Armortek

I am still slowly painting my Tiger 1. I am basing it on the Tiger 231 that was in Munster. I have a paint mask (see below) for this Tiger but am a bit confused with the Unit / Tactical markings.
On the paint mask I have two sets of markings: the lightning symbol and also the rhombus. The instructions show where to put the lightning symbol. One on the front next to the driver's vision port and one on the back (top left-hand corner). Unfortunately there is no mention of where to put the rhombus marking. I have seen a photo where this is located next to the hull MG.

Could somebody please shed some light on where the rhombus should be or was this optional if the lightning symbol is used? Also, what colour should I paint the rhombus if I use it and what colour should the lightning symbol be?

Many thanks in advance.

Vince

I stand by to be corrected by someone with more knowledge but I believe the lightning symbol to be the unit identification marking of Schwere SS Panzerabteilung 102 ( Heavy SS tank company 102 ).

I further believe that the rhomboid marking was a bridging classification marking, indicating it was heavy and a tracked vehicle, and could only use bridges of a certain size.

Yes, it was extremely obvious just looking at the vehicle that it was heavy and had tracks, but that is the miltary for you. Chieftain also had bridge classification markings.

Mark

These markings are indeed from s.SS.Pz.Abt.102 or schwere SS Panzer Abteilun 102 this was an independent heavy company formally if 2nd Panzer Division das Reich 231 was commanded by SS.Untersturmführer Rathsack.

The underscored Sige Rune should be painted in pink and placed on the front right of the driver's visor and rear left, turret numbers follow the downward slop of the turret roof and are painted only in the white outline on the rear of the stowage box they are a white outline unfilled in black.

The Rhomboid marking had nothing to do with bridging classification its meaning was type of Panzer the S meaning Schwere or heavy this was not used with this Abteilung and should be left off the model.

Thanks Mark and Mark for your responses and information.

The underscored Sige Rune should be painted in pink

Really!! Pink!!

Vince

Yes pink is the correct colour, this is one od the s.SS.Pz.Abt102 Tigers I have built over the years this one was ased on 134 Unterscharführer Will Fey

Pink was the arm of service colour for the Panzerwaffe. It was seen on the piping on the collars of soldiers’ tunic jackets and as an underlay on officers’ shoulder straps.

Hope everybody had good Christmas day yesterday.

Mark or Stephen, still haven't figured out the shade of pink I should use for the underscored Sige Rune. Mark, looking at the photo you provided, it looks nearly white so it must be a very light shade of pink. You wouldn't have a RAL number for it for reference or maybe the colour used from one of the model paint manufacturers?

Vince

The pink used for the piping on Dragon figures is pretty much Barbie pink, possibly a little darker.

Adrian.

My source for such things is "Tank and AFV crew uniforms since 1916" by Martin Windrow. Pink was certainly the Arm of Service piping for Panzer crews. It was officially discontinued in 1942, although the need to use up old uniform stocks, together with a degree of nostalgia from the 'old sweats' means it was probably in use to varying degrees up to May 1945.

As for a RAL code, the nearest I can come up with is RAL3014 Antique Pink although, like Adrian, I think it needs to be a bit more Barbie-ish . A dash of white in the mix might do it.

Hope this helps,

Chris

Many thanks Chris for the help. I might end up mixing some red and white and experiment with it.

Alternatively, how about this colour which I can get locally:

https://ak-interactive.com/product/brit ... t-pink-zi/

Is it too dark?

Vince

https://ak-interactive.com/product/brit ... t-pink-zi/

That looks too flesh-coloured to me. You still need to go the Full Barbie . Don't be shy - blush !

You still need to go the Full Barbie

I guess that's my problem. My girls are way past the Barbie phase so can't remember that colour although I have an impression of a bright pink.

Vince

You're pulling my leg Adrian? I haven't seen anybody using that colour for the markings.

Vince

p.s. Just found this set of decals which have them in pink!! Also red.
http://star-decals.net/35-C1092.html

I've seen decals for the rune in both red and pink.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/62/06 ... a858aa.jpg

I've checked a couple of books and they seem to mention the "pink lightning" emblem as well.

All the war time photos I've seen are black and white, so you'd need to find first hand accounts of that unit to get a definitive answer.

Adrian.