Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Mrs Vampire]

The yellowish colour your vehicle has faded to is typical of all the "greens" used in Australia.

No lead pigments were use din Australian MV paints during WWII. The source of the earth pigments seems to say the Yellow pigment used is the most persistent in any of the KG colours.

Your best bet is some examination including selected rub backs covered earlier in this thread . I would be happy to look at any photos you would like to put up and venture an opinion.

Areas least subjected to weathering are the best locations to try.chasis rails , behind panels and doors etc etc...

[Mike Cecil]

"Mike Cecil has informed me that some production pre 1942 was done in "desert yellow" This is still in the research to be done envelope. If that is so then just what shade was used will be interesting as Australia was developing its own "desert yellow" shade that was no where as "yellow" as the British shade'

It was called Light Stone or Portland Stone. Portland Stone in particular was a very 'washed out' colour, hardly yellow at all.

Vehicles allocated to the AIF in 1940-41 by contract were supposed to be supplied from the contractor's works in this colour, and those destined for the AMF were supposed to be finished in green (ahh, I hear you say .... but which green? The pre-war/peacetime green, or KG3????)

Mike

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

"Mike Cecil has informed me that some production pre 1942 was done in "desert yellow" This is still in the research to be done envelope. If that is so then just what shade was used will be interesting as Australia was developing its own "desert yellow" shade that was no where as "yellow" as the British shade'

It was called Light Stone or Portland Stone. Portland Stone in particular was a very 'washed out' colour, hardly yellow at all.

Vehicles allocated to the AIF in 1940-41 by contract were supposed to be supplied from the contractor's works in this colour, and those destined for the AMF were supposed to be finished in green (ahh, I hear you say .... but which green? The pre-war/peacetime green, or KG3????)

Mike

Hello Mike,

Not green Mike - Khaki and from Dulux (DLX ?) as well!

As per the plate on the firewall Colour DLX KHAKI
Batch No: -
Date: KO

Who needs a batch number anyway!

Not sure what the "KO" represents as a date?

"Khaki" what else would you need to know?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

This is new to me

http://milepegsnt.com/site/vehicle-camouflage-markings/

[Mike Cecil]

so who is 'he'?

Mike

[Mrs Vampire]

I have had a chance to do some close inspection on Stuart M3 Hybrid .

I had thought the Vehicle was , on first brush< from the NT force but on closer inspection I see it is third Armoured.

It is clearly painted Khaki Green J and Light Brown P.

Given that the colours on my tank could be interpreted either way but seem more brownish than yellow I not think my earlier certainty on Light Stone was mistaken.

The colours on this Hybrids rear doors are very very well preserved.

I Know the vehicle was made in Feb of 1942 and think it was delivered in time for the exercises out near Narabri or very shortly after.

I have been able to see the remnants of the formation sign but have not yet found evidence of the unit number but suppose it would be the 13th .

I will do some test panels and compare the contrast . I am now firmly on the side of KGJ and LBP for third armoured.

The evidence is also that the lower parts of the vehicle were either not repainted from the imported colour od Bronze green or the paint that was on them has washed off...again the paint is very clear and in good condition

[John Ward]

Do we know what ASC Grey G or Vehicle Grey looked like?
Mike Kelly already posted this above but there's an order in "12 Aust Div GS Branch NT Force" (p.99, Oct 1942) with three different mixtures for Grey (although it doesn't explicitly state that the colour is Grey G) and another one "14 Adelaide River Line of Communication Sub Area" (p.14, Dec 1943, following SM 4803 from Mar 1943) calling for Grey (Vehicle Grey in the charts attached).

So are they (Veh Grey & Grey G) even the same and if not, does that mean there was five greys?

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by Gina Vampire

The yellowish colour your vehicle has faded to is typical of all the "greens" used in Australia.

No lead pigments were use din Australian MV paints during WWII. The source of the earth pigments seems to say the Yellow pigment used is the most persistent in any of the KG colours.

Your best bet is some examination including selected rub backs covered earlier in this thread . I would be happy to look at any photos you would like to put up and venture an opinion.

Areas least subjected to weathering are the best locations to try.chasis rails , behind panels and doors etc etc...

Hello Gina,

Thank you for your replies and for all the information. Much appreciated. How far away is your book from be released?

Kind Regards
Lionel