GHQ Models Forums

I want to paint up my five Abram’s tanks in a correct camo style that would be good for use in war gaming in Europe during the cold war.

What color of paints would you guys recommend I use??

Pictures are worth a thousand words....

Our M1s in 2nd ACR from 85-88 were not camoflaged, but were painted just the Forest Green (which naturally faded over time between exposure to the elements and constant trips to the wash rack getting scrubbed down). When we got the Bradleys in 87 they were also left green.

Our other vehicles (M113, M901, M106, M577, M88, M901 were painted in the MERDC scheme minus the sand color).

I have included photos here for both types of vehicles. For 2nd ACR at least paint the M1s and Bradleys just plain green.

I don't know about the M1a1s (w/ the 120mm). I've heard that they came pretty much from the factory with the standard late 80s NATO scheme (green, black, brown). Armored acorn is a good source for this camo scheme.

I can only speak for my unit (E Trp, 2/2 ACR) from 85-88.

When I was stationed at Ft Knox (the Armor School where they trained all M60, M1 tankers, and Scouts, and Armor Officers) in 83-85, our Bradleys were the MERDC scheme w/ Forest Green/Light Green/Black/Sand (however 2/6 Cav was a training unit to train officers for Armor Officer basic so I don't really count 2/6 Cav as a combat unit and don't rate it).

Others can chime in on theirs. I hope this helps!

Frank

Frank,
Great first hand information and insight about your unit.
I remember in 1973 in the 3/64th Armor, we had M60s (at least 4 or 5 to a company) mixed with M60A1s. Then it took about 2 years to get everything camoflauged into the MRDOC i.e. green/brown/sand/black scheme. So for sometime we had partial camo and OD green mixed units. I personally feel th OD green was a more effective camo color, especially when sitting in the edge of woodlines beyond 300 meters.

I concur with what Frank said. The Abrams and Bradleys at with 2AD and 1st Cav at Ft Hood in the early 80s were forest green with a good coating of central Texas dust as soon as they left the motor pool. The Abrams and Bradleys at 2AD (Fwd) in Garlstedt FRG, were also forest green. When I arrived at Ft Bliss, the 3rd ACR had forest green Abrams and CFVs, but when we deployed to Desert Storm, we switched out and got sand colored armor. Most of the other vehicles were MERDC but received a hasty coat of sand for the most part.

Just wanted to make sure I have the style’s right for the paints you guys have suggested.
For MERDC scheme the paints to use would be
Forest Green, light Green, black, Sand

NATO would be
Green, Black Brown

MRDOC Color style
green/ brown/ sand/ black
for the MRDROC style would that be dark green or light green?

Just to clarify, M1s (105mm) and Bradleys in the mid-80s should be Forest Green.

Our Bradleys at Knox in the Forest Green/Light Green/Sand/Black was the ONLY place I personally ever saw Bradleys painted that way (at Ft Knox- the Armor School).

The regular MERDC scheme used by M113s (and M113 based vehicles), M60s (and M60 based vehicles) and M109s/M110s should be painted the usual Forest Green/Brown/Black/Sand and should be faded. This is the typical MERDC scheme used by most military units in the late 70s/early 80s time frame and would be the most appropriate camo scheme for military vehicles of this time frame (except for early M1s/Bradleys which should be Forest Green as noted above).

The modified MERDC scheme used by us in the 2nd ACR was just the Forest Green/Brown/Black color scheme I have shown in my old pics. I don't know how widespread this particular camo scheme was outside of 2nd ACR.

I hope this helps.

Frank

This was discussed not too long ago.

http://www.ghqmodels.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2835

Lots of useful links in that thread.

regards

Steve

Steve, good call on previous thread for color paint scheme.... Has photos and links.

Modern Paint:
What I call 3-tone NATO is spray with Testors Medium Green, hand paint Military Brown, then hand paint Black. I have used that for US, UK, French, Germany, Dutch, etc.

I have also used testors spray Olive Drab for US, Dutch, German, Italian, Austria, Canadian, Austrilians, Turkey, Sweden, Switzerland, Isaeli, Japan etc. Used testors medium Green for UK, French, some Russian. Used testors spray Dark Green for Russia (etc), a few Brits,

I have owned some Medric, do not own any now.

jb wrote: I personally feel th OD green was a more effective camo color, .

JB, I'm very curious about the OD you guys used. Was is semigloss or flat? Many of the pics I see of 'Nam OD seems to be semi-gloss. Did they do that in Europe too?

DrBig wrote:

jb wrote: I personally feel th OD green was a more effective camo color, .

JB, I'm very curious about the OD you guys used. Was is semigloss or flat? Many of the pics I see of 'Nam OD seems to be semi-gloss. Did they do that in Europe too?

It was definitely the semi-gloss...

Thank you guys for all the replies, I now have a much better understanding on what colors to use. and as soon as I get my Abrams painted up I will be sure to post the pictures..

jb, you got me in the mood to pull the G.I. Blues DVD again. The color was a bit more rich than in your generation, but it was semigloss...at least the few square inches that weren't covered in dirt