Hints and Tips -
Colour Guide – US Airborne
By Michael Farnworth
March 2008
U.S. Airborne
Artizan figures by Andrew Taylor of Ares Painting
Artizan figures painted by Mick Farnworth
Item Colour Vallejo Model Colour
Helmet Dark Green US Dark Green 70.893
First aid pouch on helmet Khaki US Field Drab 70.973,
Uniform (Italy & D Day) Beige German Camo Beige 70.821
Khaki Yellow Middlestone 70.882 or darker - Khaki Grey 70.880
Uniform Patches (D Day) Dark Green US Dark Green 70.893
Uniform (Market Garden) Brown Olive Brown Violet 70.887
Webbing Sand Iraqi Sand 70.819, Dark Sand 70.847
Pistol Holster Brown Mahogany Brown 70.846
Boots Brown Mahogany Brown 70.846
Notes
Artizan figures are wearing the M1942 jump uniform. The US Airborne wore desert coloured uniforms
from North Africa Sicily, Italy to Normandy. For D day, many troops added reinforcement patches to
elbows and knees. In the films Saving Private Ryan and Band Of Brothers, the uniforms are darker and
greener. To achieve this look, mix 25% US Dark Green with 75% Middlestone. Sometimes the M1942
jump suit was camouflaged with stripes of black and olive green paint. The boots were long red leather
boots called Cocoran after one of the manufacturers. First aid dressings were often stuck to the helmet
with two bands of green sticky tape.
After September 1944, olive green uniforms were issued. Winter clothing in the 1944/45 period was the
same as US infantry.
Insignia
Hints & Tips - Paining 28mm Armies
October 2007
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