Colour Schemes & Camouflage Schemes

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi gals & guys

Looking at a post on the Carrier Forum re. Max's carrier colour reminded me of one of my colour informastion sources. Modellers are a fastidious lot and the following seems to be a good site.

www.miniatures.de/html/int/colourBS.html

http://www.miniatures.de/html/int/camouflageB.html

Although all British I think in those days their standards were adopted.

Bob

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bob Moseley
...and the following seems to be a good site.

This one is even better http://www.mafva.com/resources.asp

Mike Starmer's British AFV Camouflage articles are seen as leading in this field!

My page on paint schemes for CMP trucks has a picture of Light Stone paint which Dirk Leegwater has had mixed up.

Regards,
Hanno

[Mike K]

This subject is wide open to conjecture . I have read all the web pages I can find on WW2 vehicle colours , and some conflicting statements exist . It's best not to be pedantic and make definate statements . It was in many cases , once the vehicle left the factory a Ad Hoc thing done in the field .

What I try to do , is use the leftover paint found on whatever vehicle your into . It may be faded and only there in small bits , the best places to look are under factory assembled parts e.g.

Under clamps or bits that have never been removed before like axle clamp saddles .

Mike

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Guys;

Some notes on camouflage used on Australian Carriers:

A variety of camouflage schemes were issued for use during the period 1941 to 1945, both for AIF Carriers serving in the Middle East and for all Carriers serving within Australia and New Guinea.

The first of these was issued in August 1941, to all troops under the command of British Forces in Palestine and Trans Jordan, which included 1st Australian Corps. The pattern was to be taken as a guide only, and consisted of a basic colour of Light Stone BSC61 and a disruptive pattern of Standard Camouflage Colour No. 7 Dark Green. (See diagram # 1).

In January 1942, AIF HQ Middle East issued Mechanization Instruction 80, which detailed that all vehicles were to be finished in a common basic colour, either Light Stone BSC61 or Portland Stone BSC64. Those operating in Palestine and Egypt were to have the basic colour only, while those operating in Syria were to have a disruptive pattern of Standard Camouflage Colour No. 7 Dark Green.

Carriers serving in Australia were not camouflaged until January 1942. Prior to that date, those supplied to the AIF were supposed to be finished in Light Stone BSC61 colour, while those supplied to AMF were supposed to be finished in Khaki Green No. 3, although the actual deliveries of Carriers resulted in both forces having Carriers finished in both schemes. In January 1942, several camouflage schemes were issued for use. Although all vehicles were supposed to be camouflaged, no official desruptive pattern was issued for use on Carriers. Improvisation was the order of the day. In July 1942, the schemes were revised to a single scheme of a basic colour of Khaki Green ASC type "J" gas resisting and a disruptive colour of Light Earth ASC type "W" (See diagram # 2). This scheme was retained until March 1943, when a three tone scheme was introduced (See diagram # 3). The three colours of this scheme were a basic colour of Vehicle Medium Green, and two disruptive colours of Vehicle Dark Green and Vehicle Grey. In mid-1944, the scheme was revised to include a choice of basic colour of either Vehicle Medium Green or Khaki Green. The disruptive pattern remained as the official pattern until the end of the War, when Carriers were progressively repainted gloss Deep Bronze Green has they required overhaul.

Cheers

Diagram # 1: Official Camouflage Scheme issued in August 1941

[Mark W. Tonner]

Diagram # 2: Official Camouflage Scheme issued in July 1942:

[Mark W. Tonner]

Diagram # 3: Official Camouflage Scheme issued from March 1943:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

More on this subject: British camouflage painting of vehicles in the Middle East by Mark Mackenzie.

HTH,
Hanno

[Andrew Morrison]

People tend to become far too carried away with the exact colour that should be used. Even today with computers looking after the tinting no two tins of paint come out the same shade. Even if you can find a sample that has not been exposed to sunlight age will still alter the colour.

A mate in the navy tells me that when at sea they occupy some of their time by repainting the ship. Seems it is not good for the public to see the ship looking rusty as they might think it is not being looked after. This paint comes in large containers which are then tipped into even larger containers to be mixed together. If this is not done the ship could end up being almost white at one end and a dark grey at the other.

During the 39 - 45 period it was difficult to obtain paint pigment in Australia. This being due to it being all imported and not considered a high shipping priority. Dulux Australia had to resort to finding clays locally which could be mixed with the paint to produce the colours sought (This is from their own corporate history). Am sure this would have also resulted in further colour variation.

[Mike K]

After studying many of the AWM pics from the 1939-45 period , it is clear that the camo paint shades used on B transport varied quite a lot .

The official mechanization circulars relating to the painting of MT are somewhat vague with statements like :-

" paint is to be procured locally "

What the hell does that mean ....? Did some units in remote locations improvise and use anything on hand . Of course they did .

Mike