Aircraft Pictorial No.9:
Aircraft Painting Guide Vol. 1

by Dana Bell

Classic Warships Publishing

Reviewed by David Couche

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Dana Bell, celebrated authority on American military aircraft colours, returns with his first book on camouflage in more than twenty years. Aircraft Pictorial 9 covers the interwar development of temporary camouflages, the creation of Dark Olive Drab and Neutral Grey paints, and the combination and standardization of the two colours as the Army Air Forces' basic camouflage scheme of World War II.

The book is 72 pages with 71 colour images, 46 B&W images, and 8 contemporary drawings. His book covers the manufacturing variations of standard paints used by both the Army and Navy. He explores the Army-Navy camouflage agreements. He has photographic examples of desert camouflages, snow camouflages, anti-submarine camouflages and night camouflages. Dana looks at the abandonment and reintroduction of camouflage Grey pathfinders and grey-bellied bombers and at other forces' colours.

He gives us a further reference list at the rear of the book for those wishing to extend their knowledge. He, interestingly, has given a series of paint chips as colour reference. What stands out to me as a modeller having done many Olive Drab aircraft is that Dana lays to rest the subject of the one true shade of Olive Drab with the great quote of …..  “No manufacturer’s test sample of Dark Olive Drab was ever rejected for failing to meet the colour standards.”

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Dana certainly has sourced some great and interesting photographs for this book and most certainly, Aircraft Painting Guide Vol 1 will be a valuable addition to the library of any modeller, restorer, or aviation enthusiast.

I have given you a few examples of the many varied schemes and aircraft Dana has included. You really need to have the book to appreciate the depth of resource he has given us. I look forward to further volumes in this series.

This book has been produced for the modeller or aviation enthusiast, providing an absolute wealth of reference photographs and detail to help, especially the modellers, in the creation of true to life aircraft, especially the unusual scheme or heavily weathered US aircraft.

As a modeller who likes the challenge of a factual, well weathered scheme, I found this book to be an excellent companion with a number of the aircraft on my list to do.

This book is highly recommended.

Thanks to Valiant Wings Publishing for the sample.

Review Copyright © 2019 by David Couche
This Page Created on 14 October, 2019
Last updated 14 October, 2019

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