Orignal USMC markings?

[emmado22]

All,

I am looking for pictures of the orignal USMC yellow markings. I had pictures of my markings before my resto, but lost them in a computer crash. They were original and yellow, and I am trying to replicate them. I need to know:

What size
U.S.M.C. or USMC
and what font (stencil type font or "solid" font
Painted on or stickers?
Any pictures would help!

Thanks!

Mark

[emmado22]

I found a long lost email with some pictures of what I was looking for.

I will post it to help others who may need this info.

Does anyone know what color yellow the USMC used, or where to find something close to it?

[Rod]

I have painted close to 20-25 USMC mules in the last 6 years or so. When I 1st started painting mules, I tried to find the correct color of yellow paint locally but could not. I probably purchased 10 or 12 cans of different colors of yellow from several stores. I could not find anything locally that matched the color of yellow I was seeing on the USMC mules. The best matching yellow paint I have found is from Beachwod Canvas and is called their USMC Yellow Spray paint. This color of yellow matches the yellow I see on the mules exactly.

[emmado22]

I ordered a can of it today! Thanks!

Now to figure out the correct stencils from Rick Larsen.

[Rod]

Looking at the photo, it looks like the numbers on your mule were 1" which is interesting for a USMC mule. All of the USMC mules I have worked on have had the USMC 1.5" numbers. Which ever height of numbers you choose to use, just call Rick and tell him you want a set of mule numbers in height _______. He will have the the correct fonts. Be sure to order the gas tank warning stencil and the reflector tape set.

The US Army mules I have painted in the past and the one I have just finished today all have had the 1" numbers. I painted these with Rustoleum semi-gloss whit paint. I will get some pictures and post them tomorrow when I deliver the mule to the owner.

If you need any help on the stencils, send me a PM. I have applied many over the years. I use the blue painters tape because it does not stick to hard to the paint. Regular masking tape can pull the paint from the metal. The key is to mist several light paint layers to build up the thickness of paint instead of spraying a heavy coat of paint. Also you want to give the last light mist coat about 45 seconds or so to dry before you start removing the overspray protection and the stencils. Do not let the paint dry because it will seal the stencil to the paint. Having the following makes the smaller pieces of stencil easy to remove:
-Xacto knive with a sharp pointed blade.
-tweezers or medical hemostat
-

[emmado22]

The markings were 1 inch, and from what I could tell, original. I have the reflector set, and will order the USMC and gas tank stencils tommorrow. I did find evidence of the "aluminum foil" preservation tape on some openings and on the dataplate, and black stenciling that said PRES L/A 5/85 I can only assume that it means preservation level A, done 5/85 at one of the USMC Log bases, Barstow or Albany. When I was at USMC Log Base Barstow several years ago, I saw similar markings on the preserved equipment there. Anyone have any other info/ideas?

[major519]

As I am away from my yet to be restored mule, I believe that my stencils are 1" as well, USMC.
Rod, have you ever painted a mule in USMC 4 colour camo? I would assume flat black markings would be appropriate?
Another question, the four colour camo asks for 34079 forest green but it is not the same as the 34052 USMC forest green. Would the USMC have used their 34052 forest green in place of the 34079 forest green? The other colours asked for are 30118 Field Drab, 30277 sand and 911 flat black. Applied 45% 45% 5% 5%.
I understand that USMC mules were painted 24052 semi gloss at manufacture and would have had camo painted at the unit level when 4 colur came out in the late 1970s, early 80s.
Is it possible that uSMC mules were painted in the 34052 flat forest green from factory or would that have been unit repaint?
I am tossing it up whether i go for the 1960s Vietnam time frame or later in camo.

[emmado22]

I painted mine in 34079 Lusterless Forrest. I didnt like the USA or USMC color, so I did my own thing...

[Rod]

Yes I have painted on of my A5s in the Camo pattern because it was amowhen i got it. Use the search feature to find the info I posted on my Camo mule. I have it stored right not but need to get it back out. I finished it a coue of years ago for a show and then put it back in storage. I'll try to post more pics later this week.

Update: here is the link to my Camo mule. viewtopic.php?f=79&t=137879&p=795230&hilit=camo#p795230

Apparently I have not ever tanken pictures of the Camo Mule after I finished it. I will have to take some pics and post them here. It is really a nice A5 mule, complete restoration, nice camo paint, 4 wheel steer, etc...... Chuck thinks it is the nicest mule that we have ever completed. The 1st show I took this to, I turned down $7500 because I really didn't want to sell at the time. I may let this one go in the future to pay for another project.

[Marty, SoCal]

As to the four color paint scheme: When I was in the Marines in the mid 80's/90's, we were not using the 34052 paint for the green on anything, just the regular 34079 Forest green.

I'd do a 4 color Desert scheme if I owned a Mule.

[major519]

So Marty, if one were to do up a desert mule, would you sub the 30257 Earth Yellow in place of the 34079 Forest Green and still us the 30118 Field Drab 30277 sand and 911 black?
You got me thinking although here in Northern Ontario Canada I am pretty far from the desert. Guess I could always go hang out in the sand and gravel pit down the road...

[Marty, SoCal]

IIRC, there was alot more area of the Sand color, with only small areas of the Earth Yellow as accents, like the black. I need to dig through some boxes of pics and scan them so I can post them. Our M60-A1'a and MUTTs were Desert 4 color.

[Chuck W.]

This is the only photo I have for your cammo mule, still was not finished, no flat balck stencils yet.

[BryanMichenfelder]

not sure about how you feel about this scheme, but it is a Baifield a5 from 1968, just a idea...




it is the Army version...

thoughts?

I do have a manual and will try to get you copies of the painting guide for the mules.

[Marty, SoCal]

For a desert 4 color scheme, swap Sand in for the large Green areas in the scheme on BryanMichenfelder's Mule. Basically small stripes of Earth Yellow (In place of the Sand ) and Black striping with large areas of Field Drab and Sand.