Commonwealth CBI theatre aircraft

[gamevender]

Were the greens/browns/grays/blues used on Chine/Burma/India theatre aircraft the same as those used in NE Europe?

[mhaselden]

The paints applied were standard MAP colours.  The only slight variation would be US-produced aircraft which had equivalent shades from US paint manufacturers.  Indications are that these were pretty close to the MAP standards.

[Vanroon]

There was a locally produced Earth Brown, a colour very similar to RAAF K3/177 used when repainting Dark Earth. This blended into the redder soils of the region. 

Grant

[Graham Boak]

I've seen statements that a darker form of Dark Earth was used on some aircraft in the Middle/Far East, and that this was produced outside the UK.  This was (possibly) distinct from RAAF colours, and logically would only be seen on repainted aircraft, deliveries fresh from the UK would be in the standard colour.  However, these may have been repainted on arrival in theatre.

 

I do not know the precise origin or use of this darker version.  Or even whether all such comments referred to the same source. 

[Meatbox8]

I suppose a quite useful factor with CBI aircraft is that the paint would have faded under that intense sun so I suppose this gives the modeller some leeway as to an accurate depiction.