The colors of the Firefly are rather unclear. The following color and schemes were identified:
Many black and white photos in 'Lightning Bugs and other reconnaissance drones' suggest an overall black scheme. On page 128 it is reported that "unlike most other operational drones, which were black, the low-level NP model flew with a camouflaged paint scheme". The USAF Museum's AQM-34N and the Pima AQM-34Q appear to be the only remaining black examples.
Definitely confirmed to be black were the 147SRE aka AQM-34K night recce Firebees. 'Lightning Bugs' page 142 quotes "This visual night reference [reflective tape] was necessary as no detail whatever of an absolutely black bird can be seen against an absolutely black sky".
One important remark about the black scheme. Black and white photos of the armed BGM-34A's also suggest they were black. It is hard to believe, but they are orange-red in reality! Apparently this color shows as black in b&w photos. In some cases both b&w and color versions are known, and this shows it without a doubt. It isn't likely that the USAF flew orange-red AQM-34's over Vietnam, but possibly some test birds were painted in this color.Another possible example of the orange-red vs black problem is shown in chapter 6 of 'Lightning Bugs'. I say possible, since the analysis depends on 100% accurate photo captions. The second Model 147A (147A-2) was the first Model 147 with a rear fuselage plug and an enlarged nose section. The photo on page 28 suggests this is 147A-2, and it looks very black. On page 30 147A-2 is seen again, after its premature parachute recovery during a test flight. It doesn't look black at all here, and you can see the black 'U.S. AIR FORCE' marking clearly. So, was it orange-red too? Probably. Actually, I don't think it is a bad idea when you overfly four US states with your unmanned bird!
BQM-34A target drone are painted in an orange-red color. It seems the USAF and USN use (used) different colors. This Don Color page about the '1959 USN Firebee paint scheme' reports the Federal Standard number of this color to be FS 28913. Testors/Italeri has this color in its Model Master II range. Humbrol has no match, and neither does Revell-Germany. The USAF BQM-34's that Mark Nankivil photographed are painted in FS 12197. The USAF Tech Order 1-1-4 (as reproduced in Dana Bell's USAF colors and markings in the 1990's), section 4-17, specifies this color for target drones.
'Lightning Bugs' also shows quite a few overall light grey examples, as do Larry Engesath's photos.
Larry Engesath's photos from 1973 also show a two-color grey scheme, with FS 36622 on the lower side and possibly US Navy gull gray on the top side
Some of the camo pattern of an NP model can be seen on page 123 of 'Lightning Bugs'. Colors are not known.
On page 55 of 'Lightning Bugs', a white and light grey example appears to be visible. The top color appears to be identical to the pylon color (FS 36622).
The long tailcone (housing two parachutes) appears to have been black on almost all Fireflies. On later models, the forward part of the cone is sometimes in the camouflage color too. The 'radar blankets' (aka RAM) reported in the first chapters of 'Lightning Bugs' appear to be white.
Some snippets about markings:
Some had (parts of) their serial numbers painted on. On some the last four digits were painted in various locations.
Tail codes: 'DM' for the Davis-Monthan based TAC units that operated AQM-34's. 'HI' is also known (AQM-34V), possibly used by 6514th Test Squadron while bases at Hill AFB.
No national markings appear to have been carried.
No 'U.S. AIR FORCE' markings appear to have been carried by AQM-34's. Exceptions are test birds flown over and around the USA.
Stencils.
Mission markings, apparently on both sides.
Name given after 5 completed missions.
Turbine warning stripe on nacelle.
'Lightning Bugs' page page 65 reports that in 1964, 147B's were flown with Taiwanese roundels.
Drew Hill found the painting instructions for the BQM-34 target drone in Air Force manual TO 1-1-4.
The 1959 USN Firebee paint scheme can be found on the Don Color site.