Hi,
Can anybody help me to find the color code/reference of the original colors of the 3 planes in the pics below?
Thanks!

Jahna,
You are going to be very lucky to get the "color code" for these. Unless you know who painted, or owns the aircraft(s) the chance is slim.

But, as an example, I wanted to do a helicopter that is French, and found the color code, but being from a different country, they do not cross over. (I got the code from the mfg, and it was useless to me) What I ended up doing was going to the paint store armed with all my pictures (as different lighting makes the color look different) and found the closest matches for the colors. No one but me knows the colors are not perfect, and I have had compliments on how well the colors matched.

Best

I suggest you look up Randolph dope colors for similar colors. It's likely that the planes were painted/repainted with that dope. I can't be sure but its a good place to start.

Hi Jahna,

Don't you think it is interesting that there you are in Switzerland trying to find colors for airplanes that are here in the US and I'm trying to find a color match for an airplane that is in Switzerland? If you can find out which museum they are in you might contact them directly. Try this link, it may help you find the owners.....

http://162.58.35.241/acdatabase/defimg.asp

Good Luck,

Randy

Bob and Randy
Thanks for your help. Did get some infos from your sources but still need more infos.
If someone knows the colours of American Airline around 1936 that would help too.
For the gullwing airlines I would like to know where I can get more about this airline.

Hi Andre,

I tried to call the American Airlines CR Smith museum in Texas but got nothing but recordings. I'll try again. Don't know of they have email. I may be going to that museum sometime after the first of the year so if you have nothing by then I can see what I can learn for you...

http://www.crsmithmuseum.org/home.htm

Good luck!

Randy

GREAT service Randy, thanks a lot!
I like to profit from your offer and have no problem to wait.
Please let me know if I can be of help for you and your Swiss plane, btw. what plane is it?

Andre,

It is the Hanriot HD-1, I'm doing a build thread on this site under scale models, GTM Hanriot Build. The full scale example is located here:

http://www.wwi-models.org/Photos/Fre/HD1/

One of the problems is that it is hanging from the ceiling so is difficult to get close to. I've been in touch with the museum and they have been extremely helpful, but we are limited by the color variations caused by photo processing......

There was a fellow at one of our scale contests that had the American Airlines Stinson in that color scheme.....I'll see what I can learn.

Do you know where the airplanes that you are interested in are located?

Randy

Randy
The picturers I refer are out of internet, have no idea where they come from, will see if I can find them again.
About your plane; surprise, Duebendorf is the place I went to school.... and last saturday I went to the museum .... However its 2 hours away from where I live now but I can go again if you need specific pics.

Do not forget that there is a theory that scale models need a more muted colour than the exact fullsize colour. I think it is Dave Platt's theory and I believe it works. It makes models more realistic.
So is it worth getting the Methuen designation of the colour?

Anyway it is good to see international cooperation between modellers.

Andre,

I sent you a PM..did you get it? The American Museum may not have the color codes but they will probably have photos and I'm pretty sure they have little stick on logos from that era. Take a look at these pics....

http://personalpages.tdstelme.net/~westin/ac-9.htm

Randy

Yes got it, thanks Randy
The pics I presentet here are from www.stinsonreliant.com.

kdc, that's correct but I want to know the reference colour first and then decide if I have to mute it to get good scale look.
Maybe other modeller's can tell us how they proceed for this.

Andre, even it you do get the Paint code that doesn't mean it will do you any good. If the paint was specially mixed for American Airlines then it won't mean much to any one but the Paint maker. A better idea is to used the pictures and have your paint matched to them. You'll be on the right track then and your colors and the picture colors will match. just my Opinion.

Andre,

You may be able to find a plastic model of that airplane. It would perhaps have some good color photos......

Randy

Randy
I have the stinson plastic model but the colours are white and red......

Bob,
that's right but you know colours always look different on each pc screen and that's the reason why I need a reference.

Andre, forget your PC Screen and Print some color pictures from you Computer. They will not be the exact color of the plane but so what? I don't know what you guys use for documentation there but over here, in the US, if you use a "reliable" source for your pictures then they are acceptable. If you have a book with color pictures that would work even better. Just match the colors to those in the book.

If you are photographing a plane and want to ensure that it is reproduced correctly in a print or on screen, include a greyscale in the picture just like photographers used to do. A grey (gray in USA )shows up colour casts better than white areas.

Hi all
I found the colours I was looking for[sm=biggrin.gif]!

Larry D. Westin, a Stinson 108-3 owner, sent me the colour samples, thanks very much Larry[sm=thumbup.gif]!
The samples are from Stits Poly Fiber Aircraft Coatings, color card #42 and match the colours of the American-Airline-Stinson at that time. The blue colour is #177 EAGLE BLUE blue and the red colour is #190 TENNESSEE RED.

Hi Andre,

That is excellent!! I have a Stits color chart and will look those colors up. The fellow from the museum in Dubendorf sent me color codes that I can use so we are both ready to go! Be sure to post pictures of your progress.

Randy

Yeah Randy,
but to be honest it will take some time until mine will be ready to paint.....[sm=rolleyes.gif]

Hi Jahna:

I have the tint machine and mixes for the colors you are looking for. We are dealers for Poly Fiber and all Poly Fiber dealers now mix their own colors. If you are interested I can send them to you and maybe you can have them mixed locally. The pigments are pretty basic and it shouldn't be difficult. The Poly Fiber paints are flammable so they are pretty expensive to ship overseas but maybe we can help you in getting them mixed locally.

As for the rest of you following this thread, please don't flame me. As you can see, I am offering to help mix the paint he needs. I answer technical questions on aircraft paint all day and rarely go on this forum.

Thanks for your help Chipmull,
I will check here first and let you know if I need your support, thanks a lot!
Andre