Airborne uniforms

[Figure Mad]

OK, WW2 Novice here, I am just wondering what colours to use that are close to the uniform of the 82nd/101st Airborne on D.Day, I wanted something close to the “only just issued but dirty” look, if you understand me. the figure is the 120mini 82nd Airborne 200mm piece......

I have been through so many references and there seems to be such a variation on uniform colour (see pics), Please help. I paint in acrylics and I don’t mind mixing a base colour up, but if there is anything close I will use it.

Thanks

Dave

 

[housecarl]

Give this a go Dave. https://airbrushes.com/advanced_sea...sid=118867a44bd8b9bab69465e01f358aec&x=12&y=9
if nothing else it will be good base to work from.
Carl.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Carl

Thanks mate, Ill give it ago, lots to do.......

Cheers

Dave

 

[Anders Heintz]

Dave,

Here is a picture of a pretty good color, it's not too faded but It's not brand spanking new either. It is an original 82nd AB M-42 jacket. The colos did vary quite a bit from light Khaki/Tan to a more Greenish shade.

 

[Figure Mad]

Hi Anders

Thanks mate, I knew I would have to do some mixing even from a base colour to get something like this or slightly closer to the green shade, its gonna be a hard one to keep looking right, but what is right as they say....

Dave

 

[HiroshiAirborne]

Hey mate!

Not sure if you need any more references, but here are my original M42 paratrooper jackets. One is dated Apr 1942 and the other is Nov 1943 respectively.

Both of my jackets are shades of light pea-green. The 1943 Dated one has OD cotton-duck canvas that has been faded.

I'd definitely stay closer to the green-side. Talking to a WWII Paratrooper, who sold me the 82nd jacket, said he remembers them being issued a much darker pea-green than what any book or reproduction has been made today.

 

[JasonB]

I've done several D-day Para's in both 1/9th and 120mm, and usually I shoot for something like the color in Anders pic, more "khaki" or olive, less green. I have a pretty good magazine article on paratrooper uniforms and equipment, and they state as well that they could vary from green to almost tan. I think you are pretty safe whatever color you end up with in that range.