The Official Monogram U.s. Navy And Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide- Vol 2- 1940-1949 -

If you want to paint an "average" Navy plane, go buy a hobby magazine. If you want to paint the Navy plane—the specific aircraft, on the specific day, from the specific squadron—you need Volume 2.

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. A Critique: Who is this NOT for? Honesty in reviewing: This is not a coffee table picture book. If you want glossy, full-page spreads of Mustangs in formation, look elsewhere. The images in Volume 2 are often grainy, black-and-white official Navy progress photos. They are chosen for detail , not drama. You will see close-ups of corroded cowling fasteners and peeling paint on a catapult hook. If you want to paint an "average" Navy

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. It covers the font, size, and color of every stencil

Also, the book assumes you know what a "BuNo" is. It is technical. It reads like a mechanic’s manual—because it is essentially a mechanic’s manual for historians. In the world of aviation color research, there is "guesswork" and there is "evidence." The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide- Vol 2- 1940-1949 is the evidence. It’s all here