I just recently acquired Tamiya’s Kampfpanzer Leopard (Tamiya 35064). I read on Reddit that the standard Bundeswehr color was dark olive drab until they adopted the NATO 3-color camouflage scheme.
I still have my Testors Olive Drab spray from my M26 Pershing, would this work? I also have Vallejo OD.
Thanks!
Search for RAL 6014 Gelboliv
Though it has various shades, depending on the maintenance … 
So to slightly change this question-when did the Leopard 2 stop being painted this color?
I have the Meng Leo 2.
Thanks
The German modellers’ site “Panzerbaer” (which now seems to be defunct) states that the colour-change was “from the mid 80s” - no more precise than that.
Just bear in mind that whenever any Army decides on a repaint, it can take years before everything is completed in the new scheme, so there’s a fair bit of leeway dependent on what you wish to depict.
Thanks
An afterthought is that Tamiya’s Khaki Drab (XF-51) produces a very good Gelboliv.
What about Testors OD? I think it may be dark enough for Gelboliv.
Well, that’s your call! There’s a few suggestions here - take your pick - or use your OD.
Colour is always subjective in any case.
Alright! Thanks!
Just want to ad : revell #42
https://www.scalemates.com/de/colors/revell-color--653/42-yellow-olive-gelb-olive-enamel-matt--583#
My to go to colour for Bundeswehr vehicles & equipment.
grz,
Sam.
All early Leopards (1 and 2) left the factory in this Gelboliv (yellow green). Leo 2 was introduced from 1979. In the mid-80s, the schemes changed to 3-colour NATO, the same camo pattern they still are now.
When I built a Bundeswehr 1A4 a while a go I used Hannants Xtracolour Gelbolive X251 enamel which leaves a semi-gloss sheen although it takes a long time to dry. It seems a good match for the dark green used by the Bundeswehr. The Humbrol equivalent is supposed to be 155 which is actually Olive Drab!
I also had this discussion on another site a few years ago.
The color is RAL 6014 GelbOliv that, according to Frank Lobitz, is a dark brown with just a hint of green. It fades to a grey tone when it gets old.
I know the following options to represent it in a 1/35 model:
Some years ago i was in Germany. I came across ROCO MINITANK paints, RAL 6014 ELBOLIV is very much like real thing but that was a long time ago. I don’t know if it is still available.
Humbrol 66 is a very different colour from Revell 42, though. Much darker and greener, IIRC.
Here too, XF-62 is very different from H78/C38 — it’s much closer to the Mr. Aqueous Color “Olive Drab (1)” than “(2)”. Sorry, I confused the two. After actually checking, Tamiya XF-62 is close to the Mr. Color/Mr. Aqueous Color “Olive Drab (2)” but the latter’s Olive Drab (1) is greyer and closer to the German colour.
AFAIK, the best choice is the Revell one.
Also, beware that you don’t buy Vallejo Model Air 71.013, which calls itself “Yellow Olive” but is actually a decent match for RAL 6015 Black Olive, as I found out the hard way.
Broadly speaking,
Revell Aqua 42 GelbOliv is my goto for Early Bundeswehr colours
Revell Aqua 361 OlivGrun is my goto for Later Bundeswehr colours
I find the Square Aqua pots dry out in a year once opened though.
As I mentioned, Tamiya XF-51 Khaki Drab is an excellent finish for Bw vehicles:
in my opinion of course - but I emphasise it as Tamiya paints are usually quite readily available and normally reasonably priced.
I have used the Tamiya Khaki Drab with success! I built an Italeri Leo 1/A2 by taking much of the kit and the turret and other parts manufactured by Leopard Club to get the A2, painted it with Tamiya Khaki Drab, dirtied the tank after appropriate decals, and have a great Leo 1/A2 on my shelf.
Bill
Well Bill, delighted to hear it!
As a postscript Bill, post a pic!
What ever you use, the color reminds me of field gray. You might say cousins in color but not exactly the same. Olive drab it is not.
