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Some questions for US Armor experts:
After seeing those wonderful color photos posted by Stickpusher and Hans' recent Monogram armor build....
I am considering buying some re-issued Monogram tank models.
In addition I recently purchased the Revell re-issue of the Renwall Atomic cannon.
As the kits need to be painted, I am prompted to ask:
Has the Olive Drab used on US Army vehicles changed much from decade to decade?
Also, when did the US Army begin using OD and end using OD (if ever ) ?
Thanks for your help, guys !
OH no.....here we go again
OD has varied from WWII through Korea as it became darker through VN where it became semi gloss.
Steve Zaloga has written a bunch of articles on it and there have been a NUMBER of treads here on it so look first
olive drabs in Vietnam - 15 posts - Dec 3, 2011Olive Drab On US Armor - 15 posts - Jul 9, 2011Question for you artillery guys... - 15 posts - Dec 19, 2009Olive Drab question - 10 posts - Jun 3, 2007
Soooooo.....what time period, where and what unit will also make a difference
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My favourite topic!
All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!
www.vietnam.net.pl
Thanks for the info.
Doesn't seem like such a drab subject, after all !
Olive Drab rocks! Have fun with it. In a nutshell, as said above, yes OD has changed and evolved. As a mainstream vehicle base color, it was replaced during the 1970s. But it was not phased out on pieces of equipment until during the 1980s. Even when I retired in 2007, pieces of commo gear in my last unit were still in OD and not the replacement Dark Green or CARC/NATO green. I am willing to bet that somewhere in the spare parts system inventory, in some warehouse, there are road wheels for a M88 or M113 still in Vietnam era OD somewhere...
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Thanks, Stickpusher !
I vaguely recall OD disappearing but didn't recall a time frame.
Looks like I am definitely going to have fun with OD !
When I joined the National Guard in 1988, we still had a parade fresh OD M113A2 in our motor pool complete with white stars. It was older and mainly used for Memorial Day parades and such, but was an operational piece of equipment. We also had a ratty old M151A1 Jeep that was OD too.
Initial M1s and M2/3 Bradleys first arrived in OD green and were camouflaged later.
It is doubtful that there are old stocks of M88 or M113 road wheels in OD since those two vehicles have been in continuous service since their fielding so the road wheels would have been used and replaced over the past 40+ years.
Rob,
your comment about the National Guard M113A2 in OD prompted another question.
Am I correct in presuming that (at least at one time ) changes in vehicle painting regulations only prompted a complete repaint when major overhaul work was required ?
For instance, if road wheels were replaced , the road wheels may be painted to match the vehicle even if that vehicle's camo color / pattern was recently changed to a new color / pattern combination?
Rob Gronovius It is doubtful that there are old stocks of M88 or M113 road wheels in OD since those two vehicles have been in continuous service since their fielding so the road wheels would have been used and replaced over the past 40+ years.
I know its doubtful, but ya never know what's sitting in some forgotten conex somewhere.... The last time I personally changed a road wheel on a 113 was in 1987... and yes I actually got a few, brand new in their shipping/storage cardboard box that were in that Dark OD. Only a guy who builds models would have noticed or cared...
Do you happen to have any pics of that Parade OD 113?
OK good time to repeat my comments from another thread, as a Viet Nam vet:
After much consideration, I've decided that the true color of OD green must still be classified information since no one seems to have the answer! Your right that there were so many colors called OD that it became almost crazy, but I always thought there should at least be some green tint to it.
Gene
Just take Olive... add ice, vermouth, gin or vodka, and shake... enjoy...
stikpusher Just take Olive... add ice, vermouth, gin or vodka, and shake... enjoy...
LOL.....enough of those and color variations won't matter much.
............just don't mistake the vodka or gin for paint thinner.
If you do... dont smoke...
No, never bothered to. As a college student who attended school 3 states away from my armory, I didn't take part in any of the parades because I was at school. I only returned for drills. It was kept under a tarp and brushed off for family day open house and town parades. When we swam the 113 or rode around the training area, it was one of the camouflaged ones.
As far as OD, I can remember ammo cans being one shade, 5 gallon metal cans being another shade, radios (old 12-series stuff) being another, the interor of hatches, etc. Probably no two different items painted in the same shade of OD (different as in a radio vs a gas can, etc.).
Shades of green for sure. When I first went into the Army in the 70s yes we wore the old green uniform (where you learn the meaning of breaking starch) and everything was OD.....trucks & tracks with white stars. And yes they we all a shade different. Today with all the camo colors we are Army strong, back then we all bleed green....OD green!!!
Like Rob stated everything was a shade different. This is why the era of a particular OD is only to lay down the initial color. Especially in the 60s and 70s, the OD faded and weathered so much, that is the final point after the initial OD paint.
I have to agree with Stick.....somewhere there is a warehouse box of old something still in OD. Some soldier will get it and look at the packing date and go WOW. Just as all of us have at one point in our military experience.
Perhaps I'm over simplifying:
From comments made about OD color differences, it seems there is no practical method for determining base color variations by era due to differences in manufacturing chemistry and weather conditions.
If that is correct, COOL !
Yes there was variation, but it was lighter in the WWII era, and became much darker during the Vietnam era. Aside from those guidlines, yes there was variation in tone/hue.
stikpusher Yes there was variation, but it was lighter in the WWII era, and became much darker during the Vietnam era. Aside from those guidlines, yes there was variation in tone/hue.
Thank you !
World War II OD...lighter greener and grayer
Vietnam Olive Drab darker and deeper in tone
Stickpusher
Thanks again for those photos and brief color descriptions!
1980s factory fresh with dust on it.
factory fresh and wet
after a fresh coat of paint - the 5 gal bucket said "forest green"
Forrest Green ?
FS 34079 was the standard base color on new equipment in the 80s until NATO/CARC Green came out. MERDC patterns could be applied over the 34079 base.
stikpusher If you do... dont smoke...
Vodka is just as flammable. But thinner probably has more kick to it.
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I think thinner has a lower flashpoint and more "oomph" when ignited... But with some homemade Vodka I have had, that is debateable...
No...
When we got the orders to repaint our stuff in the mid- 80s (this was when I was in the 2nd AD), only the tracks, and dueces went to the paint shop... The CUCVs, 1/4 tons, and all trailers were painted, BY RATTLE CANS, by the vehicle drivers..
I personally painted "my" jeep, as I was assigned as the BC's driver at that time (since I was sitting in an over-strength slot, waiting on a projected loss, meaning that I was waiting for a howitzer of my own, which I'd get as soon as one of the other gun chiefs left the battery)...
I was given a copy of the 3-three color NATO camo-pattern, some chalk (to make the "paint-by-numbers" pattern), and a NATO camo paint-kit to change my 1/4-ton from the MERDC-camo... Consisted of about 18 rattle cans of paint and a spray-gun thingie (that was clogged hopelessly and forever in about 15 minutes) to screw onto the top f the rattle cans.. NEVER got it "properly" painted with CARC, since it was replaced by a (factory-green) Humvee about six months later..
agentg Ya'll ever make "jungle juice" ?
Ya'll ever make "jungle juice" ?
Also, during WW2, OD had a tendency to brown with age. It's funny, when I took basic at Fort Knox in 1967, I saw hundreds of tanks. Today I can't tell you how the OD looked.
To wit I asked F-in-L what color his Beaufighter was.
"I don't know, I was too damn busy climbing in to it".
Heck, I was already a fairly serious modeler when I had a tank platoon in 87. Even I really didn't pay any attention to what colors we were using when we repainted the tanks. I know we never had enough paint and guys were always mixing and thinning to make it last.
I doubt any two tanks were painted even closely similar until we received new M1A1 tanks with factory fresh schemes.
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