US Armour desert color question

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

Quick question you might be able to help me with.

I know that for desert Storm the US used FS33446 as the tan/sand color.

I know that today the color is FS33531 for CARC sand.

The question is when did it change? I plan to model some armour from the 3rd IDs ‘Thunder run’ to Bagdad and I wnat to be sure I get the right color. The concord book I have covering this campain isnt clear as lighting and photo colour balance result in a wide range of sand colours.

Thanks for your help.

2

The closest model color for CARC sand has always been FS 33531. During ODS many vehicles were quickly painted in other shades to get them painted sand before they shipped out or as they arrived in Saudi Arabia.

For 3ID tanks in OIF, FS 33531 is still the best color to use.