FJ images and advice

[chaplain severus]

Here's my newest project. I painted the figure I liked least, first.

I looked for guidance on FJ uniforms, but found a lot of contradictory stuff.

I am painted these guys as recommended by the FoW Diving Eagles book

I'd like to use them in  a lot of different campaigns like Stalingrad or Normandy scenarios, but I would just like them to be historically close to their actual equipment.

Any advice on camo or anything else?  






http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ChaplainSeverus/WWII/fj1.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ChaplainSeverus/WWII/fj4.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ChaplainSeverus/WWII/fj3.jpg



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v246/ChaplainSeverus/WWII/FJ4.jpg

[SgtPerry]

I wrote a painting guide for the standard heer camo. it would be fine for the FJ one.

http://perrysheroes.free.fr/spip.php?article66



Olivier

[chaplain severus]

Thanks for the tutorial. Looks likes i need the camo "globs" closer together.

[SgtPerry]

Yes, there are very few green parts, mainly brown ones over beige.

http://www.zeltbahn.net/wh_camo.htm

[Plynkes]

I really like the plain green smocks, but I think they are more early war.

[chaplain severus]

Plynkes,

That's my issue.  There is not set issue gear for these guys.  I do not have a specific scenario I want to use these for. I would just like them to be generally acceptable as mid-late war FJ's

My dilemma is (aside from being a neophyte at painting camo schemes) the various appearance of FJ belts, bags, buckles, helmets.  There seem to be a dizzying variety of equipment choices.

I have decided to go with dark leather ammo belts/pouches & black straps and belts.

if anyone has suggestions on what would be better color choices than the two above, speak now because I am about to embark on the other 7 models.

Matt

[Orctrader]

When I painted mine...

I researched by looking at other examples and with an Osprey book.  Seemed that after 41/42 there was such a variety of uniforms that variety seemed to be the key.

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

Very nice figure. The splinter camo you used is the most common and will work nicely for most things. The light olivegrey smocks are for earlier in the war but veterans who had working ones often kept them so you can drop in a few for variety. From I thin 1944 Tan Water smocks were introduced but the difference is hard to paint on 28mm. They have a more brownish base colour and more green camo spots.
FJ helmets are dark olivegrey usually. There is lots of variety of painted on camo generally or brown helmets for the mediteranien. Covers are available in the same colours as the smocks.
Trousers are fieldgrey.
Fieldjackets are Luftwaffe blue (pretty grey blue) or Splinter camo.
Equipment staps are dark brown leather (black works well) or later in the war more commonly khaki canvas since leather supplies went out. If you stay with black you're fine. Painting them khaki can be a good bit of work with all the fiddly equipment but looks good on close.
The FJ bandolier is either Luftwaffe blue or splinter camo.

So in an essence what you did will do the job. I'd consider to paint the Luftwaffe blue in a more greyish tone but that's a personal choice.

[chaplain severus]

FJ helmets are dark olivegrey usually. There is lots of variety of painted on camo generally or brown helmets for the mediteranien. Covers are available in the same colours as the smocks.

none of them are the pretty blue? I planned on doing some of them with splinter covers and some with the blue. But I can change this.

Trousers are fieldgrey.

Got that!

Fieldjackets are Luftwaffe blue (pretty grey blue) or Splinter camo. Equipment staps are dark brown leather (black works well) or later in the war more commonly khaki canvas since leather supplies went out. If you stay with black you're fine. Painting them khaki can be a good bit of work with all the fiddly equipment but looks good on close.

Thanks! I will try khaki (is that the same base color as the splinter smock or slightly different? A vallejo or GW color reference would help me most!)

The FJ bandolier is either Luftwaffe blue or splinter camo.

The bandolier is the torso ammo pouches correct?  Luftwaffe blue?  What about desert yellow or leather?  What is the Vallejo color for Luftwaffe blue? I've been mixing blue with greys to get the shade I am working with now.. . .

So in an essence what you did will do the job. I'd consider to paint the Luftwaffe blue in a more greyish tone but that's a personal choice.

I will endeavor to make them better on all these suggestions thanks again!


Matt

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

none of them are the pretty blue? I planned on doing some of them with splinter covers and some with the blue. But I can change this.
 

I'm not aware of blue helmets but this doesn't mean there are any. Usual colour is a dark olivegrey.

Thanks! I will try khaki (is that the same base color as the splinter smock or slightly different? A vallejo or GW color reference would help me most!)

I'd use Vallejo Khaki ir Khaki Grey or GW Khaki with a touch of green added do make them stand out from the smocks a bit. Any mud colour would be correct.

The bandolier is the torso ammo pouches correct?  Luftwaffe blue?  What about desert yellow or leather?  What is the Vallejo color for Luftwaffe blue? I've been mixing blue with greys to get the shade I am working with now.. .

.

Yes. I'm not aware of of desert ones. As far as I'm aware of only the K98 ammo pouches are leather, all other ammo pouches are fabric (MP40, Stg44, FG42 etc) and would be something around khaki to grey earth.

There is a Vallejo Colour called Luftwaffe blue which is nice if you add a touch of grey.

[axabrax]

Hi. coming a little late to this topic, but I thought I might chime in as I am a Fallschirmjager reenactor and have seen a lot of original equipment as well.

By far, the beige background splinter B smock is the most versatile paint job you can use for mid to Late War.  It was used as early as Crete and all through the war thereafter.  It was even worn in Afrika. The green background Splinter B smock became more common in 44 and thereafter.

These smocks were also made before there was such a thing as colorfast dyes, so there could be a lot of fading, and I've seen original smocks where the background is actually white in color from fading. (of course they are also 60 years old!)

I would paint the breadbag in Luftwaffe blue as that color was used all throughout the war.  The VP Luftwaffe Blue color is the best representation you'll find without mixing yourself.

The bandolier can be luftwaffe  blue, tan, olive green, or splinter B with a beige or a light green background. There were never any tan water bandoliers, and if you see one it's from an unissued stockpile or it's a fabricated fake. the only tan water FJ bandolier made was for the FG42 assault rifle

All of the leather gear, including boots, can be either be black or brown, or, Late War, they can be in the grey green canvas. (webbing that is, not the boots)

The helmets were apple green early war with the Luftwaffe Eagle and the national tri-color shield. By Late War, based on some discussions I've had with vets, they seem to have been coming from the factory in a dark/charcoal grey color and generally no one wore the tri-color shield because it was like putting a bullseye on your helmet. The FJ did take pride in having the Luftwaffe eagle, however, and sometimes you'll see photos wherein they've painted the entire helmet sands the eagle.

Of course, the Germans were always very keen on spray-painting and texturing their helmets, so there are a lot of variations in between with ordinance tan (light beige) being common on all fronts and various camo patterns.  For instance, the predominant camo scheme for the FJ in Normandy was a tan and green pattern.

Have fun--trying to paint FJ is a great way to learn about German camouflage and equipment.

AX

[axabrax]

PS: There were blue helmets but they are very rare and mostly early war specimens. Use the VP Luftwaffe Blue mixed with a little Dark Blue.

[chaplain severus]

Great info everyone!

I have the osprey book on German Airborne troops, but this was a lot more explanatory.

I look forward to

A. Buying more paints  

B. Posting my finished product for review


Matt

[Mike D. Mc Brice]

Hi. coming a little late to this topic, but I thought I might chime in as I am a Fallschirmjager reenactor and have seen a lot of original equipment as well.

....

That's very useful information, thanks!

[Howard Whitehouse]

Just a quck question, since I have a platoon of FJ in early war kit about half painted (awaiting a terrible fate at the hands of the Walmington-on-Sea Home Guard!)

Axabrax mentions 'apple green' helmets. I know that translated terms don't always convey exactly - for instance 'olive grey' isn't immediately obvious to me, although I can imagine it -  but 'apple green' sounds awfully bright, cheerful and, er, lethal to it's owner.

I'm assuming it's not the bright colour of a shiny Granny Smith or Empire apple?