Ok - I'm sure that this has been asked before - but was unable to find it when I performed a search - so here goes:

What color paint do you use for 1960 era armor? Specifically I looking at doing an M60A2 (actually an M60A1E1 or so).

I know that there's a difference between the WWII Olive Drab and that used in the 60's. Would the Testor's Model Masters Green Drab (FS340086) be appropriate for this?

Using photos below to illustrate the difference between the WWII OD and the 60's green/drab.

Thanks

US M60A2 from Fort Knox in green/drab:


US M55 8"SPG from Aberdeen in green/drab (will be doing one of these also someday):


US M36B1 from Fort Hood in WW2 Olive Drab (faded):


US M8 Greyhound from Fort Hood in WW2 Olive Drab (newer):


M60 from Fort Hood in green drab:

From what I understand...Tamiya Olive Drab is a good match for post war US Armor also. Steve Zaloga states that the color didnt change afterwar, but the pigmentation of the paint was much better post war, and doesnt fade to a lighter color like you see on his models or in color WW2 photos.

The post war OD fades into a funky purple/OD tinge color that you see often on the old vechicles at Aberdeen.

I would be hesitant to use museum or outside display vehicles as color references. Except for Knox's A2 which looks fully restored and stored indoors.

This site may help.
http://www.jpsmodell.de/dc/fahr_e.htm#usarmy78
Although there are no references to brands there is a Federal Standard #.

IMHO---I think Testor's MOdel MAsters green drab is the best / closest color to what you are looking for. I use it and having been at Knox during those years (end of 60's) I am quite satisfied with it.

From my experience many years ago, the olive green you see on the M-60A2 was a fresh paint job. I recall repainting one of our M-48s at VMI (back in the early '70s) and that was the color it came out. Within a year, however, the paint had faded to that of the M-36B1 in the other photo. It did not take all that long to lose the glossy finish and weather into a flat one. I did a model of my M-48 years ago, but do not recall whose paint I used. Alas, it did not survive the packing job my ex-wife did when I moved to Saudi.

My M-60A2 in Germany (outdoors) was that Ft Knox color. It seemed like the green drab with a touch of forest green.As it faded,it had a flat appearence,but the general tone stayed the same.
(++) (++)

Regardless of the shade of OD question, you posted some very cool US armor pics

Gotta love that one of the M48A5

Cheers !!

Alpen

That's an M60 (A-nothing) aka Slick 60. Here are some identifiers:

Turret lifting rings: An M60 has one on each side of the mantlet, and a third centered on the rear of the turret roof. An M48 has one over the mantlet and one on either side of the turret just between the end of the grunt rail and the bustle rack.

Cupola: The commander's cupola on the M60 stayed unchanged in US service from the M60 to M60A1 to M60A3 and is characterised by its oblong shape and the large sight housing that included a daylight sight and night sight for the M85 .50 cal. (IDF and other nation M60s used different cupolas though).

An M48 started with an cupola much like the Urdan one, then went to a rounder cupola with internal M2 .50 cal. and a small periscope sight. Most M48A5 went back to the original Urdan style low profile cupola.

Air cleaners: The original M60 used the older side loading air cleaners. The M48A5 was developed after the side loading air cleaners were replaced by the newer style top loading air cleaners seen on M60A1 RISE/Passive and M60A3TTS tanks.

Engine deck: The engine deck on an M48 series tank sits much higher than the sponson box and air cleaners.

Fenders: The fenders on an M48 series tank are flat and angular. M60 series tanks have curved fenders with rubber front mud flaps.

Front slope: the flat front slope is the biggest identification feature, but it is hard to tell from the angle of the photo. I think I can make out the flat front slope of an M60, but the other identifiers distinguish this an M60 not M48A5.

The Tamiya Olive Drab is the post war colour i would use followed by a filter to give it lighter and more dirty look.

Mind you after weathering, the base colour tends to be quite well hidden.