WW2 USN colors vs. FED-STD-595

[Phil D.]

This may have been posted and discussed before, so pls forgive me for asking again. Can anyone help identify a FED-STD-595 cross reference to 5N navy blue and 20B deck blue.

I'm presently painting a subject using these colors and have used 595 references called out in the Squandron Signal booklets on WW2 Light Carriers and Essex Class Carriers for 5N and 20B. They indicate 5N matches up with 35042 and 20B with 35044; both 042 and 044 just seem too dark compared to some of the color renderings of ships with the measure 33a scheme. I think I have read elsewhere that their 595 references may be in error. So I am hoping someone could enlighten me. Also, what line of paints provide the correct 5N and 20B colors?

I would greatly appreciated any and all help.

Thx
Phil D.

[DanCinSD]

Hi Phil,
As I understand it the WW II colors were matched to the Munsell book of colors and will not provide an exact match to the 595 standard. 595 came out post war (in the 1950's I beleive). The listing in the Squadron book are just someones idea of a color the comes "close" to being a match.
Good thing about paints is each batch manufactured may be a little bit different, and the way they were mixed by the workers may be a little bit different and of course good ol mother nature made them different too. So depending on how you are building your ship (factory fresh or at sea) let your eye be your guide!!
Good Luck!

[Paulooi]

Hi Phil,

For my USS Iowa '44, 5N Navy Blue is closest to FS35044 (Model Master Insignia Blue1719) and 20B Deck Blue approximates FS35042 (Model Master Sea Blue 1718). At a glance, the two look almost similar but you could lighten Sea Blue with 4:1 with a medium gray shade (Dark Gull Gray for example) for sun-bleaching effects if so desired. The Navy Blue has a "bluer" effect at the edges. See contrast (or lack of) in the picture.

Good luck and post picture when done!

Paul Ooi

[ArizonaBB39]

You can get both these colors (and the rest of the USN camouflage colors) correctly matched to original paint chips from White Ensign Models (WEM).

I use the Model Master Marine line of paints, but those have been discontinued (or so I hear).

[Elvis965]

Testors Modelmaster Acrylic 4241 is Navy Blue 5N, and 4243 is Deck Blue 20B.

Both can still be found at Tower Hobbies.

http://www.towerhobbies.com/

I use the Model Master Marine line of paints, but those have been discontinued (or so I hear).

Abram, I've noticed that they are finally starting to disappear from some places I always order from, or are listed as "limited quantities". I'll be sorry to see them go as well.

Bob

[ArizonaBB39]

Abram, I've noticed that they are finally starting to disappear from some places I always order from, or are listed as "limited quantities". I'll be sorry to see them go as well.

Bob

Yeah, my LHS here stop carrying them. After I bought the last few jars ( ) they never got anymore. I saw somewhere a little while back that you could still buy them directly from Testors. They just must not have been selling enough, or the guys at Testors didn't think they were making enough money.