World War II Axis - 1

2002-12-18

ALL COLOR NUMBERS REFER TO TESTORS PAINTS. Testors is sold in Europe under the name "Model Master".
For one shade colors, here are the Testors numbers; Black (1149 or 1749), White (1168 or 1768), Gold (1144 or 1744), Silver (1146), Steel (1180 or 1780), Brass (1182 or 1782), Flesh (flat-various available shades or mixtures). Aircraft Interior Black (2040) referred to below, is a VERY dark matte shade of charcoal gray and perfect for black uniform cloth.

WORLD WAR II AXIS


GERMANY


INFANTRY 1939-42

PART/ITEM -- COLOR

Tunic, cap, helmet, cylindrical gas mask carrier -- OG Green (1164)
Trousers, overcoat, grenade body -- Faded Olive Drab (2051)
Collar, epaulets (both tunic and overcoat) -- Medium Green (1713)
Epaulet trim (Infantry) -- White
Boots, ammo pouches, holster, belt, straps, shovel, binoculars -- Black
Officer belt and straps -- Leather (1736)
Haversack, mess tin, canteen cup, shovel handle -- SAC Bomber Tan (1792)
Canteen -- Dark Tan (1742), Black strap
Shelter half roll -- CAMOUFLAGE pattern of Medium Green (1713) and Field Drab (1702) segments over Green (2029) base.
Metal parts of weapons, bayonet -- Gunmetal (1795)
Hair, pack, wooden parts of rifle -- Brown, Italian dark (2111)
Blanket roll - Flat Gull Gray (1730)
Folded gas cape -- Armor Sand (1704)
MG belt -- Brass
MG ammo boxes, mine detector, mortars and A/T weapons -- Engine Gray (2034)
Hands, face -- Flesh
Base -- Green (2029)



NOTES: For parades, at the the beginning of the war, the Germans issued a WW I style matching pack, with blanket rolled on three sides, but most troops carried only their mess kit, shelter quarter roll and haversack in combat. Motorcycle riders received a full length Flat Gull Gray (1730) double-breasted coat as an overgarment, which fastened around their legs.

Suggested Reference -- Osprey Men At Arms series #311, The German Army 1939-45 (1) Blitzkrieg


INFANTRY and PANZER GRENADIERS 1942-45

PART/ITEM -- COLOR

Cap,tunic, trousers, overcoat, helmet -- Faded Olive Drab (2051)
Epaulet trim, Infantry -- White (Panzer-Grenadiers -- Light Green)
Boots, ammo pouches, holster, belt, straps, binoculars -- Black
Officer belt and straps -- Leather (1736) (Black also possible.)
Haversack, mess tin, canteen cup -- SAC Bomber Tan (1792)
Canteen -- Dark Tan (1742), Black strap
Shelter half roll -- CAMOUFLAGE pattern of Medium Green (1713) and Field Drab (1702) segments over Green (2029) base.
Cylindrical gas mask carrier, shovel -- OG Green (1164)
Metal parts of weapons, bayonet -- Gunmetal (1795)
Hair, pack, wooden parts of rifle -- Brown, Italian dark (2111)
MG belt -- Brass
MG ammunition boxes, mine detector, mortars and A/T weapons -- Armor Sand (1704)
Grenade and shovel handles -- Wood (1735)
Canteen top--steel Hands, face -- Flesh
Chin strap--black
Base -- Green (2029)



NOTES: In early 1942, the Germans went to a plainer, cheaper, "war economy" tunic. In late 1943 they began to issue Afrika Korps styled caps, and baggy trousers in European colors. It was possible to see any of these in a mix with prewar items until the last day of the war.

Suggested Reference -- Osprey Men At Arms series #326, The German Army 1939-45 (3) Eastern Front 1943-45

Suggested Figures: Deutsche Infanterie/German Infantry, Deutsche Panzergrenadiere/German Armored Infantry, and Deutsches Afrikakorps/German Africa Corps WW II


LATE WAR GERMAN ARMY (1944-45)

PART/ITEM -- COLOR

Smock, "poncho" (shelter half ) -- CAMOUFLAGE pattern of Medium Green (1713) and Field Drab (1702) segments over Green (2029) base
Tunic, trousers, overcoat, helmet -- Faded Olive Drab (2051)
Boots, ammo pouches, holster, belt, straps, binoculars,scabbard -- Black
MP-44 SMG pouches -- Sand (1706)
Officer belt and straps -- Leather (1736) (Black also possible.)
Haversack, mess tin, canteen cup -- SAC Bomber Tan (1792)
Canteen -- Dark Tan (1742), Black strap
Cylindrical gas mask carrier, shovel -- OG Green (1164)
Metal parts of weapons, bayonet, wire cutters -- Gunmetal (1795)
Hair, pack, wooden parts of rifle -- Brown, Italian dark (2111)
Grenade, shovel, and pick handles, oar -- Wood (1735)
MG belt,belt buckle,buttons -- Brass
Goliath demolition vehicle, A/T weapons, mortars, mines, mine detector, MG ammunition boxes -- Armor Sand (1704)
Pick -- Steel
Inflatable Boat -- Medium Green (1713)
Hands, face -- Flesh
Chin strap,pack strap--black
Base -- Green (2029)



NOTES: Only some elite German Army units received camouflage uniforms late war. An alternative late-war Camouflage pattern was Dark Tan (1742) and Green (2029) segments over an Armor Sand (1704) base. This garment reversed to White. (This alternative pattern did NOT apply to "ponchos".) Late in the war, the Germans also issued a British Battledress-style uniform, complete with gaiters, but these were not very common. Late war A/T weapons included "bazookas" and single shot Panzerfaust rocket launchers.

Suggested Reference: Osprey Men At Arms series #336, The German Army 1939-45 (5) Western front 1943-45

Suggested Figures: Deutsche Infanterie/German Infantry, Deutsche Pioniere/German Engineers, Deutsches Afrikakorps/German Africa Corps WW II


GERMAN TANK CREWS

PART/ITEM -- COLOR

Tunic, trousers, headgear -- Aircraft Int. Black (2040)
Boots, holster, belt, binoculars -- Black
Goggle lenses -- Silver
Hair -- Brown, Italian dark (2111)
Pistol, submachine gun -- Gunmetal (1795)
Epaulet trim and collar tab -- Army and SS: Pink, Luftwaffe: White
Hands, face -- Flesh
Base -- Green (2029)



NOTES: SS tank crews often wore Camouflage uniforms or just a Camouflage smock over black trousers. Army, SS and Luftwaffe crews of self-propelled artillery wore an identical uniform to tank troops, but in Dark Gull Gray (1740).


AFRIKA KORPS

PART/ITEM -- COLOR

Uniform, helmet (See NOTES) -- Sand (1706)
Overcoat -- Field Drab (1702)
Ammo pouches, holster, binoculars -- Black
Belt, straps, shovel -- Flat Gull Gray (1730)
Socks, haversack, mess tin, canteen cup -- SAC Bomber Tan (1792)
Shelter half roll -- CAMOUFLAGE pattern of Medium Green (1713) and Field Drab (1702) segments over Green (2029) base.
Boots (See NOTES) -- Armor Sand (1704) top/Dark Tan (1742) bottom or Black.
Canteen -- Dark Tan (1742), Black strap
Front SMG pouch -- Sand (1706)
Metal parts of weapons, bayonet -- Gunmetal (1795)
Hair, wooden parts of rifle -- Brown, Italian dark (2111)
MG belt -- Brass
MG ammo boxes, cylindrical gas mask carrier, mines, mine detector, mortars and A/T weapons -- Armor Sand (1704)
Grenade body -- Faded Olive Drab (2051)
Grenade and shovel handles -- Wood (1735)
Hands, face, legs -- Flesh
Base -- Dark tan (1742)



NOTES: This uniform was a Light Olive [SAC Bomber Tan (1792)] when issued, but between sun, and the wearers deliberate efforts to bleach them out, they ended up tan. These uniforms were later issued in Tunisia and Sicily. European uniform items were also worn in North Africa. Soldiers were originally issued combination leather and canvas boots, one pair each, of ankle boots and full calf length. Black ankle marching boots were also commonly worn. Painting of helmets, etc, was done haphazardly at the unit level.

Suggested Reference -- Osprey Men At Arms series #316 The German Army 1939-45 (2) North African & Balkans

Suggested figures: Deutsches Afrikakorps/German Africa Corps WW II

GERMAN MOTORCYCLE

PART/ITEM -- COLOR
motorcycle 1939-42--engine gray 2034
motorcycle 1942-45--armor sand 1704
headlight lens--silver
license plate--white
license lettering--black
exhaust pipe--rust 1185
handlebar grips--aircraft int.black 2040
hand brakes,engine block--steel
seats,packs--leather 1736
tires--rubber 1183
machine gun handle--brown ital.dark 2111
machine gun metal--gunmetal 1795
pack straps--armor sand 1704
tail lights--red 1150
rubberized overcoat--gull gray 1730
MP left sleve cuff band--brown ital.dark 2111
MP sleve cuff band lettering--european gray 1788
goggle lenses,MP gorget,binoccular lenses--silver
MP gorget strap,goggles--black
MP gorget lettering--gold
MP and cycle driver gloves--gull gray 1730
goggles strap--armor sand 1704
rear seat hand grip--cycle color