This is the place where the majority of the warbird (aircraft that have survived military service) discussions will take place. Specialized forums may be added in the new future
Fri May 19, 2017 12:46 pm
Thank you for all of the input!
So,
The paint, upper surfaces:
The first color used was Army Air Corps spec. 3-1 Dark Olive Drab 41, which was a darker shade of green/brown. During the ANA standardization, this color changed to Olive Drab ANA 613, a lighter drab khaki/green. The cross-over for use is not very clear for an exact time period, but introduction and use was roughly late 1943. Although the standard was created, existing stocks of paint needed to be depleted and then distributed to the dozens of various aircraft manufactures. At this exact time, roughly the beginning of 1944, tactical aircraft were also being delivered unpainted – a savings in both resources and aircraft weight. This deletion of painted aircraft allowed for the existing stocks of paint to not be used as quickly.
The paint, undersurfaces:
At the same time as the cross-over of Olive Drab paint above, the undersides of aircraft also changed: Army Air Corps spec 3-1 Flat Neutral Grey No. 32, then changed to Flat Neutral Grey ANA 603.
The cockpit I am working on is C-47A-70-DL 43-15137, which was produced in February 1944 in Douglas Long Beach California. So, what colors should she be?