German jerrycan colors

Manufacturers, production numbers, configurations, etc.
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FJ.Janssen
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German jerrycan colors

Post by FJ.Janssen » Thu Aug 18, 2016 6:18 pm

Hello all,

Can someone tell me which color the light yellow jerrycan has?
I'm thinking of repainting it, as there are no markings visible any more.
It's a 1943 german water can.
Is the paint I need to buy semi-gloss or matt?
Any RAL number or other information on the color would be appriciated.

The dark can is alreay repainted, and the dark yellow one is painted with a brush but I'm keeping that one as is.

Thanks for your thoughts.

Image

Image

Image
Last edited by FJ.Janssen on Sun Aug 21, 2016 4:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250


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Chuck Lutz
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Aug 21, 2016 12:57 pm

I couldn't see yur pics, but the big stores that sell model airplanes/tanks/etc. and carry kits usually have a very good selection of RAL paints for modlers. Those guys are VERY particular and I think you will find any of their websites to be helpful.

Here are some WWII/RAL codes:
German WWII Paint and RAL Codes.jpg
German WWII Paint and RAL Codes.jpg (38.17 KiB) Viewed 6457 times
but you may be looking for GELBRAUN:
Reproduction German GELBRAUN Painted Ammo Cans.jpg
Reproduction German GELBRAUN Painted Ammo Cans.jpg (182.47 KiB) Viewed 6457 times
I think this is a European vendor:
Reproduction WWII Geman Yellow Brown GELBRAUN Paint.jpg
Reproduction WWII Geman Yellow Brown GELBRAUN Paint.jpg (66.59 KiB) Viewed 6457 times
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Aug 21, 2016 4:45 pm

Hello Chuck thanks for your reply.
This helps a lot!

I think the Gelbbraun is indeed the way to go, I will purchase a can and see how it matches up by doing a test first.

It seemed that I did not shared the pictures, so hope they are working now.

Regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by Chuck Lutz » Mon Aug 22, 2016 8:20 am

Frank....before buying a gallon...why not check out the model shops and just buy a small container...or two or three....

By the way, I can see them and the middle can has original point in my estimation including the white cross and probably a WaA stamp on it. However, in North Africa the Germans used supplies captured from British forces all the time. That included provisions, uniforms, fuel and probably paint. While the supply lines to Rommel across the Med. made it easier for the RAF to sink/interrupt supplies, I would not be too sure what color vehicles would be painted on arrival so the British versiona of something sand colored in terms of paint was better than sending tanks to the front painted in darker colors.

Painting jerry cans to put on those vehicles would be the same situation; whatever paint you had in a sand color was better than a grey factory color!
Chuck Lutz

GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by FJ.Janssen » Tue Aug 23, 2016 7:18 pm

Hi Chuck,

Anyway when I do a respray, I but small spraycans (400ml) with 2 of them I should be able to give it 2 coats.
There is a small company in Germany who has the german colors available.
The color you mentioned (Gelbbraun) looks very much as the color on the can on first eye.

I also have read on the forum that cleaning it with oxalic acid would be a posibility to conseve the can.
I did some searching and it seems that in a "normal" dishwash tablet oxalic acid is the main component.
So im thinking of dissolving a tablet in water and just put the can in for a night or so.
Clean it up, and than give it a spray with mat clear finish.

Regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Chance
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by Chance » Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:00 pm

Frank how did your respray turn out? I'm interested to see the results. Can you post some pictures?


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Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by FJ.Janssen » Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:29 pm

Hello Chance,

I haven't done a respray yet.

I first tried the oxalic acid, which turned out to give an overall whitewash.
I was able to wipe this off with some WD40.

I'm still thinking of respraying.
The advantage is that the can looks new and all rusty bits are covered with coating.
The disadvantage is that the little of original paint which is now on it, will be gone...

I don't know what is going to be the best.

For the once interested.
A german side which sells all sorts of military paints.
NOTE I did NOT use this site myself yet: http://www.militaerlacke.de/

regards
Frank
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250

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Chance
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by Chance » Wed Jan 03, 2018 3:12 pm

Frank wondering how this turned out!


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1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

rgl
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by rgl » Fri Mar 23, 2018 4:23 pm

I have one of these ABP water cans and the color does not seem to match the standard german paints. It has a distinct salmon pinkish tone like on all the original ABP water cans I have seen. It is also I would say somewhere between a satin and a semigloss. It is not "grainy" like most satins, yet it is not on the glossy side of semigloss either. A dull, even, smooth semigloss, if that makes any sense. Mine has red undercoat which I think is good on a repaint for authentic "wear through." Though I think they stopped the undercoat at some point.

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Chance
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by Chance » Fri Mar 23, 2018 4:28 pm

RGL

Could it be that Germans used British desert paint perhaps?
Chance
1943 - January | Willys MB "Skimpy" | Frame No. #203301
1943 - January | Willys MB-T | Serial No. 21488

rgl
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by rgl » Sun Mar 25, 2018 5:06 pm

I do not have any knowledge one way or the other. The remains of paint on the photo look about right if you take a good look. It just strikes me as odd that it is off color but very consistently so. If you put another tan painted German WW2 object on top of the can you can tell right away.

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FJ.Janssen
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Re: German jerrycan colors

Post by FJ.Janssen » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:42 pm

Guys,

sorry for my late reply, I'm working overseas, but managed to make some pictures just before I left a few weeks ago.

I have 1 original painted item which has the german sand color on it.
It is the kick starter of a DKW NZ 250.

There is a slight difference in color with the can.
some pictures are taken with and the others without flash.

Image

Image

Image
1943 Dodge WC54- 81643667 (sold)
1942 Willy's MB - MB130887
1945 Studebaker Weasel M29C-6672 (body number)
Polynorm 1/4Te trailer (sold)
1945? 1/4Te trailer
Ben Hur 1Te trailer
Onan OTC 33-B
1939 DKW NZ250


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