"To camouflage or not to Camouflage...." Topic

…that is the question!

I am putting together a set of matched HotT armies (British and Germans) for a post apocalyptic WWII era The war turned really ugly and left the air foul and un-breathable by humans), and the Germans are going to have a monster tank using the Strumtiger as the base vehicle. I am debating if I should camouflage the tank or paint it a nice dark panzer grey? If I should camouflage it what is the best recommended color scheme.

Please keep in mind that this is a post WWII era. For example the Germans will also be getting a flying saucer and it will be painted in the pre-war three color scheme – green brown and light grey, that was also used in the SCW.

Thanks in advance,

Terry

I'd go with a dazzle scheme of some sort, or dunkle gelb rather than panzer gray, but that's just me.

Thanks Grenadier,I was thinking that since I am going with the prewar scheme for the saucer, why not the early scheme panzer grey and brown for the monster tank? Or are you thinking more along the lines of a WWI style dazzle scheme? Maybe using the French WWI colors (brown, khaki, blue gray, green and sand) only in a more splintered pattern to make it more German?

Terry

If it were me the saucer would be in a late war luftwaffe scheme:

link

And I'd avoid dark grey which is historically wrong and again go for a late war German ambush based scheme:

link

I was thinking of a WWI-style dazzle scheme.

Is there any mutant vegetation in the distopia you've imagined? A strain of crimson weed or purple moss or chartreuse tumbleweed? If so, maybe the tank camo could incorporate that shade into the paint scheme?

Pink, I agree that to stay historical I should follow the late war schemes. However, being a fantasy army, I am wanting to have a little more fun with it. That's why I was thinking the earlier prewar scheme.

Grenadier, I am fond of the WWI schemes so that is a good possibility.

Eumelus, you bring up a key factor – the terrain and it's scheme. As I see it the landscape is pretty much decimated, so there's not much color left – sort of a cross between the terrain shown in the Terminator movies and a WW@I battlefield. Again, why I was thinking of the panzer grey and brown scheme – very somber.

All good input, and food for thought, and very much appreciated!

Terry

To carry on the post by Eumelus, the WWII German tank primer was a red oxide. Late in the war some tanks left the factories in that color and were only slightly painted or camo added.

Iirc most of the Sturmtigers were done in a rather jazzy factory applied ambush scheme which featured quite large contrasting dots, as opposed to the smaller ones on Panthers and Jagdpanzer IVs.

It is a perennial plastic modeller favourite.

If you are going with Hollywood fantasy Germans, then gloss panzer grey with huge Balkan crosses on every surface.

I'd go for grey.

Why?

Well, depending on when your timeline diverges from reality, it may be that the Germans never switch to camo, after all if they are winning, why change?

Secondly, HotT armies as you of all people know, are caricatures rather than copies and what is more of a proper German tank colour, grey or yellow? To a 'normal' person, it is grey….

But, hey, they are your armies, what do you prefer? :)

Also the fact that many thousands of litres of panzer grey paint were "left over" after the change to yellow.
After studying breakdown of germany for over 30 years, i'm quite sure that the grey paint would have been used, if it indeed, was'nt.

Sarcastically, I'd go with Panzer Gray because that's the color the Germans had when they were winning. They started losing when they changed to yellow!

@Lion in the Stars.

There's some truth in that throwaway comment but, German tanks were not plain panzer grey, they were panzer grey with a brown pattern over the top which is lost in photographs of the period due to the limitations of the film emulsion.

Yes, the gray and brown was one of he schemes I was considering. But considering this to be a post apocalyptic army, I am really inclined toward a very dark gray over all to help reflect the sinister side of the army. The ambush scheme would be colorful and accurate for the tank as it was actually used, but mine is going to be altered with turrets to make it more futuristic looking. So for now I am leaning toward the dark gray or the gray/brown scheme.

I still appreciate all of the feedback and welcome any other thoughts for sure.

Terry

How about one of those odd/unique very late war patterns, like the one nicknamed "octopus?"

A modeler's interpretation:

Hmmm, a very interesting looking scheme. Always food for thought!

Terry

How about an ambush pattern in greys?

How about a camo pattern in Grey?
Gull grey, mid grey, Dark sea grey?

I like all of the suggestions, and it will come down to a final choice as I paint the vehicle. My intent will be to have it be in a dark and sinister scheme, because after all, they are the bad guys in this pursuit!

Since it is a post apocalyptic time and WWII is still raging. The air has become foul due to the war and unbreathable, so everyone must wear either a gas mask or a sealed helmet. I am taking a lot of my cue from the movie Iron Sky as far as look goes.

The tank itself will be a highly modified Sturmtiger, with a turret added, some reshaping of the hull, a small rocket launcher maybe, a small machine gun turret to the front of the hull, plus the big gun the tank really had.

The British army to oppose it will have a big gun armed walker painted in the late war khaki drab and black scheme. I am trying to find some small Desert Rat decals for it, but so far no luck. If I can't find them, I'll just add the red-white-red of traditional British armor markings.

I'm using WWI guys for the landser on both sides in standard WWII color uniforms, and space helmeted type guys for the elites.

The British who will oppose them will have some paratroopers who will be jet pack guys, with maroon helmets and camo upper armor. The British will also have some commandos similar to the paratroopers, but no jet packs and with green helmets. Also thinking of a Spitfire Mk XXXVII, which will be a swept wing jet version made from a spitfire model.

The Germans will have some Sturmtruppen in space helmets and probably black-gray dress. I also may add some FJ (paratroopers) but as glider troops using a 6 MM Taube as a one man glider with the trooper slung underneath. The Germans get a flying saucer of course!

I am still in the formulation stages and am anxiously waiting for the new Osprey book on the Nazi Moon base book which I hope will arrive this week.

To help you better understand, I am a 15 MM gamer HotT, but use Pendraken 10 MM tanks because they fit nicely on the allotted base size.

Thank you all again and if you have further suggestions, please do share them.

Terry

That there is Airpower, go for a cammo scheme.

My understanding is that by late 44, most stockpiles of Panzer Grey had dried up (in some cases, literally!).

In 45, some tanks even rolled into battle with just their Iron Oxide undercoat (which is kind of Pinky/orange) but that may have been just a couple of specific incidents.

otherwise, you have flying saucers, this is fantasy, so you can do what ever gives you the most giggles/is simple.

Dazzel ship sounds good. Remember, that was supposed to make it difficult for someone to target the object confidently (as they are looking through a 1 inch tube and are trying to work out your dimensions, direction and speed!).

Hurrahbro, you make some good points and suggestions. Of course in my post-apocalyptic war front there is still plenty of panzer grey left. My thinking of that is simply to make it look more sinister.

The German flying saucer will be done in the early prewar splinter scheme of light grey, brown and green which is sort of dazzle painting. I know a metallic silver look would be best probably, but also seems to lack pizzazz and I've always liked that prewar scheme.

I am happy to report that I found some red desert rat decals from Dom's Decals and should have them shortly. I am very excited with that as they will add a lot to the British walker. Still liking the late war British scheme of khaki drab and black (I seldom use black but prefer a black gray instead). The Spitfire will be in the late war grey and green scheme with yellow leading edges and a sky spinner and fuselage band.

Both sides will also get some space age looking motorcycles troops and the British motorcycles will be in khaki drab and maybe some black pattern while the German motorcycles will be in panzer grey.

Again thanks for the input as every little bit helps. I will be sharing pictures of this project down the road but have another one I need to finish first.

Terry