I use three basic patterns, "Oak leaf", "Plane Tree" and "44Pea patterns". These aren't German terms but are used by collectors to describe some patterns used. "Oak leaf" and "Plane Tree" had autumn and spring version, further confusing the issue. Generally they were used for smocks, zeltbahns, helmet covers, caps, one piece panzer overalls and reversible white/autumn colour insulated winter suits. "44 Peas" was used for the winter suits too from '44 onwards and more commonly, the two piece uniform of four pocket tunic and trousers. Most sources agreee that it wasn't used for helmet covers, caps or zeltbahns, though I own a cap made of the stuff. This was either bodged up by a unit tailor from an old tunic during wartime or buy a postwar dealer to make a few quid out of what may otherwise have been a poor quality and unsellable garment. Smocks and helmet covers were worn from the beginning of the war through to the end on all fronts. "44 Peas" was worn from about 1944 onward. So, this lets you know when and where stuff was worn. I personally favour Tamiya paints but have been venturing into other acrylics including various folk art paints, Citadel and Vallejo colours.For "Oak leaf" I use a brick red (a Humbrol colour actually) as the base. I go over this with irregular largish splotches of a dark green. I then fill the dark green with a pale sage green so that a dark green border remains. Oak leaf done! For autumn use dark earth as a base with dark brown splotches filled with a light orange brown."Plane tree" sees me use a dark earth base with followed by large patches of bright green. Over this goes black in largish patches and small dots too. For autumn dark earth again, followed by orange patches then black again. "44 Peas" is probably the most complex pattern but if done well looks really good. Start with dark earth again. Over this apply smallish irregular patches of Tamiya black green and desert yellow. Lately I've been substituting a flesh colour for the yellow for a little variety. Over this apply small dots of the yellow (or flesh) and small dots of black green. try to get at least three dots in every irregular patch and on the base coat of dark earth. Finish off with a few small dots all over of a bright green. the bright green doesn't go on a dense as the other small dots, just a few here and there. That's it, job done. Remember colours are arbitrary. Use any colours as long as you're happy with the result. As long as it looks right it's right as far as I'm concerned. Old photo's fade as do old uniforms. Printing in books varies and even the uniforms themselves varied according manufacturer etc. Kit yourself out with a few good refences and you can't go wrong. The Europa Militaire range published by Windrow and green are very good. You will find that there were other patterns used by the SS apart from the ones I described. I find the ones described are easy and effective on the table. They are merely representations rather than scale copies. If were scaled it down exactly all the dots would merge and we would have brown figures. Back to Frontline Vol. 3 Iss. 1 Table of Contents Back to Frontline List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Rolf Hedges This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com