Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[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

[Matt Austin]

Thanks, gents. Mike, you have a very good point. Sadly, things go south from the back of the cab! But, it certainly makes me think, and if I could save it, it'd be worth doing. Keith, perhaps the molecular remnants in the Pepsi bottle helped!

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt Austin]

It seems that Khaki Green J fades to that familiar yellow, but does KG3 do the same?

[Mrs Vampire]

In my experience yes.
I have a late production rear from a Gun Tractor No 9 . The inside paint is an exact match for KG3 the outside faded to an indistinguishably yellowish colour I have seen on exposed vehicles that must have been painted from 1941-1945

I guess the chromate pigments , which were the same for all greens during WWII, are the hardiest.