You should try arguing paint colors with military modelers. What color is olive drab? Which formulary? Fresh from the factory before deployment? After a 3 months of battle, sun, rain and abuse? Covered with dust and mud? And then lets talk about the losers, German aircraft and armor. The Germans provided paints as a paste to be mixed in the field by tank crews. It mixed with gas, oil, kerosene, water. Was brushed on, mopped on, sprayed on? Oh and when was the paste made? Under what set of instructions? I think 4 major and some minor.
And forget any film based on chemicals. The original chemicals used, changes to the chemical makeup over time due to heat, humidity, etc. render original photos suspect on original color. There is a well known photo of I think Mustangs taken in the air on a bright, clear day and there is still no agreement as to whether the vanity markings on the upper fuselage is a blue or a green.
Chasing a true color from 50 or more years ago is a recipe for disappointment. What I do is decide what looks good and use it. Until I decide something seems better.
Happy Painting.
Frank
