really dumb question on paint

[jeeptj1]

ok so i know that alot of the od paint stuff is flat, but can any of the different m38 body paint types be waxed. thanks john jr

[wesk]

WWII jeeps were flat OD, M series 1950 and up Willys jeeps came with semi-gloss for the Army, Air Force and Marines and Gloss for the Navy. You can only get away with a nice wax job on the Navy's Gloss Gray. We used to have to wax our trucks in the Air Force and they really came out looking like crap. The surface became slick but you could always see traces of the wax in the rough semi-gloss surface.

[jeeptj1]

wes, thats kind of what i was thinking. thanks john jr

[toolmanm203]

Wes I have a '52 m38 and under the dark forest usmc? green is a layer of the early flat od, the jeep only has two coats on it and I think they are both military but somewhere I read that vehicles placed in combat service were all painted flat, curious to here yor opinion on this as sometimes there is too much info out there and I never know if it is correct? russ

[wesk]

The M38's all left willys on Army OD 2430 semi-gloss.

The standard USMC color in the 50's was Forest Green semi-gloss. This is what they repainted their new OD2430 M38's with when they received them. Which is why you have the two different colors. The USAF had to repaint their OD2430 M38's Strata Blue and the Navy had to repaint their new OD2430 M38's Gloss Gray.

Weather they were repainted Forest Green OD flat at the direction of a subordinate command I do not know and that answer would have to come from an ex-USMC motor pool mech.

[toolmanm203]

Thanks again Wes, the forest is semi gloss but the early od underneath looked flat but I guess after almost 60 years we all loose a little of our shine!

[wesk]

The early 2430 OD underneath was most likely prepped either with chemicals or light sanding before the Forest Green was applied.