Battleship grey?

[GrahamB]

Hi,

I'd like to start soon on a Roden DH4, using the early production scheme. This is shown in several attractive profiles by Mick Davis in a Cross & Cockade article (39/4) as predominantly "Battleship Grey" on metal structures, otherwise plain finish.

Does anyone have an idea of what this colour (colours?) may have been? The photos of the restored DH9 in the UK (eg. Cross & Cockade 38/2) make it look like something in the Medium Sea Grey-Ocean Grey-Dark Sea Grey range. Dark Admiralty Grey seems too dark (WEM paint for example) although it has been proposed (quite understandably) as a likely candidate.

I don't want to set off a long thread here.

Cheers,

GrahamB

['14-'18aviationcollector]

Hi Graham,

I know exactly what shade was used, at least on DH9's. I think it is very unlikely that the DH4 and DH9 had different shades of "Battleship grey" although they might have been different of course. I have a new digital camera, and a replacement computer. I have not downloaded digital photos onto this computer yet, so it will take me a few days or weeks to work out how to do that. In the meantime, if you would like to post some images or links, such as the ones you mentioned I will be very happy to comment on the colours. I have seen at least one photograph of DH9 F 1258, which is displayed in the Musee de l'Aire near Paris in its' original fabric, dope and grey painted plywood panels. If you are able to find a copy of this photo, you will have a very good idea of the shade. It is a very pale grey, and does not have any obvious traces of other colours in it such as blue, which many shades of grey have. The grey plywood panels on F 1258 are identical to some tiny original samples of grey I found, photographed and took colour references for on F 1278.

Regards,

David.

[bristol scout]

'Battleship Grey' according to Ray Rimell is in the Methuen range 1B1, 1C1------I imagine that is a reasonable starting point Graham.

Dave.

[bristol scout]

'Battleship Grey' according to Ray Rimell is in the Methuen range 1B1, 1C1------I imagine that is a reasonable starting point Graham.

Dave.

[bristol scout]

sorry for double post guy's.

Dave.

[GrahamB]

Hi David and Dave,

thanks for the replies about this colour. I don't have any independent photos of the DH9 or links other than the references already mentioned. I have the Ray Rimell Methuen matches but I guess it was the possibility of a darker colour colour being involved (sometimes in b/w photos) that has caused some doubt. As an example, the putative Dark Admiralty Grey equivalent is given by Ian Baker (in Aviation History Colouring Book No.63) as 21F-G3 - a significantly darker (and bluer) tone than 1B1 or 1C1. The (more or less neutral) grey in the photos of the restored DH9 would be a match for these two I guess and would seem to be the same as the pale grey on the Paris DH9.

Cheers,

GrahamB

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi GrahamB:
Methuen 21F/G3 is a very, very dark slate grey, near to black. DeHavilland was the only D.H.4 manufacturer that used gtey on the fuselage. The grey used by DeHavilland was pastel grey to light grey, Methuen Colour code 1C1.
Merry Christmas Graham,
Dan-San

[Major Larabee]

Do you have a BS number for the grey?? may be of use for the BE

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Hi Major Larabee:
I don't have grey in the British Standards. It is 36440 in the Fed Std 595, if that helps.
Merry Christmas Major,
Dan-San

[Major Larabee]

Originally Posted by Dan_San_Abbott

Hi Major Larabee:
I don't have grey in the British Standards. It is 36440 in the Fed Std 595, if that helps.
Merry Christmas Major,
Dan-San

Thanks Dan, it will.

Merry Christmas