I really hate to ask a "New Guy" question.............but then, that's what I am, a "New Guy" to ship modelling. Looking at doing the USS Buchanan during WWII.

US Navy ship colors in WWII are driving me crazy. Navy Designation, FS number, paint company designation....

I've been going over a ton a resources and charts and they are to say the least, confusing. Here is a chart of what I have found. Am I on the right track? What about Tamiya equivilants as I love their acrylic paint?

(Note: I removed my FS chart since there was no such thing as FS then.)

Regards
Steve

Hi Steve and welcome to Model Shipwrights!

While I love Tamiya acrylics, the best match for the Navy camo colors is to get the Model Master Acryl Marine paint. They are spot on when it come to acrylics. You can get these at Battlefleet Models. If you are not opposed to using enamels, WEM's Colorcoats are the way to go.

Kenny

Thanks Kenny.

Not opposed to enamels at all. In fact all experience until lately has been enamel. I've come to learn to like Tamiya paints. The problem with ANY of them is finding the cross references to the FS numbers.

I've found a few places, but most appear to be outdated...........and Tamiya is sorely lacking. I may have to consider another brand for my ship building days.

I will check out WEM.

Thanks again for the input.

Regards
Steve

I would recommend the WEM (White Ensign) paints for the enamels, just make sure you stir them well as the pigment is *so* fine that it settles into a muck that can't be shaken free.

The World War II paints pre-date the FS system and there are NO exact matches; any "equivilents" you see are based on someone's eyes. Now, with weathering and fading those paints may be close to a FS color, but I did want to make the point as I'm an anal-retentive historian.

The WEM and Model master's maritime paints have been accurately matches to paint chips for the USN paints. One disadvantage to the MM line is that it has been discontinued and will become harder to find.

OK, I give up...................I guess the FS numbers are out and will have to play another ballgame here. Will look into the WEM enamels.

Thanks for the info.

Regards
Steve

Hey Tracy,

I've heard that MM is not completely doing away with the colors, but just re-evaluating the line and plan on not offering as many colors in their line. I hate to think that I will have to paint with a respirator. I'm allergic to enamels.

Kenny,

As for me, i broke down and ordered the WEM paints (from battlefleetmodels). . Ill toss my little spreadsheet so as not to confuse people............like me.

Regards
Steve

That's what I'd heard a couple of years ago when the rumors surfaced about the closing of the maritime colors line. I just did a search on their site and got no results for 5-O, 5-S, or 5-D as well as sasebo and kure. I did get results for 20-B and 5-N, but in their Polyscale line. I'm personally fairly skeptical that they'll be keeping much of it, but I'd be happy to be wrong.