Need INFO: paint match for blue drab! not rattle cans

DaninNM · Post by **DaninNM** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:41 pm

I want to put the lettering on my WC-26 in the correct blue drab but prefer some close match from the paint shop - can anyone send me a close-up photo of the correct paint via e-mail (dan@lobo.net) so I can have it matched at the paint shop locally. Do not want to use rattle cans - spray gun works so much better and I can use it over and over!
Dna in NM
505-269-2056

Tom @ Snake River · Post by **Tom @ Snake River** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 5:03 am

In all my years, I have never seen anyone mention a correct color. I believe that Beechwood Canvas carries the correct color in rattle cans. Worked fine on my WC-25 CC. Tom

DaninNM · Post by **DaninNM** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 12:22 am

Need six cans!
Dan in NM
505-269-2056

RANGER · Post by **RANGER** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 3:45 am

I had the fortune about 10 years ago to be given four 1qt June 1945 dated cans of original Blue Drab stenciling paint. It was still useable. The available spray cans will work just fine, as the original USA Registration was just "dusted" on without any measureable mill thickness. Many restorers do not realize this and tend to apply too much. Remember, the purpose of Blue Drab was to be subdued and difficult to photograph.

DaninNM · Post by **DaninNM** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:36 pm

I am still rying to figure out the star issue.....if the registration was just to keep prying eyes from knowing what about the stars? white or drab blue?

Finally, got a quart of the drab blue you wnat to sell?
Dan in NM 505-269-2056

RANGER · Post by **RANGER** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 7:26 pm

Stars were white stencil paint. In European Theatre the USA Numbers were for most part repainted in 4" size, the font varied as there was no standard stencil in the field.

No, the Blue Drab GI paint is not for sale at any price, George Baxter and Jim Gilmore have two of my cans in their collection. I do have a couple more cans that I am trying to get from my old friend, but theyare destined as gifts to close friends in the hobby.

Ugg · Post by **Ugg** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:24 pm

Ranger:

If ya have anything that was painted with that color, or a small chip, you can take it to a paint shop and have em match the color. They'll then give ya the written formula and you could post it so some of us could share the wealth. We may not understand it, but another paint shop could dupe it from the formula.

TIA

DaninNM · Post by **DaninNM** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 11:52 pm

I don't want to use a web siote color print because the color rendering on the computer is not true. The Beachwood folks are out of the rattle cans and they suspect they will not get any more in for about 8 weeks. Damn! Anyway - I will get something done here shortly and post the color inforation from my paint shop.
Dan

Craig Johnson · Post by **Craig Johnson** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:10 am

I know this isnt close enough, but my dad also used an original can of WW11 blue paint. It was painted on free hand by a guy he knew.

M3A1 Scout Car

Craig

Ugg · Post by **Ugg** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:16 am

RANGER wrote: Remember, the purpose of Blue Drab was to be subdued and difficult to photograph.

RANGER:

I forgot to say "THANKS" for that interesting little tidbit. I have no doubt that is the reason for it being done, but so what if the Axis powers were able to read the #'s. How would that have helped em out?

Later

Airborne Bob · Post by **Airborne Bob** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:44 pm

It was not the hood numbers that they would like to have, it was the unit numbers, so they would know what they were fighting. Bob

RANGER · Post by **RANGER** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 2:57 pm

To the Axis, the Hood numbers would provide production data and intelligence on the time it takes to go from delivery to operation in various parts of the world.

doc-coffin · Post by **doc-coffin** » Sun Aug 20, 2006 12:28 am

I have been told that Blue Drab corresponds to US Navy Intermediate Blue, which is the color the blue-gray GTBs and others were painted in. Since it was put on thin and quick over OD, it looked a lot darker than on the trucks that were painted overall with it. Can anyone verify this by color match or experimentation? A perfect match is available in Model Masters as FS 35164 Intermediate blue. If this is the right color, I have the mix code for it, as I matched it to the original color from GTB parts purchased NIB and inside the headlight doors on my 2nd to last GTB.

Mark Coffin

Richard Starr · Post by **Richard Starr** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:52 pm

Try asking for "Pantone 5415C".

I don't know what it means (and the "C" may be irrelevant), but it meant something to the paint place I went to and I got very good results with the paint they supplied.

Ugg · Post by **Ugg** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 7:08 pm

Richard:

Could you take a paint chip in and get the formula for it?

TIA

Need INFO: paint match for blue drab! not rattle cans

Need INFO: paint match for blue drab! not rattle cans

rattle can

Anyone have blue drab but Beachwood - they're out!

What about the stars? blue too or white? Also a ? below

I will post it -

Numbers

Blue Drab match