<< Previous Topic | Next Topic >>Return to Forum  

German Uniform SS colors question WIP

April 22 2008 at 6:07 PM
  (Login GregHessig)
Registered Users
from IP address 69.228.93.141

Hi, this may be a dumb question but should the fieldgrey be the same color for the shirt and trousers? Or, like I've done the SS officer's cap/tunic in fieldgrey and pants in greengrey? Opinions count. Thank you!

I'm doing 3 Dartmoor figures in my diorama. Smocks will be Spring camo




 
 Respond to this message   
AuthorReply
Nik
(no login)
217.44.174.244

Re: German Uniform SS colors question WIP

April 22 2008, 6:18 PM 

Yep, seems like fieldgrey is all over the place. Checking my uniform books there are definitely shades from very desaturated grey to browngrey, bluegrey and greengrey.

Wade Krawczyk's "Army Panzer Uniforms in Colour Photographs" is a good one if you're interested in uniforms, www.germanmilitaria.com is also a good place for reference photos. Guess it depends on dyes, wear, washing, etc.

 
 Respond to this message   

(no login)
66.245.84.72

Field gray.....

April 22 2008, 6:52 PM 

This color was all over the place, and things were made worse by the fact that, especially in the early and mid-war periods, the Germans used millions of captured uniforms to make uniforms for the Wehrmacht. Go to a militaria show if you can, and see the differences for yourself. There were Dutch, Polish, French, British, and Russian uniforms reworked or taken apart and recut (and redyed). Early war (M1936) German uniforms also usually used earth brown trousers with the field gray tunic, though the trousers were field gray later. However, unless the two parts of the uniform were made from the same dye lot, the uniform would not have matching parts. That said, it is far better in modeling to stick to the verities, that is, use colors that are close to the standards. However, don't use the same batch of field gray for all uniforms; mix the colors, and understand that many German uniforms were not field gray. Many of the HBT fatigue uniforms were vaious shades of green. Uniforms are perhaps the one area where you CAN match colors (roughly) to good photos of preserved clothing. The colors in good photos will be close enough to represent uniforms pretty well. I have acquired just a few books (most from France) that are of models wearing preserved WW2 German uniforms of all the Wehrmacht services. I am confident they will allow me to paint figures with acceptably accurate colors. It's best not to make this too complicated: folks who insist uniforms can be only the "standard" color do not know what they are talking about. Don't go too far afield, but do NOT sweat the colors that much.....

 
 Respond to this message   

(Login kidsbday7)
24.14.124.162

Hey Greg...

April 22 2008, 7:24 PM 

... glad to see you tackling these figures. I can't wait to see them done. I have seen on other forums that even when you pick a color make sure to include some slight variation of field gray etc. between figures as no two uniforms were exactly a like in color. Not sure that this important in 1/48 or not, but I tried to make some slight variations when I painted some of these.

Also,

remember "there are no dumb questions.......just inquisitive idiots." Just kidding.

Phil

 
 Respond to this message   

(Login GregHessig)
Registered Users
69.228.226.48

Very helpful

April 22 2008, 11:02 PM 

Thanks you guys. I git the jist. Now, steel helmets I hear can be dark grey or dark green and anything in between to pink. Ok I'll check Nik's link and look for color photos. Back to painting!

 
 Respond to this message   
Current Topic - German Uniform SS colors question WIP
  << Previous Topic | Next Topic >>Return to Forum