[Stewart Loy]

Juan,

As stated previously, the T-16 was made at a jeep factory, so would have been painted a 'jeep' colour. While this would lead a simple armour buff to believe that a paint job was just a call to the paint guys away, the 'real colour' of those pesky 1/4 ton trucks is hotly debated.

I have condensed much of the data that seemed to make sence about paint - colour, gloss, numbers, stenciling, etc. and copied it here. If any jeep guys don't agree I will be happy to put the T-16 next to the jeep on a bright sunny day - and drive over them just to prove the point ( if there was one ).

Here it is:

WWII Jeep Paint

OVERVIEW

The original color paint used on WWII Jeeps was an Olive-Drab (OD) Green. Lusterless Olive Drab paint had an average life span of 18 months. It was to be repainted after this time with another coat of OD.
One thing to note is that WW II Navy jeeps were hardly ever, IF EVER, seen painted navy gray in WW II. An admiral painted one, and that is about it. The basic navy jeep of WW II was the same Olive Drab (OD) green as the army jeeps. More about this later.
Many people have been told, wrongly, that there is an ¡¥Early WWII¡¦, and a different, ¡¥Late WWII¡¦ OD paint color. Most often the incorrect info is the early war vehicles should be a lighter OD (more olive in color) paint, while a darker OD (more green in color) should be on late war vehicles. This early and late war color difference holds true for canvas web gear that the GI¡¦s carried, but does not hold true for paint jobs from the factory in WWII. The QMC (Quartermaster Corps) and the ORD (Ordnance Dept.) were in charge of setting up the specifications for the paint & color, and seeing to it that the manufacturers of the paint and the vehicles met those specs.
FACTORY Paint
This section is specifically about production paint on vehicles that were produced and delivered to the US Military in WWII.
Willys and Ford both used the same color OD paint, #319, throughout the entire production from 1941 to 1945. Documentation in the National Archives, Willys Motors, GMC, White, Mack and Ford data and QMC/ORD publications proves that only one color was used in production. ¡§Lusterless Olive Drab¡¨ was the color used on WWII production vehicles; Jeeps, Dodges, Chevy¡¦s, GMCs, Halftracks, Armored Cars, Tanks, etc.

Cross References for:
Lusterless Olive Drab, QMC spec 1-173, ES-474b or ORD ES-680
Arco No. 236-60744
DuPont No. 1070-019
Murphy No. NU-5927
Willey No. 1886


In WWII, the QMC/ORD laid out the exact way to use the Lusterless Olive Drab paint and this included the proper thinner, primer and metal prep. Government specifications were very strict. QMC and ORD Inspectors would not accept paint that was not within the specifications that were set down by the agency. This is fact and research into the QMC files will prove this out. The QMC had a very specific set of specifications on not just the paint composition, but on the whole painting procedure as well. ES-474, 474a, 474b and the later ES - 680 were the painting specifications, and they included the paint, primer, thinner, metal prep and application of the paint on production vehicles and on the use of Lusterless Olive Drab. In fact, the thickness of paint, (and not the number of coats), is also spelled out in the QMC specs. The thickness specifications were the same all throughout production.

There are very rigid paint mixing and application standards in automotive production painting. A color pigment specialist was a very high paying job years ago. Many people don¡¦t know how large quantities of paint are mixed. In factory work, paint is mixed 300 to 500 pounds (or more) of color at one time. Paints are mixed to a weight formula that is very exact. By using the formulas, you can actually be colorblind and still mix the pigments to the exact color every time. There are pages and pages of documents and formulas for paint in the Ford Motor Company Archives. The paint formulas did go through some changes, but the colour was still the same.

Ford, Willys, et al, all used a very controlled environment in their coatings application.

WWII Lusterless Olive Drab MUST be used with the proper rust-inhibiting primer. This was spelled out in the QMC specs. Think Red Oxide Primer.

Metal prep specs. were changed during the war however. This was because some parts and vehicles, although well painted, had rust underneath the paint, due to water being absorbed through the porous paint and reaching the metal underneath. This rusting is usually due to improper metal prep before painting the item.

Re: Spare Parts

Replacement / Spare parts sometimes had different painting specifications depending on their intended use. While there is a variation in finishes in spare parts (replacement parts to be exact) most variations are not so different as to be called another colour.

Things to Consider

I have NOT said, "All OD is Lusterless Olive Drab OD".
I have said that ¡¥Lusterless Olive Drab¡¦ paint and ¡¥Lusterless Olive Drab #319¡¦ paint were the same colour.
I have also stated that only one color of paint was used in WWII in QMC/ORD tactical vehicle production. I am talking about military vehicles. Paint specifications for items of a non-tactical nature are not the same as paint specifications for items that are tactical.
There were other Olive Drab paint colors used.
There was a full gloss OD that was used for non-tactical vehicles.
The lanterns, ammo cans, etc may have been painted with Olive Drab #108, which is a ¡¥gloss¡¦ paint. A lantern or ammo can is not a vehicle, and is not an item that has to be a camouflage colour.

WWII Paint vs. Today's Paint

Contrary to what several paint vendors state, it is incorrect to talk about 'early' and 'late' WWII OD Green. There was no such thing as "early¡¨ or "late" WWII OD paint. All World War Two jeeps (and other WW2 vehicles) used by the US Army were all painted 'Lusterless Olive Drab' Synthetic Enamel. There was ONLY one WW2 'Lusterless Olive Drab' colour used in production for jeeps and tactical vehicles. There was NO "light" or "dark", nor "early" or "late" Olive Drab colour in WWII vehicle production. 'Lusterless Olive Drab' & "Lusterless Olive Drab, #319" were the exact same colour. So if #319 in WWII was the same colour as WWII Lusterless Olive Drab, can the same still be said today? NO! The #319 that is for sale today is NOT the correct color for the actual WWII Lusterless Olive Drab #319 green synthetic enamel paint. The colour is too light, and not as dark green as the original Lusterless Olive Drab color. I have seen actual cans of original WWII dated Lusterless Olive Drab #319 green paint. None of the paint offered by any of the current paint vendors is a correct match for this paint. This is why, when you find NOS parts that are still in their original WWII OD paint, they do not match the brand new paint that you just bought and are using to paint your jeep. This is also why when you look at colour WWII photographs and WWII film that show vehicles, they all look much darker and "greener" than the paint that is now available.

„h Lusterless paint is somewhere between a Flat paint and a Semi-Gloss paint.
„h Flat Olive Drab paint actually attracts and holds dirt, hand prints, stains, etc.
„h Factory WW II Jeep paint was an enamel, although lacquer was a very commonly found type of ¡¥army surplus¡¦ OD paint after the war.
„h Field paint was ¡§gasoline soluble", meaning, it came in a concentrated form, and was to be mixed with gasoline to thin and then be applied.
„h In post-war paint, the 1st digit denotes the gloss factor of the paint. 2 = Flat. 3 = Lusterless. 4 = Gloss
„h #23070 is a post 1945 to mid-1950's Flat Olive Drab. It is a camouflage Green
„h #33070 is a post 1945 Semi gloss Olive Drab, and it is not the same as WW II Lusterless Olive Drab.
„h #33070 is somewhat close to WWII, but it is too gray to be a match for WW II Lusterless Olive Drab.
„h #33070 - 1941-43 (Early WW11 Darker OD) - FALSE!
„h #319 - 1944-45 (Late WW11 Lighter OD) - FALSE!
„h #24087 is Mid 1950's to Post Vietnam Flat Olive Drab
„h #34087 is Mid 1950's to Post Vietnam lusterless Olive Drab


Olive Drab paint is still available on the web and from dealers; however, there is currently no commercially available paint that is 100% the correct color for WWII Lusterless Olive Drab.
Some paint vendors will also tell you that Olive Drab #34087 is the same as WWII Lusterless Olive Drab, but this too is incorrect.

#34087 is a post-war color paint and although close, it is not the same color as the WWII #319 paint. Even so, 99% of WWII Jeep restorers paint their jeeps a #34087 Lusterless Olive Drab (Semi Gloss), because; it is pretty close to WWII #319; and because it is more water & stain repellent than #24087 Flat OD.
The Paint Colors used on standard WWII Army Jeeps
¡P Blue Drab : The Hood #'s were originally painted on at the factories in a Blue Drab. Blue Drab looks whitish in B&W photos.
¡P Flat White :
o Front & Rear unit markings on Front Bumper and Rear Bumperettes;
o Stars - Hood, Front Bumper, Left and Right rear 1/4 panel, and Rear panel on early jeeps without a Gas Can Rack.
¡± With exceptions being;
¡± a short period from the end of 1941 to the first months of 1942 when White star with Blue or Red Ball in center was in use.
¡± Also, a yellow star was authorized early in 1942.
¡± Also, sometimes the "Gas / Blister Agent Detecting paint was applied to the Star on the hood.
o Flat white paint was also used in the field for hood numbers on jeeps;
¡± 1) If the jeep was rebuilt overseas, with a different or new replacement hood being put on.
¡± 2) If all hood markings had been covered over with OD paint to better camouflage the jeep for some covert mission. Once the mission was completed, the hood #'s were painted back on the hood in flat white.
¡± 3) Vehicles transferred to and from other branches of the service. (USA -->> USMC).
¡± 4) Stolen vehicles. A new or fictitious number would be painted on the newly 'acquired' vehicle.
¡P Olive Drab : Jeep Body, Body Parts, Frame, Wheels, Mechanical Components, Willys MB Jeep Engine (Ford GPW Engines were Gray)
¡P Olive Drab OR Black, Glossy : Air Cleaner Crossover Tube, Carb Elbow, Radiator, Radiator Hose Tubes, Radiator Fan Blades, Oil Dipstick & Oil Filler Tube, Oil Filter Mounting Bracket, Coil
¡P Black, Glossy : Air Cleaner, Oil Filter Housing & Rings, Generator & Starter, Horn, Distributor Housing,
¡P Black Wrinkle (also called 'Japan' finish) : Voltage Regulator
¡P Gray, Semi-Gloss : Ford GPW Engine (Willys MB Engines were OD)
¡P Unpainted : Fuel Filter (or OD), Carburetor, Fuel Pump
NAVY Vehicles
The first jeeps owned by the Navy and by the Marines were painted Lusterless Olive Drab. These were Ford GP's built on Navy and Marine contracts in 1941.
No Navy jeeps were delivered painted Gray. All Navy GPW's were delivered in Lusterless Olive Drab. MB's were delivered in Lusterless Olive Drab and also in USMC "Forest Green". Gray painted Navy jeeps occasionally were repainted that color in the field by individuals in the Navy.
There were a few vehicles (Jeeps are not included on the list) that were delivered in Gray. One example is the Ford GTB bomb trucks. One Navy contract was delivered painted "Ocean Gray". Also, Navy Ford station wagons were delivered painted Black.
What color did the Navy paint vehicles in combat areas? Forest Green, Olive Drab or camouflage.
USMC Vehicles
Did the Marine Corps paint their vehicles Marine Corps Green or Olive Drab?
USMC vehicles were painted Forest Green.
All Ford GPW Jeeps diverted to the Marines were delivered in Lusterless Olive Drab.
Willys MB Jeeps produced under contract were painted either Lusterless Olive Drab with a fog coat of Forest Green, or delivered in Forest Green.
This was a Lusterless (meaning flat) green.
USMC jeeps on Iwo Jima, and other places in WWII were painted a camouflage scheme. They were painted that way in the field and were not delivered painted that way.

Canadian Jeeps
In 1942 Canada acquired it's first jeeps from Willys. These Willys 'MB' Jeeps were made to specific Canadian contracts and varied from the US Army Jeeps and US Marine Corps Jeeps. They were unique vehicles. These Canadian MB's were not painted US olive drab, but a darker, browner 'Khaki No.3'. Canada later purchased both the standard model Willys MB and the standard model Ford GPW. Both came in the standard American Olive Drab color, a color that Canada adopted for all Canadian military vehicles in mid 1944.

Having said all that - what colour did I paint my T-16? I was treated to a few coats of Chemical Agent Resistant Coating ( CARC ) in 34087. I chose this based on the resistance to scuffing and durability as much as colour. I have not painted on stencils or markings, as I wait for calls from a movie mogul and my next film role.

Have look at my machine in the Army Motors mags - the colour is quite well reproduced.



Stewart

PS - where is your siren?