Pre WW2 paint

http://www.shipcamouflage.com

Jamie,

The above site has what you need.

Jsmyth

Hello everyone.

I'm looking for some help on paint colors for pre WW2 US ship paint. I can find measure for 1941-1945 but nothing for 1938-1941. I'm building the USS Indianapolis. Any input would be great. I look forward to any help.

thank you

Jamie

From soon after the end of WWI until early 1941 the US Navy was painted in Standard Navy Gray #5 (SNG).   Decks were in Standard Navy Deck Gray #20.   

With the demise of WEM & their Colourcoat line of paint I am not real sure of the currently available out-of-the-bottle replacements.    Testors used to do these colors in their discontinued marine acrylic line of paints.  They are not in the current naval enamel line.

You can probably get close enough with Testors 5P   Pale Blue Gray for SNG and MM Engine Gray for the decks

Thank you for the input. I found the colors needed in a set from Lifecolor. Has any one ever used this brand of paint? If so please please let me know how that brand worked out.

Thank you again for the help

The Light Gray used on USN pre war ships was very light as you can see in these photos. Testors makes some USN colors in their Model Master Enamel and Acrylic lines again.

Here are some good color photos of a pre war cruiser in 1941 in Hawaiian waters, courtesy of Life...

Stik

Thanks for the photos. I have been having a heck of a time trying to find good photos of any pre war ships. Then you pull up photos of a heavy cruiser. Thank you for he info and I will see what Model Master has.

Thank you

You're quite welcome. I thought that they might be helpful.

For other photos, all black and white, you can go to navsource.org.  The Indianapolis page is at www.navsource.org/.../04035.htm

Rick