The Official Monogram U.s. Navy And Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide- Vol 2- 1940-1949 !!better!! Info
Have you used the Monogram color guides for a restoration or model build? Share your experience in the comments below. If you are looking to purchase this volume, be sure to verify the color plates are original—and happy modeling.
When searching for this volume, look for the spiral-bound or heavy-duty softcover binding, designed to lay flat on a workbench. A true first printing will have a publication date from the "Monogram Aviation Publications" imprint out of Boylston, Massachusetts.
: Explanations for tail colors, carrier-specific symbols, and squadron markings that helped pilots identify friendly forces in combat.
To understand the weight of this guide, one must understand the pedigree of its creation. Monogram Models was a giant in the plastic model industry, but their commitment to accuracy went beyond the plastic parts inside the box. John M. Elliott was a meticulous researcher who understood that kit instructions of the past often got colors wrong, relying on folklore or poor photography rather than official documentation. Have you used the Monogram color guides for
: The book highlights the unique 1941 three-digit squadron designation system (e.g., VMF-211) that replaced the older single-digit system as the Marine Corps expanded rapidly during the war. Core Technical Content
Volume 2 doesn't just cover paint. It covers the font, size, and color of every stencil. "No Step." "Rescue Arrow." The "Meatball" insignia borders. The shift from the red center dot (pre-war) to the blue border (1943) to the red outline (1947—briefly, and then removed again). It’s all here.
Yes, they are printed, but the color correction in this edition is legendary. Monogram used a five-color process to match the original BuAer lacquer chips. Compare the chip for Insignia Red (used on the national insignia) to any hobby paint—you will be shocked how "orange" the real red actually was. When searching for this volume, look for the
The Tri-Color Scheme (Dark Blue-Gray top, White bottom, Intermediate Blue sides) is iconic. However, many reproductions get the "Intermediate Blue" wrong, making it too bright or too purple. Using original Monogram chips and archival spectrophotometry, this guide defines the actual hue—a dusky, desaturated blue that blended with the horizon. This volume is the final word on that specific spectral riddle.
Volume 2 provides the exact dates these changes were mandated. You will know precisely why a 1943 Hellcat at Midway looked flat, but a 1945 Hellcat on carrier deck had a slight sheen.
"The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2: 1940-1949," by John M. Elliott, serves as a definitive, detailed reference on USN and USMC camouflage and markings during World War II. Published by Monogram Aviation Publications, the 194-page volume includes official paint chips and documents the evolution from blue-gray to tricolor and glossy sea blue schemes. Learn more about this reference work in the PDF resource from gruppofalchi.com Amazon.com To understand the weight of this guide, one
This is not just a paint chip book. It is a time machine. Let’s open the cover.
by John M. Elliott is a seminal reference work for military historians, aviation enthusiasts, and scale modelers. Published by Monogram Aviation Publications, this volume provides a meticulous, document-based history of the camouflage and markings used by American naval aviation during its most transformative decade—spanning the buildup to World War II, the intensity of the Pacific theater, and the transition into the early jet age. Comprehensive Historical Context
This is the heart of the volume for many WWII enthusiasts. The book meticulously breaks down the complex tri-color camouflage schemes: Non-Specular Blue Gray over Non-Specular Light Gray, with the unique "Blue Gray" upper surfaces. It explains the introduction of the famous "Atlantic Blue-Gray" scheme used on convoy patrol aircraft.