Until around late 1941 or early 1942 colours used were supposedly based on the BSC 381c standard of 1930 . It must be pointed out that although BSC 381c was a defined standard , in reality, factory applied colours would have varied somewhat from the standard due to various anomalies such as : Different paint manufacturers using different mix formulas and the individual factory practices in use , also the manual eye colour matching techniques in use at the time were not 100% accurate. Colour photos of WD B range vehicles from the period are virtually non existant so B & W photos are the only reference available .
Pre 1939, until the outbreak of hostilities , soft skin B vehicles were apparently finished in a gloss version of Middle Bronze Green 23, also known as service colour G3. In contemporary B&W photos from the late 1930's many B vehicles appear to be finished in a glossy very dark rich green , this is probably G3 . The 1936 Morris CS8 parts list refers to parts being finished in " service green " . It is not known how strictly the colour standards were adhered to at the time and “service green” could have been defined by whatever the vehicle maker thought was appropriate for a WD truck .
Factory photos from around 1940 show vehicles finished in a much lighter matt Green than G3 , this was probably Light Bronze Green 22 from BSC 381c , or service colour G5 . G5 was a medium grass green shade with more of a yellow aspect than G3 and it has a definate contrast with G3 . In many cases, pre 1942 camoflage schemes were a base of G5 over which a disruptive pattern of the darker G3 was hand brush applied . Original paint chips found underneath the steering column clamp on a 1941 CS8 Morris do support the theory that medium green G5 overall finish was applied at the factory .
Remember all this has a high element of conjecture and it is difficult to be 100% certain of the actual colours used. We can say that the the pre 1942 greens were a definite green , the post 1942 greens tended to be somewhat more dirty , or brown in hue .
Update : An original faded paint scheme found a on a 1940 Morris PU has added weight to the two tone matt green camo scheme theory . On this particular vehicle two greens are clearly visible , a base of medium green over which is a hand applied very dark green in a wavy pattern.
Mike Kelly |
