rossm Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Hopefully a quick question - What colour(s) should the interior bits of a Liberator be - specifically an RAF GR.V ? Cockpit and fuselage is interior green (sometimes called chromate green ?) ? Wheel wells ? Interior green or that horrible yellowy colour called Zinc Chromate ? Inside of engine cowlings ? Rear turret black or RAF interior green (it's a Halifax turret) ? Thanks in advance for any help, Ross Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Python Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Hopefully a quick question -What colour(s) should the interior bits of a Liberator be - specifically an RAF GR.V ? Cockpit and fuselage is interior green (sometimes called chromate green ?) ? Wheel wells ? Interior green or that horrible yellowy colour called Zinc Chromate ? Inside of engine cowlings ? Rear turret black or RAF interior green (it's a Halifax turret) ? Thanks in advance for any help, Ross B-24D's which the GR.V's were based on usually had a bronze green cockpit and a chromate yellow fuselage with a bare metal bomb bay. The rear turret would have been black. I believe the wheel wells and cowlings would have been bronze green but I could be wrong. HTH Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Eisenman Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 Good questions, as there were a number of companies that produced the B-24, there may not be a single answer. Let's start with the wheel wells and gear, in all probability the underside color as the gear did not fully retract into enclosed wells. Olive Drab and Neutral Gray B-24s had NG legs. The front gear leg was also NG, but I cannot say for sure what was inside the wheel bay, as it was enclosed. By the time of the D, cockpits would most likely have been Interior Green or possibly Olive Drab or DDG (all were used in various USAAF Bombers). I'd go with Interior Green. As for the rear area, I'd go with IG. I cannot recall a Bomber with a ZC (yellow) rear section. The B-17 in the aft fuselage was always natural metal on the flat surfaces. Some former and ribs might be in IG. I have one interio by the tunnel gun, and it appears dark, possibly indicating IG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest les Posted February 22, 2009 Share Posted February 22, 2009 been in an ex indian air forc one that hasnt been refurbed and it had a bronze green cockpit and non painted waist, raed over the years that they were even black. Liberators are never easy. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jephcott Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Ok, following on from the massive cockup I've just had with a B-25 and the internal colours, I was wondering if somebody had any idea as to the numbers for the Humbrol paints in order to paint up the inside of American bombers - in particular - B-24 and B-25s? I painted the B-25B yesterday, and whereas I had initially thought that it was the correct colour, it has dried into something totally different. On the plus side, as the kit appears to be from the 1970s, the clear Styreme is actually thicker than the fuselage parts so not much will be visible from the outside. However, any information on the above is fantastic and greatly appreciated! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbo33 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Chris, Humbrol 226 is called 'Interior Green' - I presume this is a US Colour as 78 'Cockpit Green is what I use for RAF types.... Dunno if this helps? I don't use Humbrol colours now so not too sure.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jephcott Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I agree on the 78 for the RAF interiors - that seems to be totally accurate. However, the US aircraft seem to vary from type to type. I have used various colours to try and get the perfect interior, however, each one seems to be different. Having looked at the colour charts also, I have to say that although 226 is called "Interior Green", it neither seems very green, nor something I would consider using for an interior! I think the one I have used before was Matt 88 - for the inside of the B17G as shown here: I think it came out quite close to the colour I was after for the details. I still am in the habit of using Humbrol for the insides of the aircraft at the moment and Tamiya for the externals, although I would consider changing from Humbrol if I got half a chance to do so. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timbo33 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 (edited) Chris, US Interior colours vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and from batch to batch (experts will confirm I'm sure...) They often used a mixture of Zinc Chromate (Yellow) Chromate or Bronze Green (The 'traditional' yellowy green) and Olive Drab. What you've got there looks nearer to the OD but looks fine. If you're wedded to enamels for interiors, White Ensign or Xtracolour do great ranges and include the appropriate interior colours. BTW if you want to be really nerdy, the vertical stringers in the B-17 interior were often painted interior green too, with the longitudinal bearers and panels natural metal... Edited February 24, 2009 by timbo33 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitfire Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 There is some usefull info here: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showforum=8 Cheers Den Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Eisenman Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 Simple clarification on interior colors. Zinc Chromate as used in the US was a yellowish to sickly yellow color. If Aluminum paste was added it would turn a greenish color. When aluminum was in short supply, they used lamp black, black pigment or even Indian Red. The purpose of this was cause the ZC turn Green, and thus show that a second coat of primer had been applied. As for interior colors, for the most part, after the demise of the Aluminum lacquer interior, the USN and the USAAC/USAAF used colors such as Bronze Green (which was not yellowish at all and was used by the Navy and Army as anti-glare panels on the cowl) and Dull Dark Green as cockpit colors. Interior Green was picked up as a cockpit color early in the war. It was a mixture of the ZC and the tinting agent. Since it was mixed on the production line, it varied by any number of factors. So there was no defined color IG. Later it was adopted as a color. Curtiss to save time had Berry Brother Paint Company pre-mix the color to a given that Curtiss said was OK. As for Chri's B-17, the radio compartment was often covered in a green fabric (exact color depended on who produced the fabric, but often OD or DDG) to help act as a sound insulation. The also could be found as a quilted fabric in the cockpit. Also, because of subcontracting, an interior of an aircraft could contain any number of green colors This is a B-25 at the bomb bay. Note the variety of colors. This is Bronze Green: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Jephcott Posted February 25, 2009 Share Posted February 25, 2009 Thank you very much for the detailed info on this, very worthwhile. I had to say that I had no idea that so many different colours were used inside the aircraft - all my info came from a few shots onboard the Sally B!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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