I'm currently building the Tamiya Cromwell IV and have just attached the hedgerow cutting device. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on how to paint the cutter. I know that most of these were add-hoc devices made out of scrap iron - many salvaged from tank traps on the Normandy beach! I was planning on painting it a dark metallic-grey, with a good coat of rust dry-brushed over it. Then I'd lightly over-paint that with olive drab - the overall color of the tank. I would probably do the edges in a brighter silver to simulate where it would rub against the hedges. I was just wondering if anyone with more knowledge of these devices could give a little input - like whether they were painted to match the vehicle or left bare. Thanx.

Of course a lot would depend on how much the device had been used, but one thing strikes me after seeing the recent Battlestations on the HC. And that is somehow I doubt they had a lot of time to paint the hedgerow cutters olive drab. Maybe they did. Just doesn't seem like after seeing this film clip of them cutting them up with welding torches and welding the pieces together that painting would have been high on the "to-do" list. Of course these were B&W film clips so hard to tell. Just an idea that might add a bit of realism.

Also I would imagine if the material used was steel, that the effect of rubbing against numerous hedges would have been similar to how a lawn mower blade looks when used. Not recently sharpened mind you (then it's more shiny). So I think a steely dull look would be the way to go. But then again what if it had only yanked through a single hedge?

Jim

Hi!
I didn't make one, for myself, but what Jim said do makes sense, it probably wasn't OD painted, just bare steel with a lot of rust all over....I would try this way.
My 2cents

If they were cut from the beach barricades, they would most likely be rust colored primer. Those things sat in salt water, but I doubt they were dropped in without some type of painting to keep them from rusting. Remeber, they were supposed to last for a 1,000 year Reich.

Yeah, I'm thinking the bare metal look is what I'll go for. A used lawnmower blade is probably a good analogy. I'll probably do the edges in a slightly brighter silver - I get the impression these cutters were pretty sharp, so the edges were probably sharpened with a grinder of some sort (?) Thanx for the input, guys.

I have to agree with KMM. Personally id use a dull steel undertone, with a little rust and the effect of sharpened edges. Drybrushing a brighter steel on the tips would be my suggestion.

I'm also thinking of using some Testor's red-putty to simulate mud and soil that's been crammed into the corners of the blades. If its going to look that used, however, I may lay off the brighter silver on the edges. Ought to look pretty cool, I'm just going to have to make sure I put as much work into the rest of the vehicle!

Go for it KMM, and let us see the finished model soon!
Cheers!

I'd like to take a gander at it as well.

I think Jim is 'spot-on'. His input sounds completely accurate, even though the germans had a bit of time to build the beach barricades, I still don't think that painting something that was 'underwater' for most of its predetermined life was a priority for the 'Ost' battalions that were manning and building the defenses. And I believe Kenc' might be able to support me here since he hails from the coast I believe, that salt water is one of the most amazing and quickest corosives naturally available.

Tread.

P.S. What the hell do I know....I'm married.