"US Army Olive Drab for Vietnam" Topic

I just got the Tropic Thunder rules and that's rekindled my interest in painting my collection of Vietnam era equipment.

Having watched the FoW videos for painting US armor and helicopters, I have to ask (again) about the proper base colors. While looking online, I found that I asked the same question in 2005. TMP link (Obviously, I got distracted by something since then)

Allen's link has changed. Its still available at mil-mod.nl/html but you have to click on Featured Articles.

So, the Army went to OD 24087 for vehicles in the 1950s thru 60s. With the aircraft being painted in OD 34087.

Who makes the best equivalent for 15-20mm models? The article suggests Testors OD as being close to 34087 for helos (assuming the formulation hasn't changed). I can use enamels or acrylics through my airbrush. Humbrol is the hardest to get, but its nominally available at Brookhurst.

Thanks!

Wyatt

Wyatt, I'm playing around with Vallejo's new "Gunship Green" right now…

Also if you can pick up a copy of the old Squadron Signal Publication of "Huey" by Lou Drendel it shows some very good colors and schemes for them….

Another EXCELLENT source is the book US INFANTRY VIETNAM by Concord Publications and by Kevin Lyles.
In it he discusses the changes of US military uniforms and how they weathered.

I'm looking forward to seeing your Vietnam stuff painted….

Murph

I haven't found a good US OD green. Vallejo Violet Brown is a good match for the lighter, browner color from WWII, but can't find a good OD for moderns.

The problem with OD green for US Vietnam Uniforms is that due to the materials, weather, laundry, etc…they came out all sorts of colors…

If you think OD green is a problem, there's a website out there that caters to WWII reenactors with a whole long diatribe (including numerous photos) on "What color is Khaki exactly?"

If you can find Testors, they probably make a model masters FS34087. For ground vehicles, use a satin or semigloss finish instead of the dead flat used on aircraft.

I think I used Vallejo 'US Olive Drab' for one helicopter.

I'm just using the FOW US Armor spraypaint for the rest of the force.

Must start with:

I currently work in the Army Museum system and before that my last few months in the Army I was the NCOIC of the 4ID Musuem and over saw the re-painting of the musuems armor collection.

I am always amazed when I see posting about the correct shade of OD green (or any AFV color) and what paint is best? I say find a OD Green shade that is close and go with it…and do not get picky

The reason I behind this thinking is we spent months at the 4ID musuem researching and finding the correct OD green and other colors to paint the AFV's on display. Once painted and within a few weeks of sitting in the Texas sun the colors started to fade and fade fast!

So unless you want to represent a VN era AFV coming direct from the factory…do some research, test some paint colors and go with what you think is best. You almost can not go wrong?

SFC Retired

Thanks SFC. I knew about the weathering aspect, but I wanted to make sure that I started with the right base color.

I have Testor Model Master FS whatever for the aircraft, but I'd like to know what paint best approximates the OD for the ground vehicles. Maybe it's the graphic artist in me, but online and print photos aren't able to convey the proper color.

Heck. Send me a paint chip if you could and I'll go test the available brands against it.

Wyatt

Wyatt, the difference between FS 24087 and FS 34087 is semigloss versus dead flat. Under the FS 595a color description system, the first digit is finish. 1 is gloss, 2 is semigloss, 3 is dead flat. The second digit is color (IIRC, 4 = green), and the last 3 are a measure of tint or something, I don't remember.

I've been painting up my fleet of Vietnam-era 1/48 UH-1's in Testor's Model Master OD Green, the shade/tones look just fine.

One problem with using actual colors on scale models is you will get a distorted hue. By that I mean that the original vehicle or aircraft has a very large surface area on which the light will play. When you go to a smaller surface, as a model vehicle, you will end up with a darker hue, even though both the original and the model use the exact same paint.

Of you want a more realistic appearance you will need to lighten the actual color somewhat to compensate for the smaller surface area and thus less area for light to play upon.

And lastly, being a part of that generation I can tell you that if you lined up an entire platoon you would be hard pressed to find two men in the same shade of green, let alone with their equipment being worn identically.

It was the same when I later went into the Navy. Yes, everyone wore white or blues. The exact shade, though would vary depending upon which contractor made the clothing, how long it had been worn/washed, the material (whether wool, cotton or polyester) and even the build of the fellow wearing it. Heck, our flight suits and survival gear had the very same problems.

V/R

I used Model Master Olive Drab FS34087 for Vietnam Armour. It turned out sorta glossy…is that normal or should it be more flat?

No, FS34087 should be pretty flat, according to the finish code. But the vehicles should be rather glossy under all the weathering!

FS34078 is not flat at all (looks very glossy) I went to the hobby store today and got the Testors Flat Olive Drab(1164) and Army Olive Flat(1165). I plan to use the Army Olive on Vietnam Uniforms and i will try the Flat Olive Drab on my armour again. Its very fustrating getting the right look.

Funny I've had a local guy who makes good money painting figs absolutely hate on testors formulation. I wound up going with a green from a line of craft paints that works well.

As to the actual AFVs color fading at museums, wonder if leaded paint was originally used on US AFVs and how that might have impacted fading.

I wound up going with a green from a line of craft paints that works well.

As a craft paint user myself I would be interested to know which shade you actually used please.

I know the original question was about vehicles, but I'm presently painting uniforms so I'll pipe up. I use craft paints and Sherwin Williams exclusively so like NigelM, I'd appreciate knowing which craft paint Privateer4hire is using.

I'm not much interested in gaming this period, but I'm working on a project my wife can use at school. Therefore I haven't spent $$$ on reference material; I have a couple of old Blandfords and the internet to work with. But from what I can tell, US Army uniforms varied considerably from very dark green/brown (olive) to jade green. Equipment could be almost any color derived from those shades -- deep black/green to a light olive or even tan-shaded olive. The green on Mitchell helmet covers could be a light greenish olive to almost Kelly green or sea green.

The photos I've looked at, however, don't show much variation within a unit.

If anyone can correct me or provide further info I'd appreciate it.

"I am always amazed when I see posting about the correct shade of OD green (or any AFV color) and what paint is best? I say find a OD Green shade that is close and go with it…and do not get picky"

I couldn't agree more! I think that goes for many, many uniform and equipment questions throughout all ages. With 25 years in myself and between different sub-contractors (ask a GI the likelihood of encountering variations between different jungle boots of the same size),stuff fading,stuff getting dirty and individual soldiers preference for what they carry, how they carry it and how worn out it already was…one would be on very shaky ground questioning how some dudes Olive green is not as good as another dude's olive green.

The least realistic paint job would be one where everything looks exactly uniform, not the other way around.

Los

I used Vellejo Army Olive Drab on my 6mm U.S. Marine Battalions and they turned out awsome! It was a little darker than i expected, but im very happy with the results. I then used Testors Olive Drab on the armour. It is way lighter in color, but again, the result is great.