You check the Monogram guide. You see FS 35189 is the exact match. You note that this is a "Low reflectance blue-gray with a 57% tint base." You also read the production note that says "Douglas Aircraft, Tulsa, used a slightly greener variant in July 1944." You mix accordingly. You win the award.
by John M. Elliott is widely considered the "Gold Standard" for documenting World War II-era naval aviation. This volume covers the most transformative decade in naval aircraft history, detailing the rapid transition from pre-war "Yellow Wings" to the subdued camouflage of the Pacific Theater. The Definitive WWII Color Resource
Explores the chemical compositions and purposes of various paints.
When you hold this book, you are holding the actual standards that came out of the Bureau of Aeronautics. You are holding the directive that sent thousands of blue angels (lowercase 'a') screaming across the Pacific. You check the Monogram guide
In the world of aviation color research, there is "guesswork" and there is "evidence." The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide- Vol 2- 1940-1949 is the evidence.
The book details the transition from the colorful "Yellow Wings" era of the 1930s (covered in Vol 1) to the realization that war was imminent. It documents the initial moves toward neutrality and concealment, exploring the elusive "Non-Specular Light Gray" and the early two-tone schemes. This era is often overlooked in popular culture, which jumps straight to Pearl Harbor, making the detailed documentation of these pre-war schemes invaluable.
A color guide is not just about the paint on the fuselage; it is about the symbols on it. Volume 2 meticulously tracks the evolution of the National Insignia (the "Star and Bar") during this volatile decade: You win the award
Did you know that many Marine F4U Corsairs in 1945 ignored the official "Glossy Sea Blue" order? They stayed in heavily weathered, flat Non-Specular Sea Blue because gloss paint required a clean dust-free environment to apply correctly—which didn't exist in the mud. There is a stunning photo in this volume of a VMF-224 Corsair that is so sun-bleached the upper surfaces appear Light Gull Gray , with only the fresh touch-ups around the cowling revealing the original deep blue.
Enter of the seminal reference series: The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide . If Volume 1 covered the pioneering yellow wings of the 1930s, Volume 2 is the bloody, salty, sun-bleached saga of WWII and the dawn of the Jet Age.
Perhaps most importantly, Elliott clarifies the "when" and "why." He explains Directive 14-41 and subsequent changes, helping modelers understand that a photo of a Douglas SBD Dauntless in 1942 might require a different paint mix than one taken in 1943. He dispels myths about field-mixed This volume covers the most transformative decade in
Volume 2 picks up where the first volume left off, chronicling the shift from the vibrant "Yellow Wing" era of the late 1930s to the somber, functional camouflage required for global combat.
Let’s get practical. Why should you spend your money on this specific volume rather than just googling "F4U colors"?