Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Gina Vampire

It looks just like the Light Stone on your door Tony . Same Same with Pictures of the Grants from the 2/4th Dec 1942 on their way to Murgon.

Certainly I would agree concerning the Stuart paint Gina. Based on your photos I'm 99.9% certain it's identical to my FGT8 door. The door was factory painted during early-mid '42 whereas it appears your Light Stone was applied in the field circa February '43, but they're exactly the same paint IMO. Light Stone was superceded in July '42 so I'm not sure why it appears on your Stuart, but there are several possible explanations. The point is it's THERE and I agree it should be replicated. The pattern looks fine and will make for a fabulous looking Stuart, almost certainly as it appeared during Qld exercises.

However, when it comes to paintwork it's not possible to draw conclusions from vehicles in other units. For example, 2/4th Stuarts seen at Bribie Island several weeks earlier, which may or may not have received disruptive paint subsequently. Also I believe their Grants seen en route are Khaki Green / Light Earth, freshly painted in late '42 using post September '42 Khaki Green, which was considerably darker than previously, providing additional contrast. Bright sunshine makes Light Earth mimic Light Stone in B&W photos, esp. if freshly painted. I'll dig up some photos in due course to show the difference. Meanwhile here's the Pucka Vickers looking rather different in wartime.

P01022.014 BRIBIE ISLAND, QLD, 1942. 2-4TH ARMOURED REGIMENT IN COMBINED OPERATIONS TRAINING WI.jpg

P01022.039 AUSTRALIA. VICKERS TANK.jpg

1280px-Puckapunyal-Vickers-Light-MkVIA-2.jpg