willysmjeeps.com

I know.....NOT another paint color question......but please bear with me....I think this one will be real easy. Can anyone tell me what the Gillespie number is for the paint on the m38a-1 in photo 173 of the Historic Vintage Photo Gallery, Pg. 9? That's the color I want to paint mine....or as close as I can get to it. Thanks.

Jim,

That's gonna be a tough one. That photo has quite a bit of error in the colors as developed. Which is not uncommon for color photos taken in the 50's. The flood of sky blue throws the green/olive way off. Also there's too much shine. Looks like the jeep was waxed. This would seem normal since it's after the armistice and bored troops get a lot of washing and waxing details.

It's a 52/53 model and that would have been 2430 OD semigloss.

I don't know what the font of the original hood numbers were used for the M38A1.
But if thats the original font it might help identify if the jeep is still 2430 or has possibly gone through a repaint with the later 50's #24087.
Tom

The uniforms in his photos places the time frame around 1953. I don't think it's a repaint. The grill, battery box lid and bumper also ID the jeep as a 52/53 model.

So is 24087 the currently available substitute for the unavailable 2430....I mean in stock readily available paint....like right off the shelf? Or is there a significant difference in color between the two numbers?

No, 24087 and 2430 are very different colors.
Gillespe has a color that they call 'WWII semi-gloss'. Most of the comments on the Mjeeps tell that it is very close to the factory 2430. 24087 is darker and browner than the color that the M38 and early M38A1 left the factory wearing.

Here is one vendors description:
http://www.armyjeepparts.com/order_page ... ked_colors

Ryans book has a photo of color chips that show the differences between the colors. You cant use the chips for paint mixing but it will give an idea of how much darker the 24087 is compared to 2430.

Gillespie's 23070 is very close and identicle to the AJP Late WWII Semi-gloss. Both are close but just need a tad of darkening.