"WWII japanese uniform color" Topic

Does anyone know of a good japanese WWII uniform site. I'm trying to decide how faded to make my uniforms and how accurate Hollywood is (Silly question I know). The uniform color in most painting lines is a pea green, but I've almost always seen them in movies wearing a faded khaki. I also need to know how to differentiate officer's uniforms from the enlisted men.

Thanks,

David

Try the Resistant Rooster site. They have a very nice painting guide.

As with US forces in both the Pacific Theater and later in Vietnam, the heat and moisture tended to make uniforms fade like mad in these areas. So start with a Vallejo Japanese Uniform color (which is indeed a pea green hue) and dry brush lighter shades on it from there. You can't really go wrong…

Here's a picture that might be useful-- link

Here are some reproductions, and they look rather khaki-- atthefront.com/jap_uni.htm

More here, scroll down-- link

Good luck with your painting!

Jerry

All I know is the Vallejo color named Japanese Uniform is a really vile yellow green. Not that it doesn't have it's uses- I like to paint up RPG rounds in that color. But a whole unit of figures painted that color would be pretty ugly.

Model Master or Poly S did/do make a "Japanese Army" unifrom paint color.

It took me a little bit, but I've uploaded the photos of Japanese re-enactors that I took this past Sunday. There are a variety of uniforms and kit:

link

They are big photos and the server's being a bit wonky at the moment.

Wyatt

I believe that Japanese uniforms were green in temperate climates (home islands, Manchuria), but they had a lightweight, khaki-colored one for tropical settings, like Burma and most of the south pacific islands. Hence the confusion.

Mserafin is right, plus a third yellow baby poo wool colour (Vallejo Jap Uniform) worn in China. This was their winter uniform. So you have three colour choices. Officer wore same colours as their men.

Thanks guys,
You're great! All the links and info have been most helpful. Now I'm off to prime the little gentlemen.

David

Resistant Roosters has a good tutorial on painting Japanese here, complete with Vallejo colors, here:

link

Designed for 15mm but easily adapted I'm sure…..

The confusion of uniforms is also due to the fact that on a early stage of the war the uniform where indeed a kind of khaki, only later (so called "late war") the uniforms were a kind of greenish tone (not the one for SNL troops!!).
The Resistant Rooster guide is basically the best you can have on japs uniform…go for it!!

Cheers
Ayé

Quick Guide to Painting Japanese Infantry (PDF format)
link

Osprey's Warrior series is a great resource. "Japanese Infantryman 1937-45" has some excellent colour plates for referencing regional Japanese uniform colours (e.g. China, Homeland, Pacific islands).
link

Based on what I've researched, khaki or light brown/green-brown best represent Japanese tropical uniforms. Vallejo #923 "Japanese Uniform" is a good match for troops in the China campaign.

You know, I abruptly feel a lot better about using Khaki (cloth) and Green Ochre (body armor) for my Keisotsu Butai (Infinity Japanese line infantry).

I agree, that Vallejo Japanese Uniform is hideous (although it looks really yellow to my eyes). Good thing I'm not interested in gaming the Manchukuou Front!

What about an SNLF uniform guide? Any recommendations?
Thanks,
Mike

Mostly Olive green, green-brown helmets, blue-green helmet net, med-light olive haversacks and covered canteens. Leather gear all the same as army. Could also mix in some green brown and drab uniforms as well for the late war look.