paint colour code "dark earth"

Dianaa · #1 04-10-11, 04:26

Does anyone have a paint colour code preferably Dulux/Dulon (Du Pont) for the colour "dark earth".

Apparently it was used on the WWII US Curtiss P40 as part of its camouflage. It is apparently the same colour used by the SADF in the 1970s - 1980s during the Border Wars.

Colour on wing root and tip.

Diana

Dianaa · #2 05-10-11, 16:31

It turns out that "dark earth" has a BS 381c code 350

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #3 06-10-11, 11:44

Hi Dianaa - according to my British Standard Colour Table, Dark Earth No.1A is B.S.987C - 1942. Equivalent model paints are Humbrol No.29, Revell No.87, Model-Master E 6603. Tamiya XF52 and Gunze H72. Take your pick.

Bob

Dianaa · #4 06-10-11, 16:09

Thanks Bob, I'll take both codes and see if they have a formula for one at least.

The good thing is it's unlikely to ever park besides another SADF vehicle.

Still wondering if I should use the period correct flag

Or the less politically sensitive

What do people do with WWII US vehicles, the WWII correct 48 star or the current 50 star flag?

Local Chap · #5 06-10-11, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dianaa

It turns out that "dark earth" has a BS 381c code 350

Dark Earth 1A was an Air Ministry colour and wasn't officially listed under BS381c until the 1964 edition, when it was given the code 450. In the 1971 edition of BS381c, it was re-numbered 350. The BS381c numbering uses group numbers for broad colour families, with 4xx being "Greys" and 3xx being "Browns". The error was corrected in the 1971 update.

However, the P40 would have originally been painted in a US color called "Olive Drab", which was very similar to the UK Dark Earth. This had the US reference ANA22, which became 30118 when the FS595 standard was created in 1949.

Mike Cecil · #6 08-10-11, 03:57

..... and if it was Australian, it would have been ASC Dark Earth (just to help with some confusion!).

Australia had their own standard colour chart for camo colours during WW2.

Mike c

Dianaa · #7 08-10-11, 09:22

All this code stuff gets confusing. I didn't realise that the 381c was also revised by year!

Should I answer the flag question in a separate thread?