WWII GERMAN TOOL COLORS

Tools and small fittings on German vehicles

Engineer tools, jerrycans, fire extinguishers, periscopes and headlights make up only a fraction of the surface of a model, but they decide whether the finished piece looks alive. This twelve-piece set is put together for exactly those, and it mixes two kinds of shades: the basic camouflage tones in which the tools were painted over together with the vehicle, and the extra colors for the parts that were never painted over.

A look at the contents

The RAL standards are represented by RAL 6003 Olivgrun, RAL 7021 Dunkelgrau, RAL 7028 Dunkelgelb from the middle of the war and RAL 8012 Rotbraun. The metal parts are covered by Steel and Matt Aluminum, and wear is handled by Medium Rust. Matt Black and Red are aimed at handles, straps and fire extinguishers. A special role is played by Crystal Red and Crystal Green, transparent shades intended for tail lights and periscope optics, and by Desert Yellow for service in Africa.

A procedure that has proved itself

The handles are first painted brown, then a lighter tone is drawn over them with a dry brush so that the wood grain stands out. The metal blades are given their silver finish last, so that the sheen is not covered over. The transparent shades are applied over a glossy silver base, otherwise the light does not look recessed.

The set also serves well for finishing vehicles that are already sprayed in their basic camouflage, because it is exactly the small fittings that get the least room in the instructions in the box. The shades here cover the vast majority of the elements on the hull, the fenders and the turret. The rest can be finished with individual bottles from the same family.