discussion Olive drab, khaki, olive green, dark khaki...

[homechild]

I'm going slightly mad here so I hope you don't mind me venting slightly.

I've been looking into WWII US army uniform colours and can't get my head round it all!

The colours vary depending on which website you look at and the Google images pictures are just as varied.

As the colours would have faded with use is it really that important what exact shade is used as long as the basic colour is similar?

I'm talking about the regular uniform with the M1941 jacket, I don't have any WWII movies for reference either, all of my war movies are Vietnam!

I made the mistake of mentioning my problem to my wife who just says (and I know she's just trying to be supportive) "Just paint them whatever colour you want."

Why couldn't they just have had one uniform colour?!

Oh well, I'm just going to select my paints and stick to it.

 

[tr1ckey66]

Hi Drew

I really would go with what the colour looks like rather than trying to find the exact match in Tamiya/Vallejo/Umbrol or whatever. There are so many variables at work here that an exact colour is impossible to quantify - as well as the atmospheric conditions (cool light/warm light etc) you also have the added complication of cloth colour fading after washing. If I were you I'd mix a batch of Drew Brand WWII US army drab and then vary that to get the highlights/shadows etc. Also, vary the shade slightly between each figure to simulate those variations in uniform condition.

Hope this helps

All the best

Paul

 

[Guest]

I paint the basic colour, generally green, & go from there! I don't think it's that important to slavishly conform to what books or anything else says, there must have been so much natural variation in colour.

Cheers

Patrick

 

[geegad]

This isn't any help but can't help laughing to my self about what your wife said "paint them what ever colour you want" that's just what mine would say they haven't got a clue bless them.. P.s I would go with a light variation of olive drab when it's all weathered and u have pigments on there it will be just fine

 

[Guest]

if you look at any colour photo of men in uniform there is always a slight difference in colour between a couple of them.

I used to work at a dyer & finishers and have processed MOD material. the colour matching standards weren't anywhere near marks and Spencers or George from asda. within 5% on the red, blue or yellow side was fine.

 

[Guest]

Check here for uniform painting reference, these are very high quality reproduction uniforms and equipment made for reenactors.

At the Front - Home

 

[mossiepilot]

I'd go with what the other guys have said, cos looking at any "in the field" films - Youtube have got plenty - the colour variation is huge.

I mentioned Drew's comment about "what ever colour you like" to the GF, which raised an agreeing smile, but when I read out the comment from John about, no clue , bless them, her reply was Cheeky sod.:emo:

We know most've got no clue, but we don't tell 'em cos they let us have our boys toys, her words, unmolested.

Tony.

 

[homechild]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

Well, I made a start. Painted some splotches (technical term) onto a piece of card to find out which were closest to the colours I want.

Then I mixed up a colour for the jacket (I know what colours I'm using for the rest) and have put the first coat on. I'll let it dry overnight then give it another coat. It's the driver from my halftrack so will be mostly hidden (i.e. it doesn't really matter a great deal if I mess him up). I made quite a bit of it in case it's right as I have 8 or 9 guys to paint!

And Colin, that is quite a difference but I'm assuming this would be for field uniforms and not dress uniforms. If it's a green/brown camo scheme I guess it wouldn't matter too much due to the differences in nature!

 

[Guest]

I'm going slightly mad here so I hope you don't mind me venting slightly.I've been looking into WWII US army uniform colours and can't get my head round it all!

The colours vary depending on which website you look at and the Google images pictures are just as varied.

As the colours would have faded with use is it really that important what exact shade is used as long as the basic colour is similar?

I'm talking about the regular uniform with the M1941 jacket, I don't have any WWII movies for reference either, all of my war movies are Vietnam!

I made the mistake of mentioning my problem to my wife who just says (and I know she's just trying to be supportive) "Just paint them whatever colour you want."

Why couldn't they just have had one uniform colour?!

Oh well, I'm just going to select my paints and stick to it.

Hi there i use tamiya buff as a base coat then add a little white for highlights and add a little black to the buff for shadows. thats if we are talking about the parsons jacket of course. if it's the M1942 jacket then olive drab for highlights add a little dark yellow to this and dry brush for shadows add a little black.

scott

 

[Gern]

Hi Drew. This isn't the first time that colours have been mentioned! It got me thinking (unusual for me I know!) about what factors might affect the colour of an object. I was surprised at the length of my list, and it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if some of the guys found others.

Anyway, this is what I thought of:

Colour variation

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[TABLE=class: MsoTableGrid]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Manufacture

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Quality, availability & proportions of ingredients.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Use of local/natural pigments. Different manufacturers.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Mixing procedures.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Equipment used.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Application

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Where work is done.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Factory/local depot/in the field.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Skills/dedication of workforce.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Trained/untrained. Forced labour.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Quality of mixing/application

technique.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Proportions. Hand/spray paint. Coverage.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Quality & availability of locally sourced ingredients.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Dilutants. Additives.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Quality of surface.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Rust/corrosion. Clean/dirty.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Type of surface.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Smooth/rough. Absorbant. Solid/flexible.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Original surface colour.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Dark/light shading effects.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Finish effects.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Matt/gloss. Varnish/polish added.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Use

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Amount of use.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Frequent/seldom.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Type of use.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] In action/HQ/storage depot.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Replacements used.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] New panels.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Type of weather.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Hot/dry. Cold/wet.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Degree of exposure.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Under cover/in the open.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Length of exposure

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Days/weeks/months.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Physical/chemical effects

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Wear and tear.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Normal daily use.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Heavy use areas.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Walkways. Hatches.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Bleaching

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Exposure to sunlight.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Exposure to chemicals.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Salt. Exhaust gases.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Staining from other substances.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Mud/grass. Exhaust gases. Fuels.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Perception

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent]

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Type of light.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Direct/indirect sun.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Amount of light.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Bright/dim.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Background.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Glare/shading. Reflections.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Weather.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Rain, mist or dust in the air.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Size.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] ‘Scale effect.’

[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Distance.

[/TD]

[TD=width: 284, bgcolor: transparent] Colour intensity fades with distance.

[/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]



To be honest, I'm not that fussed as long as the thing looks about right to my eyes.

Gern