Were tank tools and spares the same colour as the tank?

[ronnie42]

Have a look at this. http://www.aboutww2militaria.com/german ... a-536.html

Don't think they would be painted for safety reasons. Looked this up as a mate gave me insulated tubes made of the same material. Its darker but never been exposed to daylight .

[43rdRecceReg]

Have a look at this. http://www.aboutww2militaria.com/german ... a-536.html

Don't think they would be painted for safety reasons. Looked this up as a mate gave me insulated tubes made of the same material. Its darker but never been exposed
to daylight .

Interesting website. Yes, you would think if they went to the trouble of camouflaging a set of wire cutters, identical to the ones attached to tanks, then other tools and equipment would merit the same treatment. Water bottles, binoculars, webbing, jerry cans and more certainly did undergo camo treatment; even this Africa Korps periscope wore a colour disguise:

Africa Korps trench periscope

Afrika Korps periscope.jpg (20.3 KiB) Viewed 1393 times

In the course of rummaging on the net, I did come across this useful article on British camouflage patterns and types throughout WW2..
http://www.wwpd.net/2015/09/hiding-in-p ... e-and.html

[Maccrage]

Not sure about tanks, but WW2 USN camouflage instructions directed that all topside equipment, i.e. stretchers, fire extinguishers, tools, hoses, be painted or stained the camouflage color of the deck or bulkhead they were attached to.

[ronnie42]

The wire cutters have no overspray or paint drips on the metal , its the natural colour of the insulated resin handles don't know about the black end caps . Looks like the resin is breaking down.

[Maccrage]

The wire cutters have no overspray or paint drips on the metal , its the natural colour of the insulated resin handles don't know about the black end caps . Looks like the resin is breaking down.

Bakelite. Also used for the MP-40 lower receiver. They used it for jewelry too, because of its color.

[Afrikakorps]

So, without high jacking this thread, what colour should I paint the spare tracks on the side of a panther or king tiger?
Would they be bare metal ? Perhaps black like a shovel blade or sledgehammer. Or would the crew have painted over them in whatever camouflage the tank was.
I haven’t seen too many colour pictures to give me a clear indication.
Your thoughts gentlemen.
Cheers Steve


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[Max-U52]

So, without high jacking this thread, what colour should I paint the spare tracks on the side of a panther or king tiger?
Would they be bare metal ? Perhaps black like a shovel blade or sledgehammer. Or would the crew have painted over them in whatever camouflage the tank was.
I haven’t seen too many colour pictures to give me a clear indication.
Your thoughts gentlemen.
Cheers Steve


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If the camo was painted in the field the track links will probably be the same color as the camo, but if it was painted in the factory the track links will probably just be dark grey or black color.

[43rdRecceReg]

So, without high jacking this thread, what colour should I paint the spare tracks on the side of a panther or king tiger?
Would they be bare metal ? Perhaps black like a shovel blade or sledgehammer. Or would the crew have painted over them in whatever camouflage the tank was.
I haven’t seen too many colour pictures to give me a clear indication.
Your thoughts gentlemen.
Cheers Steve


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If the camo was painted in the field the track links will probably be the same color as the camo, but if it was painted in the factory the track links will probably just be dark grey or black color.

I think that's what I was really getting at, Gary. I suspect a lot of hard pressed units would simply have sprayed everything- including spare tracks Olive drab (allies), or triple-tone (Germans) later in the war, or some form of sandy/ dark yellow during the to-ing and fro-ing melees of the desert campaigns. Tanks arriving on trains for the Kursk metal on metal mashup, would probably have sported factory fresh livery...but not for long
But, overspraying spare tracks, while allowing significant hints of bare (dark grey) metal to peep through (weathering effects), would seem like one valid option for tank model painting.

[43rdRecceReg]

Hmm..I wonder what sort of campaign emergency led to this subtle outcome :

Zer Pink Pants-sir

Pink Panzer...jpg (55 KiB) Viewed 1323 times

[Afrikakorps]

Hmm..I wonder what sort of campaign emergency led to this subtle outcome :

Pink Panzer...jpg

Perhaps it is pink piñata camouflage


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