Forces for 1940 WW2

[Raider4]

Bovy do have a tendancy to use made up schemes though....

I didn't say it was accurate, I just said it was there

[John Cook]

The info I had was universal grey came in AFTER  the Fall of France, but as we often know, I am wrong on a great many things.

You are absolutely right on this point and have done your research.  Sometimes the answer is 'nobody knows' but not in this case.

I wouldn't trust any paint scheme applied by museums and the claims by Zaloga, and others, that the Wehrmacht painted its vehicles overall dark grey by 1940 is based, apparently, on faulty analysis of black and white period photographs.  The trouble is that in period monochrome imagery, as you point out, and demonstrate in the monochrome shots of your nicely executed models, the two colours are almost indistinguishable and the finish appears to be a uniform tone.   

The two colours are very dark.  The brown is close to Vallejo Chocolate Brown, and although Vallejo Black Grey is probably closer to the grey colour, I find Vallejo Basalt Grey is plenty dark enough for miniatures, particularly after a wash of black, and dry-brushing.

Here are a couple of authoritative articles on the subject of Wehrmacht camouflage and anything else is, frankly, speculation.  The Kfz.der Wehrmacht site is especially useful on all things to do with German army vehicles.

https://panzerworld.com/german-armor-camouflage
http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/Homepage_english/Miscellaneous/Camouflage_finish/camouflage_finish.html

The dunkelbraun Nr45/dunkelgrau Nr46 scheme was ordered on 12 July 1937.  It applied to all vehicles, except motorcycles and some staff cars which were solely dark grey.  This two-tone pattern remained the prescribed scheme until 12 June 1940, after which dark grey became the prescribed universal colour for all vehicles.

Having said all that I have to confess that, on the basis of mistaken received wisdom, my early Wehrmacht tanks and vehicles are uniformly dark grey. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Nice feedback, thank you.

[cudders]

Cracking as usual 

Cudders

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Two more Panzer IIIE


Menicingly on the prowl


Maybe we will go this way


And we HAD to have some recon!




Which way round does it go?


Here we go here we go

[Steve J]

Nice work Will .

[Techno II]

I like those lots ! 

Cheers - Phil.

[paulr]

 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Panzer IVd

Drat, did not notice the flock!





And motorcyclists!

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

More good stuff

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

GRV136 Panzer IIC done and added to my Western European theatre Germans - what a model


Can see where the idea for the Dalek came from


Trundle trundle


It looks soooo cool, thank you Leon


Love the hatch details


Dakka


Now some French
SOMUA S35s


Looking mean


Really impressive figures, must not put off painting these for so long


Back view


Quite a tank


Here they come


Renault R35s


Not sure a one man turret was the best plan


Here we go


Back view


Allez


Waiting for trouble


Mean and moody, might risk the Panhard next.


French infantry


Ready...


Good news, they're on home soil


Few more squads to go after this


Come up quite well


Moving on


Hold the line, they'll never get through here!

[bigjackmac]

Pretty sexy, but can they fight!!??

V/R,
Jack

[DHautpol]

Very nice, I particularly like the camouflage on the French tanks.

I've sometimes thought about doing WWII for the "Battle of France" period; basically attracted by the "Heath Robinson" appearance of the tanks.

I'm also very taken with the basing, what did you use for the green bushes on the tank bases?  I used some Woodland Scenics "Briar Patch" for my tree bases and it was a nightmare to work with. It was very crumbly and it was like trying to glue down Shredded Wheat.  The stuff is probably fine for 28mm, but just broke up when trying to use small quantities.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Faller dark green clump folliage, watered down pva under and over

[DHautpol]

Faller dark green clump folliage, watered down pva under and over

Thanks, I'll look out for some of that; gives a nice dense look.