12 x 20ml acrylic paints
The Ionic Smart Colors WWII German Tanks 1939–1942 set includes 12 acrylic paints specially selected to provide the essential tones for accurately painting German tanks during the first half of World War II.
This 12-color set provides all the essential paints needed to accurately depict German tanks and military vehicles used between 1939 and 1942. During this early-war period, the standard factory color for almost all German armored vehicles was Dunkelgrau (Dark Grey, RAL 7021).
In the first phase of the war—the Polish Campaign in 1939 and the Battle of France in 1940—German Army (Heer) equipment was finished in a two-tone camouflage scheme of Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 (dark grey) and Dunkelbraun RAL 7017 (dark brown). This pattern consisted of approximately two-thirds grey and one-third brown disruptive patches applied at the factory or depot level. To replicate these distinctive early-war schemes and achieve realistic modulation effects, the set includes Dunkelgrau RAL 7021 for the accurate base tone along with a lighter grey for highlights, volume, and subtle tonal variation.
Although the application of Dunkelbraun was officially discontinued in July 1940 and vehicles were thereafter finished in plain Dunkelgrau, by late 1941 and 1942, some tanks displayed field-applied camouflage, often using whatever colors were available to crews. To support these transitional and improvised patterns, the set also includes Dunkelgelb and Schokobraun RAL 8017, allowing modelers to depict overspray patches, repaints, and theater-specific schemes during the later part of this period.
It also features two rust tones—light and dark—for replicating exhaust pipe and track rust, which can be further enhanced using a very dark brown for realistic chipping effects.
The set also includes essential colors for painting tracks: a neutral brown base and a dark metallic tone, which is also great for painting tools. A reddish brown is provided for wooden tool handles, and black for rubber parts and other details. Rounding out the set is Bone, a versatile color for highlighting and lightening tones.
All colors can be used as-is for painting individual vehicle components or blended to create custom tones—especially useful for adding volume through highlights and shadows.
Contents of the set:
IONIC-1013 IONIC Dunkelgrau RAL7021 (FS26081)
IONIC-0169 IONIC Neutral Grey
IONIC-1007 IONIC Dunkelgelb
IONIC-1004 IONIC Schokobraun RAL 8017
IONIC-0156 IONIC Rust
IONIC-0155 IONIC Light Rust
IONIC-0154 IONIC Brown
IONIC-0160 IONIC Black Brown
IONIC-0172 IONIC Black
IONIC-0148 IONIC Graveyard Earth
IONIC-0173 IONIC Black Metal
IONIC-0009 IONIC Bone
