Marsden Matting question... what did it look like NEW?

[Mark Allen M]

You should be able to easily see what the color of the Marsden Matting is new and what color it ends up being after being exposed a bit. I'd say it's a simple bare metal grayish color new then obviously turns to a rust color. (as it rusts lol)

[Mark Allen M]

And a few more ...

[Mark Allen M]

[p51]

THANKS, MARK!
Still not sure if they came from the factory in that color, but it's good enough to me to be able to go with a gunmetal grey color from the first of those photos.

[quemerford]

Well that was truly bizarre: presented with a Spec, which would have given precise details of surface finish (it's in the 1962 report, which despite being from 1962, does refer to the WWII Spec), you're instead happy to go for a rough idea gotten from a colour photo the likes of which you could have Googled.

If you'd said, "I come across as being a stickler but I really don't want to make any effort" we could have got this one sorted a good few replies ago.

[Mark Allen M]

Or maybe he just wanted what he wanted the way he wanted it. Perhaps he's into 'visuals' instead of 'specs'. Perhaps he chose to ask some of us for a bit of help finding some photos instead of wasting his time Googling for them himself. Perhaps some of us enjoy being asked to help and don't feel the need to question his motives. Perhaps this is all his business and not yours the how's and why's he's going about it the way he has. Perhaps if you have a problem with his thread and requests you can take your bad attitude and move on somewhere else. This hasn't been your first irritating post and most likely won't be your last.

[Cvairwerks]

Try this link too: http://myphilippinelife.com/the-jeepney ... in-iloilo/

I'll bet some of the hanging mat has been there since the war.

[Stoney]

but it had to be OD green, like everything else in those days.

[shrike]

but it had to be OD green, like everything else in those days.

Ahh, but which one? OD#3? OD#7? OD#8? ANA613? QM319?
If it was a Marine base, does it get that odd Forestry service green?

All kidding aside, hot rolled with mill scale is the most accurate description. Think rebar, with all of the variations of silver through blue-black, with a propensity to rust in storage and transport. Blue-black steel (which doesn't rust as quickly) binding on the bundles.

[PropsRule]

I had a go at finding some colour photos too (came up empty!) and learned that the steel mat is actually "Marston", not " Marsden", at least according to an Air & Space magazine article on the subject.

So I learned something new. Glad someone asked the question.

I shouldn't be surprised Mark came up with some fantastic photos. In particular, the captured Storch, USAAF Mosquitoes and the P-47 in French markings made my day!

[Chris Brame]

Speaking of the Storch photo... fixed it again.

[Mark Allen M]

Great! Now you have the matting reversed

[sandiego89]

All kidding aside, hot rolled with mill scale is the most accurate description. Think rebar, with all of the variations of silver through blue-black

Agree, the color should be "steel". Testers and other have this right out of the bottle/can. There are variations, but blue/black describes it. Gunmetal likely too dark, especially for a diorama.

[4RG.I.'S]

Visited the Richard Bong Veterans Historical Center over the weekend. The P-38 is set in a diorama on Marsden matting. According to the info plate the matting was found in a storage building from WWII. The color appears to be olive drab green. I'll post a pic tonight.

[Taigh Ramey]

Call me crazy but I the matting looks like OD green to me in the color photos. Great photos as usual Mark!

This is pure speculation on my part but why would it be any other color based on the fact that pretty much every vehicle and piece of ground support equipment in WWII was painted OD green.

The WWII specs have got to be available somewhere