King Tiger Color

If you have a tank query and you can't find the answer anywhere else, post here. (TIP - Check for answers in FAQ, use the 'search' facility or even check this board before posting here).
Forum rules
If your question is electronics related please post it in one of the relevant boards here: viewforum.php?f=31
User avatar
Jnewboy
Sergeant
Posts: 502
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 5:24 am
Location: California

King Tiger Color

Post by Jnewboy »

I am about to paint two king tigers and they are both going to be from the SS PzAbt 501 from the Battle of the Bulge. Many pictures of this unit I find depict a "grey/blue" as part of the camo. Some have said this color is incorect, some say it is correct. FoV use it on their 1/16 KingTigers. This grey/blue color is the question. Is this color real? if so what color is it? Below are examples of what Im talking about.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image
User avatar
jackalope
Lieutenant
Posts: 3885
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:42 pm
Location: Communist State of Maryland, United States.

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by jackalope »

I believe it would be field gray, the reason it may appear to have a bluish hue could very well be the effect the sun bleaching the paint and weathering and road dust would have on it. But being a novice at this stuff this is just my best guess take it with a grain of sand till more experienced members can speak up, but to me it looks very much like Tamiya field gray with a little weathering. My 505th KT got its color lightened up by the weathering and road dust to the point it looks like different colors then what I started with.
That tank #334 is 1 scheme I had been looking at very hard for my next build after this Tiger is done.
User avatar
Jnewboy
Sergeant
Posts: 502
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2014 5:24 am
Location: California

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by Jnewboy »

Yes you are right, it may be a field grey. I have always read that they only used Dunkelgelb after 43 and stopped with the grey, however some sources say that they still used some gery at the end due to a shortage of paint. If anyone has any definative information on this I would love to hear it.
HengRong
Recruit
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:31 pm

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by HengRong »

Field grey (Feldgrau) was the colour which was used for a wide variety of German uniforms, this was never painted on tanks. Dark grey (dunkelgrau) was the colour painted on early to mid war panzers. They ceased using it in 1943 and even though there were some unusual paint schemes late in the war I strongly doubt it was ever seen on a King Tiger. I don't go much for the FoV King Tiger camo scheme and would be using olive green (olivgrün) as its replacement. I hope that helps a little.
User avatar
jackalope
Lieutenant
Posts: 3885
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:42 pm
Location: Communist State of Maryland, United States.

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by jackalope »

Really the dark gray? I tried that but it seemed way too dark to me, I thought field gray was the correct color.
billpe
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Posts: 1144
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:59 pm
Location: The bowels of Kent

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by billpe »

It won't be grey, they'll be dark yellow, red-brown and and a shade of green. SS PzAbt 501 Tiger IIs would have come direct from the factory painted in the standard ambush scheme, using supplied patterns. Those tanks were built October/November 1944 and delivered at the start of December then almost straight into action. The photos of that period all show the factory standard scheme for those tanks.

There is some nice research here http://www.network54.com/Forum/47207/th ... -+Overview

I would really doubt any King Tiger ever had the slightest drop of grey on it and remember, most of the pictures you see are artists interpretations and should generally be ignored unless they state a source photo. The 2nd image is a pretty well researched one though and is from a Jentz and Doyle book and is backed up by other research on the topic.
billpe
Warrant Officer 2nd Class
Posts: 1144
Joined: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:59 pm
Location: The bowels of Kent

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by billpe »

jackalope wrote:Really the dark gray? I tried that but it seemed way too dark to me, I thought field gray was the correct color.
The grey used on tanks was very dark. Reports often say it was near black in colour under certain light.
HengRong
Recruit
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:31 pm

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by HengRong »

Dark grey (Dunkelgrau) is what the Germans named the colour they painted early to mid war panzers. The Tamiya version of this is XF-63 German grey and I find it to be pretty close. Tamiya XF-65 Field Grey is for their uniforms. I hope that clarifies it for you. Cheers.
HengRong
Recruit
Posts: 37
Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2014 12:31 pm

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by HengRong »

Thanks for the help with that Billpe.
User avatar
jackalope
Lieutenant
Posts: 3885
Joined: Fri Jun 20, 2014 7:42 pm
Location: Communist State of Maryland, United States.

Re: King Tiger Color

Post by jackalope »

Dark green? WOW, was I off! Told you to wait till someone else could chime in.
Post Reply

Return to “General Questions”