Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Mrs Vampire]

Further to my last post.

The file referred to earlier BC 440598 contains in it Mechanized Circular 301 ( 2 Jan 1942). That circular refers to vehicles allocated to the AIF being painted Light Stone BSC61. That is vehicles used overseas ( North Africa etc)

It also refers to the use of KG3 being the base colour for vehicles stationed in Australia . My view that the pre 1942 colour was Deep Bronze Green 24 appears from this evidence to be incorrect. KG3 appears to be the initial colour.

The Circular goes on to specify the immediate application of disruptive camouflage. There are seven schemes specified using Khaki Green J , Light Stone N, Light Brown P Dark green M, Basalt Red S and Black U .

Five of the schemes are thee tone and two of them two tone . One corresponds to both the area and scheme of my Stuart.

The three tone scheme in the RAAF Parkes video comprising light stone , Khaki Green J and Basalt red is recommended and allowed by this 1942 order . The order also includes the over-painting of proprietary colours as used by oil companies as seen in the video.

The order appears to be consistent with everything people have observed on their vehicles . Things such as KG3 Being over-painted by lighter colours or disruptive. The variety of colour schemes being discovered that were used from Jan 1942 until late 1943 when disruptive was abandoned and KG3 once again became the standard colour.

The pattern of the schemes is quite precise and the method used to mark it out specified. This is consistent with the Disruptive pattern on my Stuart corresponding to the drawings in the specification.

This means spectrographs of the AWM and AA chip sets remains a high priority for me.

Finally on the matter of KG3 I have been loaned a can of 1944 KG3 by Ewan that i will have a sample made and spectrographed. That will be the final proof so far as that colour is concerned. The question remaining ...what is its origin?

Photos below include one of a LP2 carrier two tone scheme in KG3 and Light Earth attached to the MC301 specification that is not a specified scheme. So still lots of puzzling issues.

[Mrs Vampire]

more pics

I expect the files to be online within a month or so so. Those curious enough can read them and come to their own conclusions.

[Mike K]

Back in the 1940's colour matching was done by eye , the matching was a subjective skill because all of us have different colour perception .

I am wondering how different the so called "specified" colours were to each manufacturer ? Mike

[Mrs Vampire]

Hi Mike the archive indicates the colour was done by formula.

There were six basic colours form which the rest could be made . The basic colours were made using pigment by weight. There are some photos in previous parts of this thread of the process and a copy of the formulas for the colours.
There is also considerable material in the archive about pigment and sourcing it.

It was not as hit and miss as you might think. The can of KG3 I have a loan of is a standard issue 1944 can from the manufacturer. The colour is about exact as I could imagine with the sample in the Archive and with Bob Mosely's version.

The paints were not mixed up at the local hardware store . Local purchase meant purchasing from the nearest manufacturer. Those manufactures were still required to abide by the specification and the pigments were not like the liquid squirts they use today rather they were sometimes a paste and often a powder .

[Mike K]

This may be of interest .

The manual for the 109 radio set , made by STC in Sydney , dated 1941, has the paint colour code . If the set needs to be repainted or touched up, they write

Examine the steel framework and if the enamel surface has been damaged it should be repaired as necessary by applying one coat of Bergers Defence Khaki enamel No. CP3477 or equivalent .Allow four hours for the enamel to dry

[Matt Austin]

Evening, folks,

Reckon this is Khaki Green J? The yellow faded paint appears to be common, and the refreshed green is just a result of a rag and water.

Cheers,
Matt

[Keith Webb]

That will make for a cheap restoration Matt, couple of rags and a few bottles of water!

Originally Posted by Matt Austin

Evening, folks,

Reckon this is Khaki Green J? The yellow faded paint appears to be common, and the refreshed green is just a result of a rag and water.

Cheers,
Matt

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Matt Austin

Evening, folks,

Reckon this is Khaki Green J? The yellow faded paint appears to be common, and the refreshed green is just a result of a rag and water.

Cheers,
Matt

Matt

I'd be tempted to leave that truck in its natural patina . You would be the only guy at Corowa with a vehicle still painted in genuine army paint ! Mike