B-25C interior color

[Lee_K]

Short answer: the cockpit of the B-25C is Bronze Green with insulation blankets mounted on the sides.  Bronze Green is a very dark green.  RLM 70 is a pretty good match, or you could use Euro I Green and add some black to it.  The bomb bay is aluminum lacquer.  The rest of the airplane is Interior Green.  The wheel wells are aluminum lacquer.  The landing struts and wheels were also aluminum lacquer.

Note that since the B-25 was in production for the entire war, there were multiple variations on interior colors.  The Bronze Green gave way to Dull Dark Green, which gave way to Interior Green.  Accurate Miniature's instructions for their B-25B kit state that the cockpit was Chromate Yellow, which I don't really believe.  Towards the end of the war, to speed up production, US aircraft went out mostly unprimed.  So natural metal throughout a B-25J is possible.

Here's a more detailed explanation by a friend of mine, John Clements, who now restores aircraft.  In the terminology of the day, Lemon-Yellow refers to what we call Chromate Yellow (sold by testors), and Yellow-Green is what we call Interior Green FS34151.

B-25 C/D and G Interior Colors

   Because of the business I'm lucky enough to be in (Warbird Restoration), and because our company's owner owns one B-25J and is part owner of another, I've been privy to a lot of B-25 information. I have access to two different Maintenance Manuals on the J model, as well as two different manuals on the C/D models. I have also acquired a copy of the Service Manual and a copy of the Overhaul Manual for the B-25, B-25A, and B-25B models. Several of these manuals contain a section on finish specifications, and while not all of these manuals contain this section, all of the models of the B-25 are covered, except the G model. I don't think it is stretching to say that the colors for the G would be the same as for the C/D that follow. The final piece of the puzzle came recently when I acquired the Overhaul Manual for the early B-25s, and I was able to compare all of the information I previously had. Here's a summary of what North American's maintenance manuals say are the colors of the interior of the early series B-25 airplanes. I will post colors of the later series airplanes in the near future. The information on the early series airplanes seems to be more urgent at this time.
   First, let me start by saying that all of the manuals make reference to untinted zinc chromate as "Lemon-Yellow" with an asterisk note that states "Designating "cast" of zinc chromate primer. This is a general statement. For specific application, see body of finish specification." They also make reference to tinted zinc chromate as yellow-green, per spec no. 3-100-H. This color is used as a finish coat and is color matched in lacquer form. The following is a list of interior finish colors that apply to B-25 thru B-25 C/D, and assumed for the G model:

LEMON-YELLOW-- Interior surfaces of ailerons, flaps, fins, rudders, stabilizer, elevators, and wings.

BRONZE GREEN NO.9-- Pilot's and Co-Pilot's cockpit, with soundproofing material in this area dyed to match.

YELLOW-GREEN-- Compartments for bombardier, navigator, radio and photographer, luggage and camera, and tail observation, with soundproofing material dyed to match. Fuselage interior parts, entrance ladder and steps.

ALUMINUM-- Bomb bay, life raft compartment, cowling interior, landing gear, wheel wells and nacelles, wheels, and seats.

FLAT BLACK-- Instrument panels and landing light compartment

   These manuals make an interesting statement about the surfaces under the soundproofing material. In paraphrase, they say that the surfaces under soundproofing material receives no primer or finish coat. What's interesting about that is that the photos in the manuals that show the various structures as sub-assemblies show finish coats applied, but do not show the soundproofing installed.

John Clements

[ipmsesadmin]

What color is the cockpit...seats etc general interior of the B-25. My references are not all that great. I'm doing this in 1:72 with the Italeri kit.

thanks