Need help with paint codes

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I’m building another RAAF mirage and just recieved my new decals.

I’m looking to match the colour specs in Gunze Acrylics but can’t work out a cross refrence.

The colours are

Olive Drab BS-298(c)

Extra Dark Sea Grey BS 640(c)

Any help in deciphering the paint codes would be a help too as I’ve never come across BS before.

Is BS Brittish Standard as FS is Federal Standard?

Is the dash in the olive drab of any relevance?

Does the (c) relate to satin/matt/gloss?

I really have no idea and would be happy with any help you can offer.

Thanks

Mark

2

Mark,

Have a look here: http://ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_uk.htm - Scroll down and check the listing for “1945-”.

It doesn’t list a Gunze equivalent for your Olive Drab, but there is a possible match for the E.D. Sea Grey

Edit: Not sure if BS 298 would be the “correct” colour - most references quote BS 298 as being RN Helo drab

3

The full title should include B.S.381C; this is the basic standard, for which a chart can be purchased (at an exorbitant cost,) from the British Standards Institution. Your colours should read B.S.381C, no. 298 (or 640, or whatever.) 298 appeared as long ago as 1956, listed, simply, as “Olive Drab,” so I suspect it matches the old wartime colour. The nearest, to EDSG, is usually taken as 36118, in the FS series.

Edgar

4

BS298 is listed in the Xtracolor range as R.N.Helo. Olive Drab, reference no is X028 although most charts will list it as X28. There is a X-ref here http://www.modelairplaneinternational.com/ Click on Info. No equivalent is listed.

5

Thanks for all your help!

I’ve bookmarked these colour refrences.

I have been contacted by the author of a Book on the RAAF Mirage III/0 and he has helped shed some light on the colour codes above. The (c) after the colour means that the colour is confirmed as the right colour for that type and an (e) would mean it was an estimate of the colour. The company High Planes that is making the decals have used (with permission) his book as a refrence and have quoted his specified colours.

Thanks again for your help.