WWII Paint Colors

[sdennison]

Where can I find the color names and numbers and current source for primary trainer red, white, blue and yellow? Original manuals seem to only reference the doping process and "match existing color" but I have not found the spec for the colors.

Thanks Gents.

[flightsimer]

I found this the other day when looking for the same thing. However, it is supposed to be colors post 1943.

http://fortcrookipms.com/ckfinder/userf ... 0WW-II.pdf

[sdennison]

Thanks, I think many will find this useful. Also,you can get authentic samples at your local hobby shop. Model Master paints has most of these along with their actual military paint codes.

[AG pilot]

Can anyone point me to some sort of official Government/Military booklet, letter, guide, reference, etc., that shows the conversion from ANA numbers to the FS numbers? I have never seen an example of such posted anywhere.

[sdennison]

Can anyone point me to some sort of official Government/Military booklet, letter, guide, reference, etc., that shows the conversion from ANA numbers to the FS numbers? I have never seen an example of such posted anywhere.

Modelers do a pretty good job. Try this.
http://www.cybermodeler.com/color/ana_m ... XQQLErotiI

[The Inspector]

And ipmsstockholm.org you might need to activate your 'translate' icon in the toolbar and ratomodeller.com for CURTISS/DuPont paint formulas.
fortcrookipms.com for transitional paint mixes/shades during WW2.

[AG pilot]

I think the modelers do a fantastic job trying to get it "just right". As mentioned in some of the sites listed above, not all modeler resources agree with one another as to what number is what.

My question remains as to what source did the military personnel look at to get the correct color conversions at the time, when they went from ANA number system to the FS 595 number system. Surely they had an official guide or reference to look at when refinishing time came, and did not just "guess".

[The Inspector]

Usually a copy of FS 595A is/was the standard reference book of color chips which, along with a developed formula '(6 parts of 'A', 2 parts 'B' and a dash of 'L') and subject to the color 'eye' of the mixer, local chemicals used, etc. etc (DuPont formulas used by CURTISS are a good example). so there was some guesswork until the 1980's.
Now that paints are analyzed by computer spectrograph's the local auto body jobber store can mix you anywhere from an ounce to a swimming pool of a color and it will all match perfectly, all they need is the color by manufacturer ( Ford grabber blue as an example), a Sun protected part with the color on it, or a 1 inch square chip for the computer to 'look' at.
Relying on photos, especially older ones shot with different manufacturers film compounds can impact color perceptions too, we've all seen old slides taken by a relative where the slide is turning reddish pink because the film is EKTACHROME which tints even inside a closed slide holder box because the emulsion action never really stops, especially if the film was processed by a 1 Hour photo booth back in the 60's/70's or the local Drug Store where the film went out and was processed somewhere else and done by the mile.