Question for 91b's

You have to consider the manufacturing process.  Components come from subcontractors.  They are told how the item is to be painted.  For example, almost every part of a US made vehicle would come in olive drab. It's not as if the parts, sitting as spares, are bare metal or grey primer

Got ya. Let's take it a step further. A vehicle being deployed for say, desert, sprayed sand top and  bottom covering everything? Springs, drive shaft, axels, everything visible ? It seems expedient but would that be the general practice?

This example seems to be painted above and below.

The answer depends on the color the vehicle was manufactured in. For instance, this HMMWV still in factory 3 color NATO camouflage has the frame in the original black from the supplier, the fuel tank in the white plastic and the exhaust is still metal/rust. The rest of the truck is green.

After Desert Storm and the manufacturers started making the vehicles in sand, stuff that was green became tan. Stuff that was black stayed black (like the wheels and frame). Having commanded a maintenance school, you paint the bare minimum and most stuff below the fender line is not painted. Maybe for a change of command ceremony or display like the 4th of July, it would get a more thorough paint job.

This HMMWV was manufactured in sand and has not been repainted as of the photos. Even the hood was still green when it was replaced.

Yup,that's what I'm seeing too. It's the 'mechanics' you don't see I was wondering about.

Rob Gronovius

Having commanded a maintenance school, you paint the bare minimum and most stuff below the fender line is not painted. Maybe for a change of command ceremony or display like the 4th of July, it would get a more thorough paint job.

And there it is. Thanks Rob, exactly the pics I needed. And thanks to all you guys for responding , every little bit helps.

Rob - great info, as always!

templar1099

Got ya. Let's take it a step further. A vehicle being deployed for say, desert, sprayed sand top and  bottom covering everything? Springs, drive shaft, axels, everything visible ? It seems expedient but would that be the general practice?

 

pretty much...

stikpusher

pretty much...

Thanks Stik, and as you see in the prior pics around the springs and struts of the suspension it appears unpainted which in my understanding of Robs explanation would be from factory, and then upon deployment to theatre standard camo all over by the looks of your pics, sound right?

Yes, coming from factory, they will be in standard camo. Any field applied schemes will have areas where some of the original scheme is not covered by the repaint. Interiors, inner faces of doors & hatches, engine compartments... any areas the painter will have a difficult time to get at, and which do not affect the camouflage or concealment of the vehicle.

That would make for an interesting diorama bit of color. The crew has those areas open for maintenance with the green inner surfaces contrasting with the sand outer areas. 

Thanks again gentlemen, so I can't go wrong either way, delivered factory camo, or field/depot camo expedient. As I'm not working on a tracked vehicle there's a lot of detail underneath that, while it won't be seen, lends itself to an opportunity to practice detail techniques. 

stikpusher

That would make for an interesting diorama bit of color. The crew has those areas open for maintenance with the green inner surfaces contrasting with the sand outer areas.

Dying to see what you come up with Stik.

Some photos of a 5 ton wrecker I had. As you can see, it has a replacement door in camouflage. The front bumper wasn't painted for some reason, probably so they didn't have to cover up the bumper numbers.

The boom and outriggers were not extended when the vehicle was painted sand, so as they are emplaced, you can see the original green.

Rob Gronovius

Some photos of a 5 ton wrecker I had

Thanks again Rob.