Proper shade of blue for Allison V-12 engine block?

[Chuck Most]

One of you guys who dabbles in aircraft might know- any paint out there which duplicates the pale blue color on an Allison aircraft V-12? Nothing in my stash even comes close, and I'd prefer not to have to custom-mix something if I don't need to.

[Art Anderson]

One of you guys who dabbles in aircraft might know- any paint out there which duplicates the pale blue color on an Allison aircraft V-12? Nothing in my stash even comes close, and I'd prefer not to have to custom-mix something if I don't need to.

If you are talking about the Allison V1710 as built, or as correctly restored, there's no blue on it, rather that is a medium gray color. To better understand the Allison V-12, it is an "assembled" engine, rather than a V-12 with the entire engine block (two 6-cylinder banks) cast "en-bloc" with the crankcase.

"Assembled" Vee engines dominated the V8/V12/V16 field through the 1930's, as opposed to say, the Ford flathead V8, which had its block cast just as modern OHV V8's have been since GM introduced the high compression V8's with Oldsmobile (1949) and Cadillac (1948). "Assembled" meant that there were two cylinder blocks, one right, one left, bolted to a separate crankcase. In the case of the Allison in military use, the crankcase, gear reduction casing and supercharger case were painted grey, the blocks were black, as were the cam covers.

Here's a link with three color pics of the restored Allison V12 in the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Fairborn OH. I was there just a year ago, saw that very engine, and can confirm that it is gray and black, no light blue.

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=804

Art

[Chuck Most]

Still looks more blue than gray to me. That's the color I am trying to duplicate, though.

[Art Anderson]

Still looks more blue than gray to me. That's the color I am trying to duplicate, though.

Well, considering the very harsh artificial light inside the USAF Museum (I was there with several of my local IPMS friends exactly one year ago this Saturday), that plays tricks with photography. The engine is gray and black, but a darker gray than say, Testors #1138. It's the lighting that makes it come out looking like a "dusty blue" in the pics.

Art

[Chuck Most]

Well, considering the very harsh artificial light inside the USAF Museum (I was there with several of my local IPMS friends exactly one year ago this Saturday), that plays tricks with photography. The engine is gray and black, but a darker gray than say, Testors #1138. It's the lighting that makes it come out looking like a "dusty blue" in the pics.

Art

Right you are. Recently saw one in person, and it was a pale grey. The guy who had it said he wasn't sure if it was the original paint or not, but Miracal gray primer (Dollar General's finest line of paints ) was an almost perfect match for this particular engine.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Pretty cool. I've been digging for that answer myself of and on. Thanks Art.