Paint finish on Military Vehicles

[silversurfer1947]

Like many people, I saw an HL truck at a price that was too tempting. It is the American looking one. I have stripped it down and given it a coat of primer and top coated it with Tamiya Olive Drab. My question is - how matt should the final paint finish be? Apart from my Tiger, everything else I have painted has been a camouflage finish and the matt looks fine then. For some reason, on the truck it looks too flat. I am wondering how the actual vehicles were finished off. At re-ensactment days, I have seen vehicles finished in gloss paint, which does not seem correct, but would a satin type varnish be more appropriate?

[Soeren]

Well when looking at some videos on YouTube it is satin at least, quite shiny. Only when dirt and dust come into play the appearance gets dull.

[rochesb]

Years ago when I stripped the NATO camouflage paint off my 1983 Series 3 Landrover Airportable, underneath the factory original paint was satin finish …….

[capt midnight]

When I was in the Air Force, all our OD Green vehicles were painted in a satin finish. The trailers we loaded our missiles on were a satin finish as well.

Bill

[silversurfer1947]

Thanks to everyone. Satin finish it is.