Dear Friends,

I’ve been working on these Nimrod US paratroops, these are lovely figures great detail, super equipment. Thought I’d post some pictures of the progress so far. One question I do have is about the colour of the M42 uniform. I have read many different accounts of what the actual colour of the uniform is Rob Henden, suggests a mix of green gray & sand yellow in MM Nov 2004, while a letter in MM in 2006 suggests natural wood. Baring in mind that these uniforms were a couple of years old in some cases by June 1944 what are peoples views an a good colour to paint these figures?





The first figure is a composite of a Dragon US Paratroops which I am adapting to get a little more movement in him and will attempt to detail.















Thanks for looking any and all comments welcome

Jerry

Gday Jerry
Those Nemrod figs are a bit swish!
You look to be making good progress mate
As for your colour dilemma, I'd say that after 2 years they would wear to a lighter beige colour, although all would have started as OD #3. There is no real rule of thumb, as the difference between individual jackets varied greatly...
Check out www.atthefront.com for US uniform colours.
Good for a chuckle too
Cheers
Brad

Jerry,

U.S. Paratroops were issued NEW uniforms for Normandy, specially impregnated against chemical attacks. So they would not have been several year old, used uniforms.

That said, I like to paint them Model Master Armor sand mixed with a touch of green (medium green, field green, etc.), as they were still a tannish color, replaced by the time of Market Garden by the greener M43 uniform.

Rob

When new, such as during the invasion, they would usually be a dark kakhi color, which is the natural color of OD #3. Keep i mind that soldiers always get new uniforms eventually from salvage and new stock. It was planned that soldiers would trade out every couple of weeks, but in practice it usualy sssssvery couple of months. However, this still kept uniforms from getting to filthy and faded. Most surplus WWII uniforms look as trashed as they do, not because of service life, but because they have been used as military surplus for 60 years. I like making OD #3 with Model Master Field Drab, lightened for scale with a slight touch of white, and into that I out a small touch of OD to make it the correct green tint.

Hi Guys ,

Brad thanks for that site, I had seen it before but forgot about it , its in my favorites now ! Great reference pictures.

Rob,
I was under the impression that the M42 was rennovated and knee and elbow patches where added to previously manufactured uniforms just prior to D-day due to the experinces during drops in Sicily the year before. although I am likely mistaken.

I will try a few different test mixes until I find an good OD-3 base
what collours would you suggest to mix for low-lights and hi-lights for the uniform

I am interested in any thoughts people might have , thanks to you all for you messages hope you've had a good holiday .

Jerry

Jerry,

Sure, the jumpsuits had already been manufactured. But I don't know that they'd been worn much, if at all. Remember, only one US Parachute Infantry Regiment that dropped at Normandy had prior combat experience, and that was the 505th of the 82nd. So the 501st, 502nd, 506th of the 101st, and the 507th and 508th of the 82nd were all "green". Thus, their uniforms did not survive the trials of North Africa, Sicily, Salerno, etc.

Check out Mark Bando's website, at least for 101st stuff.
http://www.101airborneww2.com/index.html

Rob

Besides that, they were new issue anyway. Nobody going into Europe was going there wearing the same uniform as they had worn in earlier campaigns, Combat uniforms as I said were only meant to last a few weeks, and were exchanged every chance they got.

To make it even more confusing however, many of these uniforms were put back into circulation after reclamation by riggers and other salvage workers, just like knocked out tanks, abandoned weapons, etc.

David , Rob,

Thanks again for you comments , Since I am depicting the figures on the 6th of June early in the offensive, due to equipment such as life jackets an gas detector thingys which were quickly disgarded torn or lost. I will keep the uniforms reitively clean and a "uniform" in OD-3 colour ,

Mark Bando's site is very interesting and informative thanks again for all your help .

Jerry

Actually, it may be more accurate to mix uo the colors between the unifroms slightly. Dye batches rarely if ever precisely matched, and a little variation is to be expected. You cqan even vary the color slightly on the same figure if you so choose. The important part here is to just keep it from looking extremely worn and faded.