Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 Was the sand color that US planes were painted in the Med in WWII ANA 616 or something else? I have yet to use the Model Master 616 that I bought for the pupose for planes like the B-25 "Strawberry bad girl" or the B-25 "Pink Petunia." I found this link and there are 6 desert schemes: http://www.goldenarrowresearch.com/resources/USAAF Painting Practices During WWII.pdf that appear to be an effort to match the local terrain. ANA 616 in the bottle looks too light for the pictures and color plates that I've seen. Could it be this paint picked up the local grime and weathered to some shade tinted by the local dirt? Or was there an entirely different paint than 616? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marv Posted January 8, 2017 Share Posted January 8, 2017 These paint color topics are always interesting, probably because there is no definitive answer. For WWII "desert pink" color I like Testors flat light tan (#1170), cut with a bit of white. This is the Testors paint in the little square bottles, so it's widely available. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 9, 2017 Author Share Posted January 9, 2017 Thanks. Wow, I had no idea that worked. I know exacty the color you're talking about. The MM color is pretty close from my memory. That article above made me wonder if the planes picked up red soil wherever they were stationed and made them look pinkish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Murph Posted January 9, 2017 Share Posted January 9, 2017 11 hours ago, Space Tiger Hobbes said: That article above made me wonder if the planes picked up red soil wherever they were stationed and made them look pinkish. From Dana Bell in Air Force Colors Volume 2: “The paint (Desert Sand ANA 616) had a pronounced apricot shade even when new, and as the sun bleached the surface, the yellow pigments faded leaving only a strong pink”. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 10, 2017 Author Share Posted January 10, 2017 Thanks. That doesn't sound like the color I see in the Model Master bottle. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Here's a few shots you might be able to use: Air Force Museum 1970 I still have a few bottles of Testor's old apricot desert pink paint. I bought these back in the late 60s, or about 1970 and they have never been opened, but still look good. I've been meaning to use some on a B-24 but have never gotten to it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
seawinder Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 1 hour ago, Space Tiger Hobbes said: Thanks. That doesn't sound like the color I see in the Model Master bottle. Given the extreme fading and color shifts shown in photos, you could probably doctor one of your bottles with some red and white and get something convincing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 11, 2017 Author Share Posted January 11, 2017 Thanks for the pics. Those are great. In any event, very dusty environment. I've always been leary of any stateside pics of Strawberry bad girl, figuring it had been repainted. Sure, I could doctor a bottle and nobody could complain with any authority. Polly S used to make a 'desert pink' shade that I painted an old Revell B-25 with. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Where are you located? I have a couple bottles of Testors desert pink that I bought in about 1970. They have never been opened and look like new. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aircal62 Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Reading this discussion I was a bit surprised at the suggestion on the Testor's small bottle color. Why I had not done this before I don't know but I have a copy of a 1943 ANA color book with 3x5 inch color cards so I pulled out the ANA 616 color so see how pink it was. The color is not "pinkish" at all like SAND 26 found in Bob Archers US Army Air Service...color guide. The color is a warm brownish tan with a reddish hue in it, I don't see what I would call apricot in it like Dana Bell mentions, but each of us have different color perception. I would see this paint fading under strong UV Desert sunlight with a more yellow/pink tint. The color is certainly not yellowy RAF midstone color. I do not have the small Testor's paint 1170 but will have to pick up a bottle to see how it compares as well as a bottle of Model Master Desert Sand 616. This has been interesting to read everyone's insights into this color Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 I just checked my bottles. Two say 1170, the other don't have labels anymore but are close to this. One is priced at 19 cents and the other on ie 15 cents. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marv Posted January 11, 2017 Share Posted January 11, 2017 Testors 1170 is correct; it has been renamed over the years, but today it is called "Flat Light Tan". Cut 1170 with a little white and it really looks the part. And in the little square bottles, it is widely available and priced right. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Finn Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 Here is a B-24 getting painted: http://images.google.com/hosted/life/2c58f6a073c8f516.html Jari Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 12, 2017 Author Share Posted January 12, 2017 (edited) Thanks icar, if what you have is 1170, I can find that. Is yours really called 'desert pink'? Edited January 12, 2017 by Space Tiger Hobbes Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ikar Posted January 12, 2017 Share Posted January 12, 2017 I thought that it was way back then but the labels are missing from the two old bottles. Like I said, the color is close to 1170 but not exact which coiuld be due to age. T price is printed on the top of the bottle cap. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DonSS3 Posted January 15, 2017 Share Posted January 15, 2017 (edited) If IIRC, Testors only called 1170 "Tan," nothing about "Desert Pink." I did try their "Flesh" in the small bottle, but it came out much too pink Edited January 18, 2017 by DonSS3 Spelling Error Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk10 Posted January 17, 2017 Share Posted January 17, 2017 (edited) I have mixed my own paint shades over the years and this is what works with me (Model Master enamels cause I just don't care for acrylics - although model master lists these colors in their acrylics line and if that is your thing you may be able to use those paints to make an acrylic version of this paint color.) T***y Pink (Faded ANA 616) (a) Skin Tone Warm Tint - #2003 (3 parts) (b) Sand - FS33531 (2 Parts) (c) Dark Tan - FS30219 (1 Part) (d) Add a couple of drops of thinner and then mix When ready, add thinner to make the mixture flow easily thru your airbrush Edited January 17, 2017 by Hawk10 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 19, 2017 Author Share Posted January 19, 2017 Hawk10, Thanks for the formula. Love to see that on something if you can share a photo. I use MM enamels too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rpeck Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 Here is a link for some P-40's in sand color. From the 57th FG. http://www.57thfightergroup.org/pictures/life/index.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Space Tiger Hobbes Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 Thanks for the good pics. Nothing there suggests even a smidge of red. Who knows? Even "strawberry blonde" hair to me looks basically blonde with little to no red in it. Maybe sand colored planes were considered "strawberry blonde." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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