Armour Colours

[Michael Dorosh]

Since this is a new board, I thought I could throw these previously asked questions into the mix, just to get things going.

This chart has made the rounds of the internet. Which colours would be most appropriate for a Stuart tank and Sherman V from 4th Canadian Armoured Division circa Aug-Oct 1944? No. 15, No. 16, or would either be apropo?

[Steve Guthrie]

Hi there

I would go with US Olive drab (NOT SCC.15) for both vehicles.

The reason the Brits and Canadians went from SCC .2 Brown) to SCC 15 (British Olive Drab) was to eliminate the need to repaint all the US vehicles then being issued.

That being said, US OD and British OD are not quite the same colour. The US colour fades toward a brownish-shade while the British OD fades greenish.

The only time vehicles were repainted was when they went through a complete over-haul. This would be the case with such tanks as Sherman Vc Fireflies, which were converted in the UK, then repainted.

Regular 'off the shelf' Stuarts and Shermans would stay US OD.

Steve

[Michael Dorosh]

Excellent, Steve, thanks....any idea of the FS number? 34088?

[Mark W. Tonner]

Michael;

I would use No. 15 Olive Drab (Khaki Drab).

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally posted by Michael Dorosh
any idea of the FS number? 34088?

Michael;

U.S. Olive Drab - FS 34087
Cheers

[Nigel Watson]

Michael I came across this letter dated 13 June 1944 from the CAN MIL to AFNAP for CANDEX

"Vehicles to be spray painted in Olive Drab (Telva 1125) as basic colour and not disruptively painted with camouflage chart No.15"

Interesting if not useful!!

Nigel

[Steve Guthrie]

Hi there

When Olive Drab was standarized in April 1944, in structions were quite clear that NO disruptive patterning was to be used.

The illusive Camouflage Chart No.15 apparently laid out all the approved patterns but I've heard of no-one ever laying eyes on one.

Military Training Pamplet No.46 Part IVa, is the usual fallback.

For further details, see:

http://milifax2003.tripod.com/home03.htm

Steve

[Martin IJdo]

Great to see that someone took the trouble of selecting a number of apropriate colours for MV´s.
I doubt however that this will be of much help, because it is vitually impossible to make a digital set of "paint-chips". The end result totally depends on the way your monitors colour settings are set. The, if you actually print it the colours will again be adapted to suit your printer. Result: totally useless !
I may sound a bit agressive, but i was really disappointed to see that years and years of discussion on what colour of paint was used on MV´s, has resulted in someone that thinks he can correctly depict the coulours this way!
If i where you i´d stick with more accurate sample like the ones Dirk has shown us a couple of times.

Martin.