Hi all,

I was wondering what you think of this camouflage scheme:



First of all, is it accurate? Could be of course.....Germans were short of paint at the end of the war so panzer grey was used again.

Second, what do you think the brown colour is? I'd say it's the red brown primer and the camouflage consist of grey patches...

It's for my 1/72 Panther G during the battle of Berlin

Martin

I'm not particularly sure that is even meant to depict panzer grey rather than dark yellow. in fact, I am pretty sure that is dark yellow and red brown they are most trying to show and the color balance is just a bit off.

There was some thought that late war panzers were painted in dark/panzer grey in some references in the 80's, but the general consensus has shifted back away from that line of thinking.

Mike

So basicly you both say it is probably incorrect or at least not likely?

Martin

As MLD said, it has pretty much been determined that the late war use of dark gray is a myth. The chances of this having actually happened are slim to none. (and personally I'd say none)


No, the colors look as they are meant to. That particular color plate is from the old Squadron Signal "Panther In Action" that was originally published back in the 80's. (at the least) It was thought at that time that the Germans used panzer gray on a very few late war AFV's

Mike

Ok

Then I think I'll go for the ambush scheme.....typical late war

Thanks,
Martin

Martinnnn -

I'd also go with "MDL" and "Kelley" on this. I've got a reference that says that in Dec 44, Henschel was directed to paint "the Tiger II with a base coat of dark green (RAL 6003) paint. The camoflauge pattern with sharp contourswas to be applied using red brown (RAL 8017) and dark yellow (RAL 7028)". Can't find (with somewhat limited references) any such info on Panthers. I'd think that a red oxide primer with the red brown, dark green, and dark yellow 3 color or ambush scheme would be the way to go. Also if your doing a Panther G Late then likely no zimmerit on Panther as the picture shows. Hope to see how it comes out.

Blade48mrd

Panzer gray is very unlikely as zimmerit. This picture has been discussed many times and all Panther experts arre to say it's not true but Squadrn has reissued the book recently and they did'nt change anything.

Daniel

Squadron's book reflects thinking in the 70s/80s when it was believed that dark grey reappeared at the end of the war. This is now believed to be unlikely (which is not the same as disproved of course). And if the real tank did have zimmerit, than it will have been produced before September 1944 and thus painted in the dark yellow scheme.

So until someone produces a colour photo of a grey tank in 1945, better stick with dark yellow or green.

Other than in the ancient Squadron book, (which is still a top notch reference) I have never seen a grey Panther. Of course the old axiom of nothing is finite it could be correct. It's your model and if you want to mimic that scheme do it then get the super critics to prove you are wrong, or don't put it out there to critize.

Found a second one in a russian/english book. Shows a Panther in german grey with green and brown patches

Martin