STRATA BLUE PAINT

pilotomutante · Post by **pilotomutante** » Thu May 31, 2012 4:18 am

Hi, I was just wondering if anyone of you gents might have the RAL color code for USAAF Strata Blue paint.

I ordered a spray can from Rapco to be delivered to Chicago where I did managed to pick it up, but got busted at the airport and it went to the garbage can

I just need a RAL code or a sample in order to make some paint here in Spain. No one seems to know anything about federal standard codes on this side of the Atlantic, only RAL codes.

Thanks for your help:

Jose

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Thu May 31, 2012 5:15 am

The PPG paint Code I used was U.S. Air Force Strata Blue PPG code 17634 here is the other information I used to track down the PPG code

USAF blue is known as STRATA BLUE, 15045 (Federal Standard 595B).

Color was " Strata Blue , number 15045 of Federal Standard 595 ,
spec. 11-E-485 "

pilotomutante · Post by **pilotomutante** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:13 am

Thanks Bill, all those codes I already got through to them. Problem is they don't mean much in Europe. They only understand RAL codes. I'm trying to get an equivalent in RAL

Thanks anyway!

Jose

Post by **wesk** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:24 am

Here's a few sites that may help:

http://www.fair2middling.com/old/Models ... 5-blue.htm

http://www.e-paint.co.uk/default.asp?cR ... obalt+blue

http://www.ralcolor.com/

Looks like the closest matches to USAF 15045 are:
5000 Violet Blue (a tad dark)

5002 Ultrmarine Blue (a tad too blue)

5010 Gentian Blue (very close)

5026 Pearl Nite Blue ( a tad dark)

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:32 am

Jose, i spoke to a friend who is in architectural powdercoating.
He deals in RAL numbered finishes daily. I asked if there was
a cross-reference for Fed Std## to RAL## in a document or chart
type format and he said a documented cross reference did not exist.
In other words he would have to have an existing color sample to
match as a custom color match-not off the shelf.

Post by **wesk** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:57 am

There are a few cross references if you google up RAL cross reference charts. I didn't find any that addressed RAL to FS595 15045. There were a couple that Crossed 15044. There are plenty of sites with color plates on line for both RAL blues and FS595 Blues so a direct comparison is simple to do.

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:23 am

I should have been more specific and stated that
my contact could not reference FS595 15045 to RAL#.

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Thu May 31, 2012 12:53 pm

I went down this road about 2 years ago. After paying out for many spray cans (the figure of 20 cans seems to stick in my mind) of RAL paint that from my color chips looked a pretty close match, I didn't get a single one that matched.

However, after contacting one of the paint suppliers here in the UK, they were getting some Strata Blue mixed from an original sample for another customer (from an M37 Powerwagon, if I remember right). I got a sample of the mixed paint sent to me, and it was a close enough match that I ended up ordering 5 gallons.

The vendor's contact details are here:

http://www.milweb.net/dealers/trader/fr ... erypaints/

Not sure if he ships to Europe, but it's worth the time to send an email.

Owen.

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Thu May 31, 2012 1:14 pm

If it helps, here's some photos of the mixed paint I got (the camera flash didn't do the 1st photo any favours):

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Thu May 31, 2012 2:44 pm

That looks much lighter than what mine came out as.

Post by **wesk** » Thu May 31, 2012 3:14 pm

That comes from viewing the two different paints under different lighting conditions. It's impossible to make an accurate comparison if the two samples are not viewed under exactly the same light conditions.

evanso1975 · Post by **evanso1975** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:54 am

Wes wrote:

It's impossible to make an accurate comparison if the two samples are not viewed under exactly the same light conditions.

Good point. Trouble is, most of the original paint is now gone (either stripped, sandblasted or just rusted away); this was the best I could do:

The original paint is on the right side (among the rust!), and the new stuff is on the left. Much closer than the RAL samples.

The next challenge is getting a match for the yellow stencilling.

Bill_F · Post by **Bill_F** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:07 am

My paint matches the orginal that was still on my tub fairly well. Let me know when you find a match for the yellow, the one I used is not correct, it is way to dark.

Post by **wesk** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:01 pm

My time in the USAF 1966-89 we used a yellow lacquer for all stenciling that called out yellow. I seem to recall the cans were marked PPG.

pilotomutante · Post by **pilotomutante** » Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:04 am

Thanks to all for your help. Will let you know how things develop.