Paint color.

classic Classic list List threaded Threaded
4 messages Options
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Paint color.

Justin Salaun
I am building a 1/24 scale model of a seawolf helo. My father was a plank owner with VAL-4 at Binh  Thuy. He is AMS-3 John Sanchez. He worked on both aircraft. I know the Bronco was painted in field green. Is the helo olive drab? Or green like the bronco?? I'm also building a bronco in order to build the mother of all shadow boxes!!

Thank you

Justin Salaun
USMC 1998-2006
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: Paint color.

Pat Samel
It was a mix of OD and black. I can't tell you what the ratio was. When we got the birds from the Army they were OD but thru several repaints they became our own unique color.
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: Paint color.

Joe Crutcher
Pat - Myself and another Plankowner , Eddie Patten, were given the task of painting our Gunships as we were getting from the Army. We didn't have any paint of our own at that time and as I remember , not much of anything else.  They were meager beginnings for us. We acquired some Olive Drab  from the Army . Eddie and I were trying to create a paint scheme that would give some uniquness to the look of our Gunships. The Australians were flying a couple Caribos out of Vung Tau Airfield. They had a small maintenance building there  As luck would have it , they had paint. Just what we needed.
Eddie and I traded 2 cases of our C rations for some Gloss black paint from the Australians. They were happy with the deal and so were we. We experimented with the paint mixture . We were really thrilled with the look it gave our Birds. Different than anything you saw over there. Our Birds seemed to change colors slightly on their own depending on the lighting. This was caused by the black we put in the OD. If I recall correctly I believe we added 1 paint pot of gloss black (equals one quart) to 5 Gallons of OD. Mix it up and start shooting. The Gloss Black gave it a very suttle shine which just looked super.
That was the beginning in 67 and I am sure the scheme changed some after that. I can't speak to what was used later.
Hope this helps some Pat.  Good luck with your project.
Joe
Reply | Threaded
Open this post in threaded view
|

Re: Paint color.

Joe Crutcher
I guess its getting late. I meant to address the formula to Justin as well. Glad to respond to all.
Take Care,
Joe