Why would someone paint an enamel DI? (31st Div)

[jkopz]

I recently acquired this insignia, and it seems someone used orange paint to cover the central star shape. I think the enamel underneath is blue. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if it were blue the DI would be for the 31st Tank Co, 31st Infantry Division. And I'm guessing the orange is for a signal company? 31st Signal Company?

 

Anyway, besides a definite identification, I am truly curious as to why someone would paint a DI like this. Perhaps an orange enameled one was unavailable, and so this one was improvised in a pinch? Is the orange one way more valuable and this is someone's attempt to make money? It's a mystery to me.

 

[tredhed2]

Yes, the blue bastioned fort is blue for the 31st Tank Co and orange for the 31st Signal Co.

 

Probably someone’s attempt at making a DI they could not acquire or sell otherwise.

 

I have seen attempts to paint damaged enamel in the same color….

[jkopz]

Thank you for the confirmation of the identification, I appreciate it!

 

I hadn't considered that the enamel underneath might be damaged. That seems like a good reason someone might try to paint it--if it was already damaged beyond repair.