Aussie Matilda interior color

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Neil Ashley
I have also assisted in the restoration of two Humber MkIV Armoured Cars which although they had crudely over-painted white interiors, the base colour was silver.

Any comments?

Neil,

Interesting one......I did some work on a Humber Scout Car. It has never been stripped down and restored, rather more like preserved. It had white paint inside, done in fairly recent years, under that was a more creamy white, obviously done while in service. On stripping it inside to carry out repairs, some items were removed from the hull and it had a silver base coat, .......no white under that. Now it may have undergone a base overhaul in post war years, but I would like to think silver is the correct colour for when it was new.

Richard

[matilda IIA]

Hi Gents

My experience is that silver is the original colour, and white is the secondary coat applied some time later as silver is under all the hull fittings. I have vehicles that have never been painted white on the inside and others that are all white.
Kind regards
Matt

[cantankrs]

Originally Posted by matilda IIA

My experience is that silver is the original colour, and white is the secondary coat applied some time later as silver is under all the hull fittings. I have vehicles that have never been painted white on the inside and others that are all white.

Hi Matt,

The original start of this thread was specifically Matilda, but I have used it recently to establish US armour interior colour.

Just to clarify - when you say silver, I presume you're referring to armoured vehicles of British manufacture during WWII that you've experienced (I believe most if not all post war British armour was silver), but are you also saying you've found mostly silver as the original colour in WWII US manufactured armour as well?

Best Regards

Alex

[matilda IIA]

Maaate

I know nothing of US vehicles, ( thats why my US Parts are only in the semi precious pile outside !) I am only making comment based on my experience with 1930's early 40's British Armour.

Kind regards
Matt

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by matilda IIA

Maaate

I know nothing of US vehicles, ( thats why my US Parts are only in the semi precious pile outside !) I am only making comment based on my experience with 1930's early 40's British Armour.

Hi Matt,

I've been reading this thread with interest, regarding British armour only, I believe that a silver paint was used before the war and early into it. Then I understand that silver paint was in short supply and white was used. Then post war a silver paint was used again. The postwar paint was supposed to be fireproof and non-hardening, it tended to rub off on your boots and clothes when working inside. This was to stop flakes of paint inside if hit by shellfire. Having seen a prewar Vickers Light Tank that was brought in from Australia years ago, that was definitely in silver ( made in 1936 ), it was basically in scrap condition, not restored so was quite original.

I must add that this is a flat non shiny silver.........not to be confused with aluminium paint.

[tankbarrell]

I'm not convinced there was an industry wide change from silver to white but assuming there was, I think it reverted to silver by 1943 as all of the Centaurs, Cromwells, Churchills and Comets I have had anything to do with were silver as the first and only colour. Other manufacturers and therefore other vehicles may have changed later?