Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Mrs Vampire]

I rubbed back a bit on the Stuart and found the following layers.

grey primer , US Lustreless Olive Drab, Black stencil, Australian Olive Drab , Australian light stone colour disruptive camo brush painted with plenty of runs, some red oxide applied in the seventies, Australian Vietnam era Olive drab put on in the seventies, areas of Australian dark olive put on in the eighties .

Photos below. I would be keen to know what the stencil ,means . It was original US marking XX! in an elongated diamond with ZZB below it. Looks a bit like a paint code.

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Gina,

I'll openly admit I might be way off, but I thought that the diamond like that was a USMC marking? I can't think where, but I had seen similar markings leading to USMC history being talked about with jeeps on g503.com.

I saw you posted this on there too, but perhaps go into the USMC jeep forum on g503.com and have a look?

I hope I'm not leading you on a wild goose chase, but thought worth mentioning.

Cheers,
Ian.

[Lynn Eades]

Thanks Robert for the entertainment.

[colin jones]

Originally Posted by Ghost

Hello Gina,

I'll be the first to admit I have no idea what these markings mean.

One of the rear armour panels on my M3A1 scout car had the same markings in black paint when I stripped it back for painting. It was between the red oxide undercoat and the original layer of dark olive drab.
l too lean towards a paint code. I have tried to highlight it in my photo - I should have taken a better shot but............

This is probably as helpful as a fart in a spacesuit.

Robert.

One would hope the exhaust is not connected to the air supply?

[Mrs Vampire]

Thanks Colin and Robert.

Both responses help . I will take your advice Robert and ask the Jeep folk.

I am glad to see it on another vehicle on top of the same coat of paint as mine.

I will keep you posted on what I find out

P.S like the fart joke ...will use it from now on !!!