ... this stains the already painted under coat. Then using a sharpened tooth pick, score little lines the length of the burnt sienna oil.
Wait at least 2 days until oils dry and give athin wash with black.
Viola, real wood effect and colour.

Agree with most here. Think that by colouring up the pioneer tools you add great contrast to what is basically going to be a big lump of Olive Drab...
And as for Franks' method of painting, I think this would work fantastically. (Not sure about his Viola though) :-)

Like what these guys said... paint them.. I too paint them in wood brown and the heads in metal color..