Stinson L-5 Sentinel 42-98774
'June'
WWII Color Matching
According to Stinson Factory Drawing 76-00094 The following colors were used on the L-5 Sentinel: Red #45, White #46, Blue #47, Med. Green #42, Olive Drab #41, Black #44, Yellow #48, Neutral Grey #43.
Colors were initially two digit color codes. By 1945 the color codes were changed to the three digit 600 series codes.
For more details on the history of Army Navy Colors go to Air Corps Art Blog - WWII Color Codes
For more details on the history of AAF Aircraft National Insignia go to Air Corps Art Blog - AAF National Insignia
FS Color codes: First number represents level of gloss (1) - Gloss, (2) - Semi-gloss, (3) - Matte
Second number represents color group (0) - Brown, (1) - Red, (2) - Orange, (3) - Yellow, (4) - Green, (5) - Blue, (6) - Grey, (7) - Other White and Black, (8) - Flourescent
FS Color Cards list the number below the colors
Closer matches may be possible by special ordering numbers before and after colors that appear close in the photos below
Special thanks to James Gray of Sentinel Owners and Pilots Association for providing original fabric samples to match colors and to Travis Millhouse for providing his June 1943 Army Navy Air Craft Camouflage Standard Colors Book
#46 (601) Insignia White - Appears to match FS-37925 - Used for white on National insignia (Stars and Bars)
(602) Light Grey - Appears to match FS-36440 - Used for underside of Naval aircraft
#43 (603) Sea Grey - Appears to match FS-36118 - Used for underside of AAF aircraft. Also referred to as Neutral Grey. Shown in the photo is an original piece of fabric from an L-5 Aileron. This shows the difficulty of matching between original materials and ANA Cards. The original fabric appears lighter due to a thin coat of neutral grey paint painted over the aluminum ultraviolet base coat painted on all fabric coverings prior to final color coats. This gives the overall impression of a lighter color.
#44 (604) Black - Appears to match FS-37038 - I used this to paint instrument panel. Would be used to paint metal propellers. It is listed but not really used on the L-5.
#47 (605) Insignia Blue - Appears to match FS-35045 - Used for blue on National insignia (Circle and outline of Bars)
(606) Semi-Gloss Sea Blue - Appears to match FS-25042 - Used for Naval Aircraft (Hellcat, Bearcat, Corsair, and others)
(607) Non-Specular Sea Blue - Appears to match FS-35042 - Used for Naval Aircraft (Hellcat, Bearcat, Corsair, and others)
(608) Intermediate Blue - Appears to match FS 35164 - Used for Naval Aircraft (Wildcat, Dauntlass, Catalina, and others) sometimes paired with 607 Non-Specular Sea Blue for a two tone camouflage pattern
(609) Azure Blue - Appears to match FS-35231 - Used to paint the bottom of aircraft contracted by AAF for British Lend-Lease
(610) Sky - Appears to match FS-34583
(611) Interior Green - I have not found a FS color match, possibly FS 34151. Zinc chromate (yellow) primer mixed with black would produce this color
#42 (612) Medium Green - Appears to match FS-34092. Paired with Olive Drab to create a two tone camouflage pattern. Medium Green used over Olive Drab around the upper edges of wings, stabilizers and control surfaces. Shown in the photo is an original piece of fabric from an L-5 Aileron.
#41 (613) Olive Drab - Appears to match FS-34088. Note: The original color card was missing from the set. Matching was done between original material and FS color plates. Paired with Medium Green to create a two tone camouflage pattern. Medium Green used over Olive Drab around the upper edges of wings, stabilizers and control surfaces. Shown in the photo is an original piece of fabric from an L-5 Aileron.
(614) Orange Yellow - Appears to match FS-33538 - Used to paint wings of training aircraft and registration numbers on camouflaged aircraft
(615) Middle Stone - Appears to match FS-30266 - Used to paint aircraft contracted by AAF for British Lend-Lease. Paired with Dark Earth for two tone camouflage pattern.
(616) Sand - Appears to match FS-30279. Used for desert camouflage as seen on P-40s in the Mediterrainean.
(617) Dark Earth - Appears to match FS-30170 - Used to paint aircraft contracted by AAF for British Lend-Lease. Usually paired with Middle Stone to provide desert camouflage
(618) Dull Red - Appears to match FS-30109 Note: this card in mislabeled #45. Used to paint aircraft contracted by AAF for British Lend-Lease.
#45 (619) Insignia Red - Appears to match FS-31348 - Would have been used on National insignias used from Aug 1919 to May 1942 (White star with red center) and Jun to Aug 1943 (Bar outline for National insignia)
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