The answer to this will be considerably longer than the question - and will not be definitive.
1. The initial batch of A7Vs given to Abt.2 was delivered in a monochrome coat of paint that looks light, but was dark enough to make the white Roman numerals used by Abt.2 stick out prominently. One may suppose that this colour was what Daimler used on the lorries they were producing for the army; thus a medium grey may be assumed. This would then be the base colour.
2. At Villers-Bretonneux on 24th of April 1918, the tanks of Abt.2 had already received camouflage colours. These were green (a rather dark variety), red brown and mustard yellow. They had been applied by brush upon the base colour. The bogies required constant greasing, that made them difficult to paint. My guess thus is they were left in base colour, grease and dirt. The same would apply to the whole underbelly. - The armoured hull was camouflaged in large stripes/areas of the above colours, which - most probably - were applied simultaneously.
3. Note however that the Iron Crosses were painted on prior to camouflage work.
4. On some tanks (captured Mk.IVs in this case) it is evident that the three camouflage colours were applied simultaneously. On others, the green seems to have been used as new base upon which red brown and mustard yellow were applied in patterns of varying thickness and solidity.
5. The mustard yellow wore off quickly, so with tanks in use (without refurbishing at BAKP 20) green and red brown would be the dominant colours after some time.
-- Edited by mad zeppelin on Sunday 6th of December 2015 11:52:50 AM
Okay, I stopped this project and restarted it now that the hot weather has come and the basement is very comfortable by now.
I thought of using Tamiya Field Gray spray paint, as the Osprey book describes gray-green as the base color, though the shades varied according to the book as standards were not stringent. Would that work?
Modern coloured interpretation of an old monochrome photograph taken in September 1918. Black-and-white original held by New Zealand national archive. - In my opinion not too far off the mark, but colours should be more worn, thus be less intensive.
Modern coloured interpretation of an old monochrome photograph taken in September 1918. Black-and-white original held by New Zealand national archive. - In my opinion not too far off the mark, but colours should be more worn, thus be less intensive.
Thanks! I wasn't sure if color photography existed in that era.
I assume the gray is just medium gray rather than gray-green.
Modern coloured interpretation of an old monochrome photograph taken in September 1918. Black-and-white original held by New Zealand national archive. - In my opinion not too far off the mark, but colours should be more worn, thus be less intensive.
Thanks! I wasn't sure if color photography existed in that era.
I assume the gray is just medium gray rather than gray-green.
A wild guess, but I opted for Tamiya AS-28 Medium Grey. I assume as good as anything else.
A old thread, I know, but I read references that "Schnuck" was always grey. Now I see this image showing a "Schnuck" in camouflage colours . What is correct now?
