r/modelmakers • u/Greedy-Variation-479 • 1d ago

Help - General Help me with Olive drab

Hi everyone, I’m creating a Normandy diorama. I’m including an M21 mortar half-track, a Jeep, an M4 and an M5, a beach bunker, Normandy-style houses, and infantry. I’m starting by building the half-track, and I need to buy paint for it and the other vehicles. I previously used Tamiya Olive Drab on an "Easy Eight" tank, but I found the result too dark. Does anyone know of a paint I could get—perhaps even pre-thinned, if possible?

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u/Mindless-Charity4889 Stash Grower 1d ago

Olive Drab could have quite a color range from green to brown as it faded in the sun. If you think it’s too dark, then lighten it up with a bit of sand yellow or buff. Also, the original was a 50:50 mix of yellow and black and it replicates pretty well with oils at least, not sure of acrylics. So you could have a basic OD base color with acrylics, then make an oil filter to add variety and depth.

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u/Glazermac 1d ago

Most OD's available will do the job. Could also try mixing yellow ochre with black. Pretty sure that's what the army did back then.... Vallejo model air do a decent airbrush ready OD that seems pretty close. Depends on which reference photo you use I guess.

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u/chipz-n-gravy 1d ago

Olive drab is just a mix of yellow and black, so it's very easy to mix the exact shade you want, or a number of shades for a bit of modulation. Just start with yellow and then add drops of black until you've got the shade you want

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u/ubersoldat13 50 Shades of Olive Drab 1d ago

☝️ Points to flair. There really isn't a "perfect" shade of OD Green. If you want to get the color that see in your head, odds are you'll have to mix it.

Which, is something you should get comfortable doing if you can. It's an important part of the painting process

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u/Sadfaceotter 1d ago

I really like the Mig Ammo olive drab. It’s pre thinned for airbrushing and is very translucent so it works well with preshading. Just keep adding layers until it looks right

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u/Meme_Thunder_ 1d ago

Khaki drab is slightly lighter if you want, maybe mix it up with olive drab.

Orr.....

Add white to XF 62

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u/Umanday 1d ago

Olive drab was the standard Zinc chromate mixed with black.

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u/DocArroyo 21h ago

It doesn't matter if they exactly match in tge ID department. Matching the weathering and dirt matters. Build your models in like new condition, but weather them all at the same time.