[David Dunlop]

Two more items arrived today that will finally make finishing the Aerial Base C2 restoration possible.

The first was two 10ml jars of AK Interactives SCC 2 Brown, Acrylic Paint (RC 035).

The rubber flex assembly of the Aerial Base C2 has a long metal section at the top of it, which is the socket assembly for the sectional whip antenna. At the bottom of the rubber flex assembly is a smaller metal seat that anchors this assembly to the top of the upper porcalin insulator. Just a few flecks of NATO green are left on the essentially bare metal upper socket and slightly more is still clinging to the lower metal seat.

I have no confirming evidence of what paint was used originally on these two pieces of the Aerial Base C2. However, rather than just leaving it unfinished, or spinning the giant Guess Wheel, a fairly logical assumption can be made.

The Aerial Base C2 was manufactured for the Canadian Marconi Company by Campbell Manufacturing Company Ltd. here in Canada. This company is known for production of the 20 ft and 34 ft Telescopic Steel Aerial Mast kits used for erecting horizontal antenna systems for quite a number of Commonwealth wireless sets during World War Two, including the 52-Set. Quite a number of these telescopic masts have survived to this day in NOS condition and it appears they were only ever produced in two colours: a Light Flat Green, and, SCC 2 Flat Brown.

The Light Flat Green is not used on anything on the 52-Set, but SCC 2 Brown is the paint applied to the Carriers No. 4 and a host of wireless fittings like microphones and head gear. Further, the Flat Olive Drab CMC used on all the boxes, cases and Coils, Aerial Tuning case colour shifts in sunlight between Olive Green and a brown very close to SCC 2. So, on that basis, it is more likely Campbell Manufacturing used SCC 2 on the Aerial Base C2 for the 52-Set, and not the Flat Light Green. Having committed to that now, the Fates will very likely have me tripping over a case of NOS Aerial Base C2 assemblies in the not too distant future, that mystery Flat Light Green.

David