Expensive little suckers ain't they? And my problem is that I'm not sure they're worth it. Reasoning?
A. The commonly used color names are not used, just the number.
B. A new color may be in use for several years by a government agency before it gets inserted in the list. (witness CARC paints and the Army helicopter green)
C. As Dana Bell points out, the colors are not "Official" to the government, but "Acceptable".
D. And if you're in the Green Machine and need to paint some of your equipment, you look in the operators manual to find out what color you need to order. And the book is going to tell you to order "Laquer, Dull Green, Qt - FSN XXXXXXXXXX " (that's the Federal Stock Number), Not "Laquer, Dull Green, Qt - FSA 5095B 3XXXX". Other than a fellow modeler, no one has any idea what FS 595B is (and could care less).
Sorry about the rant.