A COLOUR COMMUNICATION CONUNDRUM

The attitude of officialdom to colour matching as expressed in BESA Specification 2 D.103 of 1922 appears to have been retained well into the post Second World War era.

- Paul Lucas

Evidence for this is provided by Air Publication 2656A entitled 'Internal and External Finish of Aircraft' Volume 1 Section 6 Chapter 3 Colour Standards for Top-Coat Materials, which was issued as part of Amendment List No.29 in September 1947. This can probably be taken as typical of the method by which the colour matching was carried out by the Services during the Second World War and Post War period until at least the 1960s, if not later.

AP 2656A AL.29

Unlike the BESA Standard, AP 2656A AL.29, which was intended for use by the Services, included colour cards for twelve colours that were common to British military aircraft at that time. The colour cards themselves were samples of paint that had been sprayed on to pieces of thick card measuring two and a half by two inches, of which six were stuck on to each of two pages for inclusion in the AP.

The colours on the first page were Medium Sea Grey (S 4010-R90B), Extra Dark Sea Grey (S 7005-R80B), Light Slate Grey (5 6005-G20Y), Dark Earth ( 6020-Y10R), Dark Green (S 7010-G50Y), and Sky (S 2010 G40Y); whilst Yellow (S 1070Y20R), Night (S8502-B), Aluminium (No NCS match), Bright Red (S 2570-Y90R), Bright Blue (54550-R80B), and PRU Blue (5 5020 B10G) appeared on the second page. The text of Chapter 3 ran as follows

Introduction

1. The coloured panels on the card following this leaf show the standard colours for the top coat and identification materials used in the Service. The panels have been spray painted-not printed-and therefore give also a good indication of the surface produced by the application of these materials.