Info needed: correct colours for WWII Aust vehicles

[Ian Fawbert]

No worries. I am glad they were able to help/fill in gaps/give direction. I have always found them to be like that.

Good luck,
Ian.

[Mrs Vampire]

Have now done a spectrograph on Bobs Khaki Green No 3

The colour spectrum is exactly the same as my NOS spare parts save for Bobs being around 10% lighter. That may be because the sample Bob had were light exposed or that they were a part of the natural variations in the paint of the time.

Florite now have a spectrographic match for U.S Lusterless Olive Drab No 9 ( 1939- 1949) for anyone wanting something exactly the same as that available from the U.S

Gloss measurements on all My NOS examples and the U.S Olive Drab are less than 1% . The Protec samples using flatting base are around 20% and their Khaki Green No 3 is 2% ( Just about indistinguishable from 1%) .

We tackle the Tank and the FGT next week .

[Mrs Vampire]

Flatting base used in the 1940s was Talc. Florite have been a boon . Now spectrographed what we could on the Tank and Blitz and will arrange for a loan spectro to do the paint chips at the AWM.

Below:Protec supplied Australian Khaki Green No 3 colour M from the official chip set. This is the "Bob Mosely" colour .
It is a luscious look but more of a satin finish than dead flat. ( some say "egg shell" )
In the second shot a NOS Khaki Green No 3 part next to the Protek mix then third shot with half of the helmet glossed up with water. This demonstrates the darkening effect of Gloss and why the protec colour appears somewhat darker than the NOS parts I have.
Protec is slightly glossier and even my NOS parts are around 4% on account of handling and oil . The spec (and the chips at the AWM) is dead flat. ( less than 1% gloss)

[Shane]

Hi all

Have come across this tin of paint any idea what year it was made?

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Cheers Shane

[Mrs Vampire]

No clues on the tin?? Looks like 1940 and is No 3

any chances of a swatch for comparison ?? bit of primed tin or Al Al about 4"x2" couple of dips or brushed coats would be grand

[Tony Wheeler]

Shane, that's LIQUID GOLD you have there! You may have solved our whole standardization problem. That old lead paint is the real McCoy, all we have to do is match it. Can you produce some colour chips for us? No need to make your own, just grab some from any paint shop and reuse them. I use Colorbond chips from the local hardware shop.

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Depending on the batch date it could be pre '42 or post '42 Khaki Green. It's Berger paint, and they were the official supplier when camo was first introduced in Jan '42:

MP 508/1 item 305/733/244 Camouflage Paints. January 1942
Australian Standard Camouflage Colours. Berger Paint Company Camouflage Paint Chips.

A .. .. .. .. White
B .. .. .. .. Light Slate
C .. .. .. .. Slate Grey
D .. .. .. .. Dark Grey
E .. .. .. .. Purple Grey
F .. .. .. .. Grey Green
H .. .. .. .. Light Green
J .. .. .. .. Khaki Green
K .. .. .. .. Foliage Green
L .. .. .. .. Scrub Green
M .. .. .. .. Dark Green
N .. .. .. .. Light Stone
P .. .. .. .. Light Brown
Q .. .. .. .. Darwin Stone
R .. .. .. .. Red
S .. .. .. .. Basalt Red
T .. .. .. .. Dark Earth
U .. .. .. .. Night Black
W .. .. .. .. Light Earth

Khaki Green was one of the colours modified after Sept '42:

Standards Association of Australia. N.S.W. Camouflage Paints Committee. September 1942

11 th. meeting of Committee, it was advised that the standard range of colours was to be amended as follows:-

Khaki Green J To be darker.

Either way Shane it's a very exciting find. Can you mix it properly and post a photo here?

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Tony,

Berger were big manufacturers of paint in Australia (their website claims they supplied the original paint for the Sydney Harbour Bridge).

BALM Pty Ltd, the British Australian Lead Manufacturers Pty Ltd, and manufacturers of DUCO and DULUX brandnames, were a main supplier of camouflage paint to the Aust forces on WW2 (I have copies of correspondence).

My Jan 1943 dated Standards Association colour cards don't have a paint source indicated. Wonder which of the suppliers provided them.

Mike