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US Navy WW2 ship camouflage paint

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  • Member since
    December 2010
US Navy WW2 ship camouflage paint
Posted by drumsgt on Thursday, January 15, 2015 7:40 PM
I have started building a series of 1/700 scale WW2 USN destroyers. I have references that tell me what time period each measure was used, but I can't find any references that cross reference the old colors (for instance Navy blue 5-N) to any modern model colors. The brands available to me in my area are Testors acrylics, enamels, and Tamiya. Is thee any help out there?? Thanks, Rob Davis
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Lamarque,Texas
Posted by uspsjuan on Thursday, January 15, 2015 7:59 PM

Navy blue 5-n is available in Model Masters enamel in addition to 20-B weather deck blue. check the FS number to cross referance

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Thursday, January 15, 2015 8:56 PM

A little back story

During most of WWII, the US Navy's paints were based on a purple/blue system.   The colors were based on the 1929 Munsell color notation system.  These paints were also not part of the wartime ANA color specication.  

In early 1945 the paints went to a neutral scheme.  This was due to wartime shortages of blue pigments.  

The Fed-Std-595 color specification system is a product of the 1950s.    The WWII purple/blue paints were cconsidered obsolete.   The failed to make the cut into the new standard system

There is no direct 1:1 correlation between the US Navy's purple/blue paints and the modern Fed-Std-595.   What there are is one-or-more people's opinions as to what FS color may be closest to the desired color.   And if you put six modelers in a room discussing colors you get 12 different opinions.

John Snyder and Randy Short developed a set of color paint chips based on a copy of the original 1929 Munsell standard.   See shipcamoflage.com,   Snyder & Shorts website.   These paint chips lead to White Ensign Model's Colourcoat line of paints.  White Ensign has gone out of business and the paints are currently unavailable.    (However the rights to produce these paints has been sold and they will once again see the light of day).

According to their press-release at the time, the original Testor's Acrylic marine line of paints was based on the Snyder and Short paint chips.     Testor's really didn't support these paints well to the hobby shops, requiring the shops to buy additional racking to sell them and fantasy colors.    These paints didn't sell well and were discontinued.    

With the rise in the quality and number of ship kits there was a re-interest in naval ship colors.  Testor's also saw that WEM's enamel Colourcoats had a following.  Within the last year they re-released some of the former Marine Acrylics in enamels.    Smarter this time,  they worked them into the existing enamel sales racking system so that the hobby shop owner didn't need to buy a new one.

Go to shipcamouflage.com.   Read Allen Raven's excellent monograph on the development of naval camouflage for a good grounding.    Review the SHIPS-2 camouflage instructions.   Check the database of known camouflage measures applied to US Navy ships.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: EG48
Posted by Tracy White on Friday, January 16, 2015 1:25 PM

EdGrune
1929 Munsell

1928, actually, but that just shows how sad of a paint geek I am.....Clown

The current ModelMasters colors are also not really well supported and I have complained to Testors / Rustoleum (their owner) about it. I can't find them on any of the major distributors' sites (Dragon, Great Planes, Hobbico, Merit, Stevens International, Squadron for example). That said, there are online companies like BattleFleet Models and Freetime Hobbies that carry them if your local hobby shop can't get them.

Tracy White Researcher@Large

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Friday, January 16, 2015 4:12 PM

Tower Hobbies also carries MM's navy paints; for example:

www3.towerhobbies.com/.../wti0095p

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by RobGroot4 on Friday, January 16, 2015 5:23 PM

I've found that my local hobbytown has them, you can also order online in the US.

Groot

"Firing flares while dumping fuel may ruin your day" SH-60B NATOPS

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Tuesday, January 20, 2015 11:49 AM

Tracy White

. I can't find them on any of the major distributors' sites (Dragon, Great Planes, Hobbico, Merit, Stevens International, Squadron for example). That said, there are online companies like BattleFleet Models and Freetime Hobbies that carry them if your local hobby shop can't get them.

HobbyTown franchisees carry Model Master, too.  I've seen it in each of the locations I know of in SE PA.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by Jason21 on Wednesday, January 21, 2015 3:24 PM

Had the similar question. Seems everything is a little bit  more clear now

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: EG48
Posted by Tracy White on Monday, January 26, 2015 12:26 AM

the Baron
HobbyTown franchisees carry Model Master, too.  I've seen it in each of the locations I know of in SE PA.

I just checked my local HobbyTown, and while you are correct that they carry ModelMaster, none of the ship paints were in stock or carried.

Tracy White Researcher@Large

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Bethlehem PA
Posted by the Baron on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 11:34 AM

Tracy White

the Baron
HobbyTown franchisees carry Model Master, too.  I've seen it in each of the locations I know of in SE PA.

I just checked my local HobbyTown, and while you are correct that they carry ModelMaster, none of the ship paints were in stock or carried.

If you haven't already, I'd ask the owner and see if he could order them.

The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.

 

 

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