Light Green Paint, Olive Drab Paint, etc

[Wayne Hingley]

Since the bulk of these posts are up to 5 years ago, I would like to know if the "new/modern" paints have performed better than the original paints used by the CF over the years? The CF vehicles seemed to fade out to almost a chalky finish after a very short time in the weather.

What has been your experience with new paints?

It seems like a lot of effort and waste to go through all the work to get colors and camo patterns correct, and then have the paint deteriorate quickly when you go outside.

For that reason, I'm on the fence about what paint/color(s) to use on my M38A1. I would appreciate advice from anyone who has recent experience with these colours.

Thanks, Wayne

[rob love]

I use the paint from Gillespie, which is through Rapco out of Texas. With our dollar in the toilet bowl lately, the price has gotten a little higher, but still under $60 a gallon. Things like the Jeep are kept indoors for a good part of the year, but I also have an MLVW and a Deuce, both painted with Gillespie 2 years ago, left out to the elements, and both are doing fine. Price wise, I don't think you'll beat the cheaper enamels.

You can easily pay 4 to 8 times that price for fancier paint, but in my case I would just as soon repaint every 5 or so years than spend the money. Besides, I enjoy taking the jeep through the forest once in a while, and no matter what paint I use, it's going to get scratched. I think I can re-paint (or certainly touch up) a jeep almost as fast as I can drive it into town and through the carwash.

[Wayne Hingley]

Good feedback Rob. I'm assuming you use the "911 flat black", but which of the other Gillespie colours are the equilivent of the 3 color camouflage (34079 forest green, and 30118 field drab brown)?

I will be debating between this and the glossy OD scheme.

[rob love]

911 black is good, or as an easily sourced alternative, tremclad flat black (oil based) works well and I have had no fade in this colour, unlike the original army black that turned grey. Quite frankly I will use either. I got the 911 when I was at the last MVPA convention, otherwise, if shipping and exchange is involved, I am better off buying the tremclad locally.

So that leaves the other two colours. For the flat green, the 383 green CARC replacement paint from Gillespie does nicely. I find it looks a little gawdy when it first goes on, but after a day or two settle into the right colour. I just finished off the last of an original gallon of the flat green paint, and the 383 is a good match.

That just leaves the ever elusive Canadian olive green. For that I use the 33070, which is a little too brown. To overcome that I add a little bit of 33087. Adding a little extra reducer seems to lighten it up as well.

End of the day, you will have 3 colours that contrast nicely and give the proper effect. Nobody will be able to call you a liar.

I have talked to Brian Asbury, and he has the Canadian colours produced by an original supplier. Only problem is he doesn't ship paint to the prairies. So until I catch someone coming through from Ontario to out this way, the Gillespie paints will have to do.

Edited to add: I bought some Arvoe paint here in Canada a decade ago and was not happy with it whatsoever. I saw the stuff being sold at Crown Surplus a few years back, so it is in country. However I personally do not reccoment it and I have read where others had the same poor experience with that paint. YMMV.

[Wayne Hingley]

When did the CF stop applying white paint to the rear differential cover for blackout driving purposes?

Was white paint on the differential covers in use during the years of the 3-color camouflage paint scheme on M38A1's?

My CDN2 has evidence of once having a white diff cover, but it was painted over at some point.

Also, does anyone know if it was a flat or gloss white that was used?

[David Dunlop]

Wayne.

My gut would tell me not to rely too much on the presence of a white rear diff on the vehicle for dating purposes. Too much possibility for a diff cover or complete rear axle assembly being swapped out on a vehicle. Better to check if the vehicle was ever equipped with the convoy lamp and switch set up.

For certain, the M-Series vehicles delivered/built up to 1953 for the Canadian Army were convoy lamp equipped. At some point subsequent to that, this system was phased out, but exactly when I do not know. My 1st M38CDN was a 1952 vehicle purchased from Crown Assets in 1976. It still had a white stripe painted on the centre of the rear diif, the convoy lamp mounted underneath the rear of the vehicle and the convoy lamp switch assembly on the dash. The convoy lamp wiring was still in place but had been cut and taped off under the dash.

It also had a working turn signal setup added to it. The big heavy grey pot metal switch assembly with the indicator lamps in the main body. The indicator lamp circuit had also been cut. I wondered why, until I restored it. First time I used it at night, the green indicator lamp lit up the entire interior of the jeep.

It would not surprise me if instructions were published in the Army at some point advising the convoy light system was to be terminated. Some one out there might know when.

As far as I know, the paint used to mark the diff was the same semi gloss white used for CFR Numbers etc on the vehicles.


David

[rob love]

I joined the regular army as a mechanic in 81. At that time any remaining convoy lights were removed to make test lights.

While they were on the 50s stuff, I have only seen one on a 67 Jeep. Without the lamp, there would be no reason to paint the diff white.