"British Shermans what colour?" Topic

Hi guys looking to use the collective hive brain that is TMP as my googlefu isn't working.

What colour where British Sherman tanks in late war NWE? As I understand it British vehicles were Khaki drab at this stage of the war but were Shermans (and other Lend Lease) painted in the usual US olive drab or were they re-painted in British colours?

Thanks guys

Jon

Olive Drab. British equipment late war were painted a shade similar to US Olive Drab so that it matched all the lend lease equipment. Word has it the British shade weathered more green whereas the US shade weathered more brown, but they should be similar. FREX, for ALL my late war British projects, they get the same OD I paint US equipment in, including Cromwells, Churchills, UCs, and whatever other British equipment I might have.

Damon.

Having just gone through this discussion myself,
TMP link, I think I can help:

1. If it's a Lend-Lease Sherman that hasn't been through major re-work, it's the same OD as it left the factory.

2. If it's been rebuilt or modified – such as a Firefly or an M10c Achilles, it'll be painted in a very close shade known as Standard Camouflage Colour 15 (Olive Drab).

After fiddling around, I'm happy using 2 parts Vallejo US Olive Drab to 1 part Vallejo British Bronze Green. It comes out a little greener than the OD
somewhere between this:

and this:

Three caveats:
• Photographs are a right pain to color match (and are why I inadvertently Bronze Greened my Cromwells)
• Post war restorations are not always accurately painted
• Once your equipment's out in the field, the color is going to change due to weathering, sunlight and etc.

With those in mind, if you are happy with the final results – whatever they are – then it's the right color.

Wyatt

Photographs are a right pain to color match

And there is no guarantee that the colours in the photograph are accurate.

That was covered in the second bullet point, but yes, that can't be emphasized nearly enough.

Wyatt

Wot they said. The 'Khaki Drab' term is colloquially used, but isn't accurate.

I would add that all Shermans in British service would get a fresh slap of paint whenever the troops were 'resting' (i.e. still working hard but not in combat) – particularly in the UK before embarkation and periodically in Europe, betweeen operations. The US OD therefore wouldn't last very long at all (though as has been said above, the two shades are so similar as to be indistinguishable when covered in dust and crud).

Never underestimate the ability of British NCOs to find pointless tasks for the chaps (especially where paint is available).

Fireflies would also get a fresh coat of paint in the factory doing the conversion and any Sherman undergoing some major work (such as the application of applique armour) would also have fresh slap applied.

Thanks for the help guys :)

Never underestimate the ability of British NCOs to find pointless tasks for the chaps (especially where paint is available).

A skill not limited to the Brits, I might add.

I spent many an underway field day stuffed into a bilge bay vactan'ing and then repainting sound mounts, when paint is considered an atmosphere contaminant and supposedly not allowed onboard!

Tamiya xf 62, highlit with mix xf 62 and some sand,dusting

acorporalsguard.weebly.com

Nice paintwork Cardinal!

cheers

Buy the Plastic Soldier Company spray paint, it has great coverage and is mixed to match the British version of the standard khaki drab.
Or, read Nigel Starmer for the authoritative word…
link

save up and buy a decent airbrush and use Tamiya, or lifecolor which I have started using lately and pretty good it is.

I've tried Lifecolor in my airbrush, didn't care for it at all! I'm mystified by people who can get good results from it, much like people that swear by Testors Dullcote…

Damon.

I use Humbrol 159 for WW2 Brit Shermans.

Never underestimate the ability of British NCOs to find pointless tasks for the chaps (especially where paint is available).

I believe the phrase is if it moves salute it, if it stays still paint it! :-)

Dads unit really did paint individual lumps of coal at one stage.
He used to walk round with a clip board and pencil to avoid some officer giving him some busy work.

Nice work on that Sherman,