"Help Needed: Fallschrimjager Jump Smocks" Topic

I have a force of Victory Force Fallschrimjager miniatures that I am needing to paint up quickly.

While I like the splinter camo (I have FJs in 15mm in Splinter) it is taking far to long to paint and I need these guys done ASAP. We need more core players in our group to keep it alive while all the other guys slowly collect & paint their forces.

So, I was thinking of doing plain green jump smocks, but all the info I find about Fallschrimjager smocks refers to the splinter camo.

What years did they use the plain green smocks and would any of them still we wearing it by the time they got issued MG42s, Panzerfausts and Panzerschrecks?

Using Vallejo paints, what colors would be best for the plain smocks?

There is photographic evidence of plain smocks being worn in Normandy '44. Supposedly they were issued from previous stock. Vallejo 886 Green Grey

Plain green smocks were in use throughout the war. Splinter started to be issued in 1941, but it wasn't universal.

Wow, thanks for the quick help!

Really Vallejo 886? That seams a little light to me. I would have guessed 979 (German Cam. Dark Green).

Here's an image with FJ carrying panzerfaust and panzerschreck wearing what appear to be (at least by some) plain smocks.

And yes, 886 is the one – I thought the same too, but you should be happy with the results.

All right, thanks for the photo.

So the basic color pallet I am using right now is:

Smock: 886 Green Grey
Pants: 830 German Fieldgrey
Helmets: 995 German Grey
Pouches & Breadbags: 988 Khaki
Belts, webbing, pistol holsters, etc: black

All of that then hit with a black "magic wash" then dry brushed with the appropriate color mixed with white.

Does that sound about right?

Breadbags: 988 Khaki

Check out some original WWII breadbags. They were generally darker; I'd use a medium olive green.

Examples: link

Alternately, FJs could have used breadbags from Luftwaffe stocks; in this case use a "Luftwaffe blue."

I'd mix some of both within a unit.

Edit: Also, some of their leather gear could be Luftwaffe brown. Again, I'd mix 'em up within a unit.

Hmm in lots of the pictures I see the breadbags and pouches are a lighter color than the smocks.

I've also found some tutorials that suggest painting the smock 924 Russian Uniform which is a BIG change from the previously mentioned 886 Green Grey, but looks much more like the plain greenish smocks I think of.

I'm also not to fond of the khaki so I am going to try 821 German Camo Beige for the bread bags.

I think 886 looks right for smocks, I painted helmets and bread bags/respirator cases in 816, webbing black but belts and holsters 872 brown

Green Ochre (not sure code) also is good – used it for someo of the bread bags. The German Army set is pretty good – just need to get the Green Grey separately.

Well after painting up some test minis I have decided that yes, 886 Green Grey does look best.

I'll do a test of 914 Green Ochre on the pouches and bread bags. I feel there is not enough contrast between the 886 and the 821 German Beige.

VP 914 Green Ochre? That's pretty much a yellow…?

Look, they're your models, you can paint them however you like – I collect WWII militaria, and I've never seen a bread-bag that color.

Well, I've seen dunklegelb SMG magazine pouches but I have never seen an Olive Green breadbag or a blue one either!

Well, I've seen dunklegelb SMG magazine pouches

SMG pouches were made using different materials. They were both canvas, but of a different weight, thickness, etc.

And a more "yellow" shade of khaki might work for WWI, but not WWII.

but I have never seen aan Olive Green breadbag

Here's a good article with plenty of photos of originals:

dererstezug.com/breadbags.htm

or a blue one either!

Here's an example:

link

And another:

link

And another:

Want more?

Again, look, if you want to paint yours yellow, that's fine. But if you want accurate colors, perhaps you should do more research. You are, after all, the one asking for advice.

I'd be happy to recommend good reference materials and books or scan in some photos of originals if you want!

But if you want accurate colors, perhaps you should do more research. I'd be happy to recommend good reference materials or scan in some photos of originals if you want!

Well, what Vallejo colors would you recommend?

For breadbags?

I've used Vallejo 924 (Russian Uniform) and 823 (Luft Camo Green and 894 (Camo Olive Green), or blends thereof.

For the Luftwaffe "feldblau" breadbags I use 964 (Field Blue) and lighten or darken it a bit.

One think that is worth keeping in mind with WWII German stuff – there is almost never an EXACT color. Their dyes fades, their manufacturing standards weren't as strict as today's, stuff got trashed out in the field, etc. It's better to think in terms of a range of colors (between dark olive green and medium dusty green, for example) and blend up a few different shades at a time.

Really Vallejo 886? That seams a little light to me. I would have guessed 979 (German Cam. Dark Green).

First you ask, we tell you and then you reject it. Too funny…

There are so many colors you can use by mixing or watering down. It also depends on which basecoat you use on the figure.

It is al good. Avoid neons though.

There are no absolutes for your questions but only guys giving you their input. It isn't better than you doing the research. The picture above could be splinter camo but it got so faded that you can't really tell from a distance.

If you water down the paint and do some jagged soft brown and greens you can make a passable faded splinter look.

I don't think the above photo is of plain smocks, though they did exist. If you look closely at the two figures on the right, especially the 2nd from the right on the thigh of the smock, and the shoulder of the right-most figure it appears there is the faint pattern of a splinter camo.

The above colors mentioned are all good. I also like 881 Yellow-green for breadbags for even more variety; it also matches some originals I have seen.

881?

Yeah, that's within the range.

Yep. Like you (ScottS) said I've seen them in a range of similar colors, and blue.

link

Please find here all material samples of the "knochensack gruen"

Greetings