willysmjeeps.com

I am new to the MV hobbie and this site. I have a thousand questions, but I'll start here. I have a '45 MB (416477, DOD 2/45) and am trying to find some original markings. I have found several layers of paint that can be described as military colors, I just cant tell which ones I should be focusing on. I have been told that there should be some sort of red oxide primer as a first coat, but I took part of the hood to bare metal for reference and have not seen said primer. I have a much darker green (thick coat) than typical OD under a few of the top coats. Could this be significant? Take a look and see if anyone can shed some light. Thank you SO much.

I'm no expert but here a couple of thoughts.

In your photo I'm seeing a layer that looks like blue. My M38A1 had a dark blue topcoat from the Civil Air Patrol, who got the vehicle as surplus. I think Canadian jeeps may also have blue.

Try touch sanding very lightly on the sides of the hood to reveal numerical markings stenciled on.

OD paint has had a number of different versions over the years - light, dark, matt, semi-gloss etc.

Good Luck.
Pete

Pete is right. I would be looking more at the OD colors.

OD went through several color shade changes depending on the years of manufacture and service life.

Vehicles were repainted during service life usually at least one or two times and they would use the paint given to them.

They didn't really care if it matched the same shade as the previous coat of paint.

Stay AWAY from the heavy sandpaper or wire brush you've used!

Try taking very fine wet sandpaper and going through the layers one by one TAKING TIME to stop and look every few minutes or at the slightest hint of a 'difference' which could be a number. Look at them both wet and dry, and with a light in the garage at night. You should be able to get to the numbers IF you don't destroy it first. Once it's gone - it's gone.