Reference infos – WW2 German Armour paints and camouflage colours

The paint colors used were defined by the Reichs-Ausshuss für Lieferbedingungen (RAL) (Reich Committee for Terms of Delivery).

Vehicles commissioned in 1939 were painted in the following manner with a base colour – Anthrazitgrau (RAL 7016) – which dominated the camo pattern by 2/3, with soft contours between colours. The second colour was  Signalbraun (RAL 8002)

Signalbraun (RAL 8002)

Anthrazitgrau (RAL 7016)

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Schwartzgrau (RAL 7021) – aka Panzer Grey – replaced the earlier two-colour pattern in 1940, in order to save paint.

Schwartzgrau (RAL 7021)

Dunkelgelb (RAL 7028)

Schwartzgrau (RAL 7021)

 

 

 

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Vehicles in North Africa were painted with a factory-applied base of Grünbraun (RAL 8000) covering 2/3 of the vehicle with 1/3 of Grüngrau (RAL 7008) in disruptive pattern.

Grünbraun (RAL 8000)

with both colours

 

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A new pattern for Africa was introduced in March of 1942. Available paint and camouflage paste of the earlier pattern was to be used up, resulting in a mixture of patterns in the interim period. Note: This African theatre camouflage was also used in Crete / Greece and possibly in the Balkan region.

Colours used were Gelbbraun (RAL 8020) and Sandgrau (RAL 7027).

Gelbbraun (RAL 8020)

Sandgrau (RAL 7027

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As of February 1943, vehicles were supplied in the Dunkelgelb factory base coat, only to be painted with camouflage patterns according to regional and seasonal requirements. As a result, a great variety of two and three colour patterns were in existence, even serving alongside each other in the same unit. Operational vehicles painted Schwartzgrau were not to be repainted in the new base colour. Instead, camouflage paste was to be used to create two- and three-colour patterns.

Colours used were Dunkelgelb (RAL 7028) with a disruptive pattern of Olivgrun (RAL 6003) and Schokoladenbraun (RAL 8017)

Dunkelgelb (RAL 7028)

Olivgrun (RAL 6003)

Schokoladenbraun (RAL 8017)

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It is generally accepted that the interiors of most German armoured vehicles of this time were painted using RAL 9001 ‘Cremewiss’ or most commonly called ‘Elfenbein’. The interior of the hatches is open to speculation, however on early vehicles it is sometimes light grey, and on most other vehicles the factory painted the hatches in the base colour of the vehicle. Most of the equipment was left black or red primer as finished in the factory.

RAL 9001 ‘Cremewiss’

Reference photos – Ambush Camouflage (Hinterhalt-Tarnung)

By August 1944, the Wehrmacht was mostly on the defensive. The Allies had broken out of their Normandy beachhead while the Red Army was rampaging westward after the success of Operation Bagration. During this change in fortune, the Allied air power proved decisive; making movement during daylight hours near impossible and menacing the trapped German forces mercilessly during the encirclement at Falaise.

It was during this time that the German tank factories were instructed to apply a new type camouflage scheme as part of the manufacturing process. The scheme become known as Hinterhalt-Tarnung or Ambush camouflage and was designed to aid in the concealment of combat vehicles under trees and other such foliage.

 

“Dot” pattern. Colours are: base of dunkelgelb with Olivgrun and Rotbraun pathces and dots

“Disc” camouflage pattern

On a Panther

On a StuG IV

Reference photos – Nato Camouflage

Tamiya’s acrylics cover nicely the NATO colours…..
NATO Black – xf-69
NATO Green – xf-67
NATO Brown – xf-68

As you may expect, colours from different NATO countries can vary slightly. France NATO Green, for example, can be obtained with xf-5.

But I think that the 3 Tamiya colours are okay for all NATO vehicles, keeping in mind that once your model has received filters, washes and so on, it’ll look much better. Maybe Tamiya xf-67 is a bit too dark

On an M113 of the German Army

Nato camouflage pattern on a french AMX Leclerc