"Bilbao armoured car in police service 1932-6, what colours?" Topic

Gentlemen,

I believe the Bilbao armoured car was used by Assault Guards in Spain from 1932 onwards. Mazarrasa 'Blindados en Espana' shows two examples in black and white photos that have both been painted in a single colour. One is quite light and one much darker appearing almost black.

Can anyone help with information as to what colour these armoured cars in particular and police vehicles in general would have been in pre war Spain.

thanks for your attention.
John

I'm pretty sure that they were grey, don't have my reference here to double check right now, though.
The different shades in the photos could easily be due to different photographic/light conditions.

Kosta

I painted mine grey, I can't recall the source(s) I used though.

Grey, cos Mark from Aberdeen told me to do so and he knows everything.

I painted mine Grey as well.
The 'Spanish Civil War Tanks' book from Osprey says that the Army adopted Grey as the standard colour for it's vehicles in 1926.

and I just found on the good old web -

Armoured Car, The Wheeled Fighting Vehicle Journal May 1992
"The Spanish Bilbao Armoured Car" by John Baumann.

He says " The basic colour was dark grey and for this reason the Bilbaos were nicknamed 'tizanos' … a popular appreciation of the word 'tiznalos' meaning dirtied by coal or a dark object"

Grey

Generally speaking I think grey is right but there are exceptions

I think the colours are conjecture.

Disruptive patterns were slapped on all kinds of kit though I doubt there was any standardisation.

Grey it is then Gentlemen. At least if I am wrong then I will be in good company.

Thank you all for your help and especially to Aubrey and XV Brigada, the photos are very useful.

I shall paint one straight Grey to use with police against Pistoleros and other displeased types pre July 36. I think giving it a gloss varnish and not much drybrushing will accent the civian aspect. It will also be handy for initial rebellion games. The second will get a disruptive paint pattern and can accompany militia colums.

Sometimes one can lose sight of just what a helpful place TMP can be. Many thanks again to you all.

regards
John

The Asaltos (urban Police) did them in a light grey metal primer. On the door was the Security Corps full name, emblem, and commandancia number.
The Army, of to which a dozen or so were ordered before the uprising, painted them light olive. on the sides, next to doors and under the first covered port window was the cavalry emblem. Some sources stated the full contracted number were not delivered by hostilities and only 8 were delivered. This makes them rather rare in photos and easily mistaken for the Asaltos grey vehicles in black and white photos.
The notorious camo version is only seen on the one Bilbao photographed a few times. Very likely a repainted Cavalry Bilbao given the base olive color and operated by a militia after army units were disbanded and equipment given to militias. The camo paint job appears brush applied and amatuer-bizarre in fashion. It does not match the typical army camo style which was olive with brown blotched areas as seen on the FT-17 and CA-1.