M-29 Weasel Photos by Kevin Hess
World War II British Armor Paint Mixes
Based on Tamiya Acrylic Paint
Based on Tamiya Acrylic Paint
The following mixes were prepared by Mike Starmer, the author of several books on British WWII armor and soft skin vehicle camouflage. I have edited them slightly and have added a link to Tamiya paint charts because who can remember all those XF numbers? This listing should prove useful to anyone like me who is less familiar with British paints and camouflage than those of German and US vehicles. The Caunter scheme colors are listed at the very bottom of the article.
Dave B
Dave B
Nobels Khaki Green No.3/ G3 & Dark Green
Khaki Green 3 was the new basic colour from mid-1939 till phased out in 1941. But also may be used as an alternative colour in lieu of Slate 34 in the Caunter scheme.
The resulting color is slightly less rich than a sample matched to an original motorcycle part and slightly less brown than on a steel helmet in original color, so a good average.
The resulting color is slightly less rich than a sample matched to an original motorcycle part and slightly less brown than on a steel helmet in original color, so a good average.
Mix: - 3 pts XF62 + 2 pts XF59.
Dark Green G4
No original color found; yet. This was the colour specified in MTP 20 for use in scheme 1 for 'average European conditions'. This colour is matched to the colour that I use over Khaki Green 3 and which is based on the use of complimentary hues and low contrast values seen on numerous contemporary photographs and what few colour photographs exist for 1940 period vehicles.
Mix: 3 x XF61 + 2 pts XF58.
Mix: 3 x XF61 + 2 pts XF58.
SCC No.15 Olive Drab
This is the colour that replaced SCC 2 brown as the basic colour from April 1944 on for use in NWE and Italy to avoid the need to repaint US equipment. But NOT Bailey Bridges, these remained SCC 2 brown. Mix: 5pts XF61 + 2pts XF62 + 2pts XF3. This is fraction darker than the standard so a wee touch more XF3 won't hurt. Then allow for scale effect.
Mix: 1pt XF62 + 1pt XF67 + 1pt XF3. A tweak more XF3 is not bad
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SCC No. 7 green
A bit obscure this colour but I found it during trials. Produced solely as a bituminous emulsion for use on canvas tilts and tentage which at the time were natural canvas colour or dyed Khaki Green. The colour first appears in August 1941 for use as the basic colour on vehicle canvases because the enamel paints rotted the fabic. The order specifies SCC.1A as the disrupter. Bodywork remained Khaki Green 3 and Dark Green 4 in the striped patterning. Four coloured camo on softskins? Yes. In addition this could also be used on the fabic penthouses attached to the sides on command vehicles and tents where their colour was green, i.e. NWE. Mix: 1pt XF62 + 1pt XF67 + 1pt XF3. A tweak more XF3 is not bad
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BS.28 Silver Grey
This is the official colour used as one of the disrupters with Slate in the 'Caunter' scheme. In use on all types of AFVs and other vehicles in Egypt from mid to late 1940 till cancelled in December 1941. Mix: 7pts XF21 + 1pt XF19 +1pt XF4. Be careful with XF4 as even a little too much will throw this colour far too green. Err on the light side.
SCC 1A dark brown
Next up, the dark brown colour used over SCC 2 brown and SCC 15 Olive Drab from 1941, officially replaced by Black but still well in evidence in 1945 on many softskins in NWE and Italy till 1945.Mix: 7 pts XF10 + 2 pts XF1. This is very close to the standard so a small touch of mid grey is needed for your models.
SCC No.2 Brown
This colour replaced Khaki Green 3 as the basic colour from late 1941 and remained in use right through to the end of the war although replaced on vehicles for NWE in about March 1944 on. Also on vehicles from U.K. and Canada send to M.E. in 1943-45. In the MTP46 scheme you can put Dark Tarmac, SCC 1A dark brown or SCC 14 black over this.
Mix: 5pts XF68 + 4pts XF3 + 1pt XF1. The result is just a fraction strong on the red so go carefully and do not overdo the black as even a slight touch too much darkens the result a great deal. Should be OK with some medium grey added for scale effect.
Mix: 5pts XF68 + 4pts XF3 + 1pt XF1. The result is just a fraction strong on the red so go carefully and do not overdo the black as even a slight touch too much darkens the result a great deal. Should be OK with some medium grey added for scale effect.
BS 64 Portland Stone
OK the next desert color--BS 64 Portland Stone.Mix: 6 pts XF2 + 1 pt XF3 + 1 pt XF57.
It could stand a fraction more XF2 and perhaps a fraction less XF57 but if I tweaked it then the proportions of the other colours would be really silly.
Mix: - 7 pts XF2 + 2 pts XF59 + 2 pts XF3.
The result may shock some modelers but it is just slightly lighter than my 1930 sample, certainly near enough.
BS 61 Light Stone
Having recently acquired most of the Tamiya matt colours I am slowly working my way through to finding mixes that match or as close as possible to the British WW 2 colours. So first success is BS 61 Light Stone as used from 1940 till 1943.Mix: - 7 pts XF2 + 2 pts XF59 + 2 pts XF3.
The result may shock some modelers but it is just slightly lighter than my 1930 sample, certainly near enough.
SCC 13 mix
I found this by trial and error, mostly error, testing for another colour. Generally referred to as 'jungle green'. This colour was used in India and Burma on British and Commonwealth vehicles from about late 1942 - 1945 so your Chinese & Indian Sherman Vs and M3 Lees can be real dull now, as can many softskins too. Mix 2 pts XF51 + 1 pt XF61 + 1 pt XF3.
Light Mud mix
OK here is the next one for Tamiya fans. This mix is between my book sample and SCC 5, the best that I could manage easily but since it was a theatre colour then there must have been some variations. Mix: 4pts XF55 + 2pts XF49 + 1pt XF66. It could take up to another 1/2 pt of XF55.
Used in Tunisia in small amounts from March 1943 then specified as the basic colour for a lot of British and Commonwealth vehicles finished in the set camouflage designs in Sicily and Italy till 1945. Use XF69 Nato Black as the disrupter over this.
Mix: 1prt XF24 + 1prt XF69.
Used in Tunisia in small amounts from March 1943 then specified as the basic colour for a lot of British and Commonwealth vehicles finished in the set camouflage designs in Sicily and Italy till 1945. Use XF69 Nato Black as the disrupter over this.
Dark Tarmac No.4
This is the colour that replaced Dark Green G4 in the spring or summer of 1941. Applied initially as stripes as per MTP 20 then later in the MTP46/4A style. In turn replaced by SCC1A and then SCC14 black. This colour is provisional since I use Revell 78 and this mix is very close. In turn it is based on Steve Guthrie's description of a sample in the Canadian archives he has examined and compared with some test samples that I sent to him and a colour photograph and some film footage seen on ML last year. Sorry but the best that can do so far. Mix: 1prt XF24 + 1prt XF69.
BS.34 Slate
At last the final colour for Caunter. After a lot of failed attempts it has turned out to be an easy mix. This colour was specified as the darkest colour to be used on vehicles painted with the Caunter scheme. Came into use in 1940 and apparently retained as one of the alternative colours to be used with the 1942 patterns. Mix: 1prt XF24 + 1 prt XF4. This is a fraction dark compared to the standard but a touch of white or light grey will tone it down.
Desert Pink
This proved difficult but this mix will do the job for you. The actual colour is provisional anyway and since it was locally manufactured then there must be some variations of shade. The colour was specified for general use as a basic colour in the October 1942 orders just prior to the Alamein battles but there is documentary evidence of it's use by LRDG as early as May 1942 perhaps as practical field trials. Phased out of use after the end of the North African campaign in May 1943 and replaced by Light Mud as the new M.E. basic colour. Mix: 5pts XF2 + 5pts XF15 + 1 prt XF52. Be careful with XF52 as too much will turn your resulting colour too mauve. Desert Pink needs of a definite pale pink appearance. The mix may benefit from a touch more white.
SCC No.224 Deep Bronze Green (Owsley)
Deep Bronze Green 224 replaced SCC 15 so DBG 224 is the colour for Korea.
Mix: 8pts XF5 + 5pts XF62 = Old dark colour. You need a satin varnish over this for the depth of colour. The SCC 15 was mixed with the new lighter colour. XF61 does not have red in it thus not suitable for DBG 224.
Mix: 8pts XF5 + 5pts XF62 = Old dark colour. You need a satin varnish over this for the depth of colour. The SCC 15 was mixed with the new lighter colour. XF61 does not have red in it thus not suitable for DBG 224.
SCC No.49 Light Purple Brown
This is the colour specified for use with Light Stone 61 in The Sudan. It seems to have been used on several softskins, at least one A9 if I judge the tones correctly from the one photograph of one there and a universal carrier with very dark undulating stripes effect along it. It may have been used on some of the A10 cruisers of 3 RTR in Greece during 1941. I suspect that this colour may be the dark blackberry like spots on the 3 RTR Grants and Stuarts in early 1942. Mix: 10 pts XF7 + 1 pt XF8. This is a little light but all of the browns that I added made it far too dark and brown
The Caunter Scheme:
Light Stone No.61. Mix XF2+XF59+XF3 in the proportions 7:2:2
or
Portland Stone No.64. Mix XF2+XF3+XF57 in the proportions 6:1:1
Silver Grey No.28. Mix XF21+XF19+XF4 in the proportions 7:1:1
Slate No.34. Mix XF24+XF4 in the proportions 1:1
or
Portland Stone No.64. Mix XF2+XF3+XF57 in the proportions 6:1:1
Silver Grey No.28. Mix XF21+XF19+XF4 in the proportions 7:1:1
Slate No.34. Mix XF24+XF4 in the proportions 1:1
Mike Starmer's books are difficult to find. White Ensign Models may have them in stock or you can contact Mike directly to place an order.
