Working on a 1/72 P-40E and the colors given are DuPont 71-009, 71-013 and 71-021… sand, green and gray respectively. Anyone know what the equivalent is in real paint (Tamiya, Model Master)?
I figure it would likely be the standard RAF green and dark earth, I have read about P-40s that were painted with non-standard colours do to availability like the P-40s with the RCAF in the Aleutians. What’s the markings? sand and green seems strange, that’s why I’m assuming dark earth and green…
I only know of two options for RAF P-40s
European
Dark Earth / Dark Green over Sky (light grey)
or
Desert
Dark Earth / Middlestone over Azure Blue
71-021 is actually not Grey (or light Grey) perse
It’s proper name is Sky Type S -Grey, and it actually a Blue/Green/Grey colour
The RNZAF received RAF P 40E’s from RAF Stocks ex USA in 1942, these were
painted in the same DuPont colours.
This a P-40E at MOTAT Auckland and is painted in the Dupont colours
you cited
Some extra images from MOTAT (Via Kiwi Aircraft Images)
http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/images/main/96_motat/MOTCP401.JPG
http://www.kiwiaircraftimages.com/images/main/96_motat/MOTCP402.JPG
For Closet match using Tamiya paints
Paint colours, 71-021 Tamiya XF 23
71-013 Tamiya XF 61
71-009 Tamiya XF 52
Model Master
71-009 MM 1701 (not the best but close)
71-013 MM 1710
71-021 MM 1722 (Duck Egg Blue)
HTH
Alan
Thanks for the answers guys. The plane will be in Brazilian livery. The info states it was originally built for th RAF but was 1 of 6 diverted to the FAB in Apr '42. Painted with US paints a non-standard British Land Temperate Scheme of 42 medium green, sand and sky gray, then lists those DuPont colors.
Alan, that aircraft looks to be a dead on match for the color plate which is of very high quality.\
Thanks again all.
Check here for the color plate that LDS Modeller provided:
http://amair4raf.blogspot.com/2009_01_01_archive.html
There is a lot of good info here.
Dana Bell did a great article here in FSM on that subject several years back and also covered it in his Air Force Colors books. In those writings he said that early P-40s (B and C) for the RAF were finished in US paints that matched their British equivalents. But from the P-40E on, the colors changed. The Dark Green was nearly the same as USAAF Medium Green 42. The Earth color was lighter and “sandier” than RAF Dark Earth, and the Sky on the lower surface was a “Pastel Blue”. However, current research shows that the Sky Gray was a shade nearly identical to modern USAF Aircraft Gray/ADC Gray, but flat in color.
As In my earlier post the P-40E’s received
by the RNZAF in 1942, were Ministry Of Aircraft Procurement
(MAP) in US Equivalent colours of the RAF Dk Green/Dk Earth/Sky,
delivered from RAF stock held in the USA.
The documents which (survive today at the RNZAF Museum) came
with the aircraft, stated DuPont colours were used.
The colour “Sky” was a Blue Green colour with a tinge of grey (hence Sky Type S-Grey).
A book written by a former RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force)
member who served in WWII aptly named “We Also Served”, Wally
Ingham states that RNZAF aircraft were in the same colours as
RAF aircraft being Dk Green/Dk Earth/Duck Egg Blue(or Sky).
(Wally was part of the ground crew who maintained the airframes)
The photo I posted of the RNZAF P-40E in my previous post should
give a good idea of the colours used
I believe the notion of Sky being Grey, has crept in over the years
and unfortunately has been accepted as the norm.
Regards
Alan
It will look something like this one. I know of all the difficulties of WWII era color film for reliable, but this is a good starting point for reference.
Image borrowed from the folowing link
Those all match what Mr Bell describes in Aircraft Colors. [;)] 36622 as the Pastel Blue, 30279 for the “Sandy” Earth, and 34092 (Medium Green42) for Dark Green.
As a side note, the USAAF P-40 scheme was OD 41 over Neutral Gray 43. Some had a disruptive pattern of Medium Green 42 on the leading and trailing edges of the horizontal surfaces. Not counting camouflaged aircraft that were reclaimed for USAAF use once the war was entered formally.
Quote
Those all match what Mr Bell describes in Aircraft Colors. 36622 as the Pastel Blue, 30279 for the “Sandy” Earth, and 34092 (Medium Green42) for Dark Green. Unqoute
Hi Stikpusher
Those colours cited by you above (per Dana Bell), are the DuPont colours spoken about previous and
on the RNZAF P-40E in the photo (another angle shot of the one posted earlier)
Regards
Alan
Some more info to muddy the colors:
Hi Rich
Rato’s comments are touched on in the Blog
you posted earlier (see 2009 archive May P -40) by Nick Millman
(author of Blog)
Regards
Alan