Leica LTM Leica IIIC K - Which RLM number?

[Harry Lime]

Does anyone know the RLM code number for the shade of gray that these cameras were painted?

Here is an RLM color chart.

http://www.paintassistant.com/rlm.html

thanks

HL

 

[LeicaTom]

It's RLM 75 or Violet-Grey ~ that chart is terrible, looks way too light on my screen, I got my information from original German Luftwaffe paint charts.

I'm having some of this paint mixed up sometime soon.......

Tom

 

[Harry Lime]

Thanks Tom.

I was hedging my money on RLM 75 or Violet-Grey. It's a fairly unique looking color, but I wasn't sure, because I don't have a camera on hand to check it and you really can't trust a jpeg from the web.

And you're right, the colors on that chart are pretty far off.

I think someone here on RFF had a batch of RLM 75 mixed up a while back. If I remember correctly this poster was from the UK.

thanks again.

 

[john neal]

Harry,

That was me - still not sprayed the body yet though due to work / lack of work / grandchildren, etc 🙂 If you want a small part spraying, send it over, I have plenty of paint - 1/2 a litre was the minimum order.

 

[Harry Lime]

Hey John

Thanks for the offer.

I have a stripped M4 sitting here waiting to be repainted. I was going to paint it black (how predictable...), but recently started to consider RLM75 gray. I think I saw an M2 in this color a long time ago and it was quite sharp looking.

Where did you buy your paint? Did it have to be mixed from scratch?

thanks

 

[john neal]

Harry,

I got it from HMG Paints in Manchester (UK). They mixed it from scratch in cellulose laquer, based on the FS equivalent to the RLM no. I gave them the RLM and the CMYK figures, and they quoted the FS no straight back at me, so I thought why not?

The drips around the rim of the can look a good shade, but they have warned me to make sure I stir it for 10 to 15 minutes before I use it. I also got a can of pro grade thinner with it (avoids moisture bloom, apparently). I will start my experiments with a 50:50 mix of paint to thinner and see how it looks - I don't want to block up the script too much.

I could have had a stoving enamel in the same colour, but it has a very high build and their paint engineer thought it would fill the script too much. The beauty of cellulose is that, if I don't like it, I can easily remove it with thinner.

HMG used to be known as H Marcel Guest, and have been around for almost 100 years - they used to supply paint and dope to the RAF for wartime aircraft, and seem to know an awful lot about paint. I used to buy their shrinking dope as a boy, for my model aircraft - very good it was too. Sadly, I doubt they would be able to ship highly inflammable fluids outside the UK.

You just gave me an idea for my M4 - it could do with a CLA, and a grey one would be different, hmmm........

 

[Harry Lime]

Very interesting. But I think you are right that they probably can't ship a batch to the US or even within the EU...

I wonder how tough the RLM75 model paint is from Tamiya, Humbrol, Revell, Airfix etc.
(is Airfix even still around?) is in comparison. If I remember correctly the Tamiya paint is water soluble, but the other brands needed traditional thinner and are probably a lot more durable.

The RLM75 paint on the original LTM cameras most likely was the real deal from the Luftwaffe and probably aquite durable.

From what I have seen the black paint on original black M bodies is relatively mediocre. The stuff they are using on the new MP seems to be a lot tougher. Almost looks like car paint. I have a modern black paint Leicavit that sees daily use and all things considered the paint has held up pretty well.

Anyhow, maybe I'll look in to the model airplane stuff..., do some tests.

 

[Harry Lime]

I guess I could bake the model paint (not the Tamiya) in a regular oven at a very low heat.

 

[john neal]

Harry,

Airfix are still around - now owned by Humbrol (Humber Oil Co), I think. They do small post of interesting colours in ordinary enamel, plus some good matte paints. The matte ones can be thinned and sprayed with cellulose thinner, although they are not true cellulose paints. Give a real good finish with minimal paint application, but I don't think it would stand up to much abuse.

Baking at a low temp would seem to be a good idea for any paint on camera parts, it has to enhance durability, providing you don't overdo it 🙂

 

[LeicaTom]

I still have to figure out the restoration process of painting the vulcanite.....those model paints don`t come close to matching the original RLM 75 ~ my 1945 US Army IIIC K Grey shell was restored by DAG using these paints, and it's ok looking from like 5 ot 10 feet, but when you pick the camera up and really look at it, you can tell it's not matching the paint on the body.

I have to restore two shells, one for a 45' IIIC K Grey and other for a 45' IIIC K Chrome, the paint on the Chrome camera will be a shade darker as original was.....I have fragments of the original vulcanite to match up.

Tom