Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Gina Vampire

I have also aquired a couple of tins of KG3 gas detecting paint circa 1943.

Is the paint in little "WILLOW" branded cans ? I bought some of those from Aussie disposals for 50 cents each , dated 1943. A peculiar colour , a kind of browny beige , or mud colour . I think the idea was you painted a small square on the outside somewhere . I wonder what they actually put in that paint , it might be a deadly concoction

[Mrs Vampire]

Colour sounds the same Mike but mine are DD and 1944

Below the can a colour patch under artificial light and in direct sunlight the colour chip on a KG3 Colour card all on a late KGj NOS Chev part.

I understand it was used as you describe. My tins also have sand in the paint to give a grainy non slip effect.

[Mrs Vampire]

I am now quite close to concluding my research project.

I have made a series of plates from the can of paint loaned to me by Ewan . The paint compares very closely to KGJ 1942 as held in the National archive Melbourne . I now consider that a closed case.
I have , very kindly , been loaned a copy of the Australian Standard for camouflage paint 1942 (revised feb 1943) and the KGJ from the original tin compares nicely with that as well
I have also located a sample of the toned down KGJ ( march to december 1943)
and have a near exact batch made up.

From the loaned copy of the standard we have spectrographed all the colours and I will have a litre of each made up. I am contemplating making twenty five sets of sample plates of each colour and along with the spectrograph and a short history of the paint compiling a book .

Depending on interest I can make the book available to those interested at cost recovery prices.
As to the paint itself . I venture that it of Melbourne manufacture as it is short chained and high in Phenols . It is highly water and chemical resistant but not long wearing reflecting the complaints concerning paint manufactured in Melbourne during the war.

So far as KG3 is concerned it is certain it is a pre 1940 specification. I am awaiting information from Mike Starmers to establish if it is in fact the British colour.
KG3 was according to the records not used on vehicles until after December 1943. The use of eggshell matt (3% gloss) followed closely on the general use of this colour. Previous to this all paint was dead flat. ( less than 1%gloss) Interestingly the specification for tin hats was KG3 and not the same colours used on vehicles.

If I can get a loan of the Spartan chart I will do the same for the aircraft colours.

Below KGJ as compared to the melbourne colour chart.

[Mike K]

I would like a copy of the book. Sounds like a useful thing to have . Mike

[Mike Cecil]

Gina,

Interesting conclusions, and a significant (and sustained!) piece of research.

I have a query, however, as from my reading, two of your posts appear to be in conflict. In Sept you said:

"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."

and now you say "KG3 was according to the records not used on vehicles until after December 1943."

As these two statements appear to conflict, could you clarify, please?

Also, not all vehicles allocated to the AIF were used overseas - not by a significant margin - so there were lots of vehicles with AIF plates still in Australia and supplied from assembly painted light stone.

Yes, I'd like a copy of your publication too, please.

Mike

[cliff]

put my name down for a copy of your book as well please Gina.

[Mike K]

colour movie of trucks

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/F04991/

[Andrew Foulkes]

Gina

I have been following your thread with great interest having hunted in the UK archives for more information about vehicle colours for the BEF in France in 1939-40. Certainly Khaki Green No 3 was the 1939 British vehicle paint, used for newly manufactured vehicles after about mid year, and used to over-paint the 'Service colour' Deep Bronze Green, BS No 24 on existing vehicles. It will be very interesting to see how Mike Starmer's KG3 colour mix compares with yours.

I look forward to seeing the additional Australian files which you said are being digitized and I would like to buy a copy of the book if you go ahead.

Andrew