Which B55?

[Mikevpd]

How can you tell whether a ship was painted in blue B55 or Khaki B55? I'm looking at building HMS Avonvale in 1944 and the camo scheme is G10, G20, G45, and B55.

Many thanks.

[dick]

Simple answer: someone must have erred suggesting B55 was khaki. Every archive sample of B55 I have seen would be described by the casual observer as a light blue.

Furthermore, here are the mixing instructions for B55 (from the Admiralty Fleet Order that introduced it in May 1943). I think you will struggle to get a khaki from those ingredients!

Best wishes

[SovereignHobbies]

Although not part of your question, I will proffer that G45 wasn't coffee coloured either and would not be described as "warm light grey". It was comprised of black, white and blue pigments only and was exactly the same shade as 507C.

[Mikevpd]

So is WEMCC RN20 B55 (Late War), which is a warm gray tone similar to MS4, correct?

[dick]

No.

Here are the instructions for mixing B55 in AFO 3545 of 28 June 1945 - no change from 1943.

[dick]

And if you want to go a little later here is a description of the colour of B55 from the 1945 edition of CB3098R dated October 1945...

[Mikevpd]

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[SovereignHobbies]

FWIW we've discontinued RN14 and RN20 and they will disappear once sold out.

[JCRAY]

Thank you for correcting those errors!
John

[SovereignHobbies]

Thank you for correcting those errors!
John

Hi John,

Progress has not been very visible of late, but work is ongoing and I believe we are making measurable progress.