M38A1 Paint texture

cju777 · Post by **cju777** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:30 pm

Started priming and painting some parts of the Jeep and had a quick question, when it was sprayed on in 1955 did it have a smoth high glossy texture or was it a bit rough or matted?

Thanks

skyjeep50 · Post by **skyjeep50** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:01 am

WWII was a matt finish, by '55 I believe it was semi-gloss (but not a shiny gloss finish).

Post by **wesk** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:42 am

Standard at Willys / Kaiser from 1950 through 1968 was semi-gloss OD. 2430 for the M38 and early M38A1 but by 1955 the M38A1 was leaving Willys with 24087 OD semi-gloss as well as service specific USAF Strata Blue, Navy Gray and USMC green all in semi-gloss.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:42 pm

Well that sucks. After reading these websites I bought a bunch of lusterless forest green because I thought on combat vehicles you don't want gloss. Oh well the original paint didn't look like gloss anyway.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:33 pm

This web site has always listed and discussed 1950 to 1968 Willys Kaiser military jeep paint as semi-gloss. You must have been reading the G503 web site.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:01 pm

Ya talk about a brain fart. I sprayed some on next to original paint I found under the dash. The original definitely is more glossy but not enough to concern me.

I think I talked myself into the lusterless because I like it and my bodywork is far from perfect. I guess I'm kinda an odd duck anyway because I don't care for the flat fender jeeps either.

Tell me Wes, do you think the lusterless will hold up on the frame, engine & body? That's all I really care about to be honest.

BTW: mine is a '53

Thanks.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:16 pm

Any color - just rid me of this yellow banana

Post by **wesk** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 7:25 am

The lusterless is flat paint. No hard protective shell whatsoever. No it will not protect anything for a very long period. Not even itself. That's why the military gave up on it during the 50's and 60's when all of our theaters of operation were secure from enemy air attack and equipment preservation was just as important as visibility.

53a1 · Post by **53a1** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:40 am

Thanks Wes. What do you recommend for mixing in with my paint? I'll really not a paint guy and should have done more research. I'll give Rapco a call and see what whey say.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 3:04 pm

I hire out my painting. Kepps me from screwing that part of the projects up!

madmike · Post by **madmike** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:53 pm

While we are on this subject, I noticed that my 1961 A1 has gloss under the hood on the engine assesories (Air filter & oil filter and firewalls) and maybe the block. Hard to tell about the block. Wes...Does this make sense? This is the darker USMC Green.

Mike

Post by **wesk** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:41 pm

Well oiled semi-gloss has a very glossy appearance. Try wiping the shiney parts clean with lacquer thinner or solvent and dry them then compare finishes.