Marsden Matting question... what did it look like new?

[p51]

I'm wondering what the original color was of sections of Marsden Matting or pierced (or perforated) steel planking (PSP) in WW2.

I'm building a model RR layout that takes place in 1943 and I want to throw some sections of the stuff into the back of a truck. They're etched brass and it got me wondering what color they were when they were new, before they turned to a rust color...

A prolonged internet search didn't turn up any photos online showing new sections in photos taken in WW2.

 

[Renault]

Dang. Wished I'd paid more attention to it. When I was younger you used to see them all around at assorted ranches with sections used to built gathering pens! I don't remember when it was the last time I saw any on a pen. Suppose they all rusted up by now.

 

[Stearmen]

Brand new, they were a dull silver, kind of galvanized, even though they were not.

 

[Stearmen]

Oh, and don't forget to tell people it was named after the town in North Carolina, not some fictional man!

 

[Otter]

Nice theme P51, what scale are you doing?

 

[p51]

I model in On30 gauge: http://www.freewebs.com/willysmb44/modeltrains.htm
No scenery yet, but that'll be started soon.
I got a pre-made section of matting made for airplane dioramas, but I wanted to show some sheets out by themsevles. This will also include a 1/48 scale Nissen hut, which will represent a US Army RR operating unit.

Brand new, they were a dull silver, kind of galvanized, even though they were not.

That's actually re-finished WW2 stuff being sold by a company today. Period photos seem to support a color other than galvanized, but you just can't tell.
I'm hoping to find a reference actually from WW2, not what they looked like after the war.

 

[Stearmen]

It has to be a grey silver, all the photos point to that! Notice the damaged peaces, little or no rust, they had a protective coating. Not sure if it was paint or a type of galvanizing? There was another kind of matting used, with rods, it rusted on the ships.

 

[Stearmen]

Maybe these two films will help. They show the mat as it arrived at the construction sight. One is prewar, the other is 1943. [video=youtube;c_heqdlC7B4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_heqdlC7B4[/video]

 

[Stearmen]

Notice the steal bands holding the mats together like the photos above! [video=youtube;X5gZMY4r5qs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5gZMY4r5qs[/video]

 

[Otter]

P51, nice, I am just starting a little whimsical project in on30. I am running a little mining line round my halo at picture rail height. I intend to put in a little pithead and ore crushing plant that looks as if it comes out of the walls and a small line of ore trucks pulled by my little Bachmann Porter.