Seawinder Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I generally build my Spits with the elevators drooped, and I always wonder what color(s) I should use for the edge bits of the stabilizers and elevator horns that are thus exposed. Any thoughts? Thanks, Pip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Just guessing here, but before Graham logs on and gives us the benefit of his knowledge, but maybe the stabilizers would show grey-green primer along the edges exposed when the elevators were depressed/elevated, and the elevators, being fabric-covered and most likely painted before being fitted, would have the upper and lower colors split along the leading edge of the elevators. Bottom line, I have no idea, as restored Spitfires probably can't be used as representative of the wartime aircraft. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elger Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 (edited) maybe this helps. From http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/2001/12/stuff_eng_detail_spitfire_ix_01.htm Edited January 9, 2018 by elger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stever219 Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 (edited) I've just found images of (restored) TA805 and EP120 and gate guardian TE476 that agree with that posted by Elger. Edited January 9, 2018 by stever219 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seawinder Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share Posted January 9, 2018 Thanks, Elger et al. So I guess that looks like upper/lower camouflage colors? I wonder if the elevator horns received the same treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhoenixII Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Hi Pip, sorry can't give a firm answer to your question. One thing I will point out, be aware of restorations, lots of time spent, along with lots of money! and they will hopefully go on for years. My feeling's are, W.W.II R.A.F. service aircraft stabilizers and elevator horns would be either painted 'interior' green or aluminium or left NMF. Generally they were not expected to last more than months, a few years at best. Unless you can speak to someone who worked on a particular machine on a particular date in time, there is only 'what was', rather than 'what should have been'! Take an educated guess, it's up to someone else to PROVE you wrong!! Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 I'd counter venture that these bits would have all had a good coat over overspray such that for model purposes, they should just be "painted". We've all seen photographs of undercarriages including tyres painted Sky along with the rest of the underside. I see no logical reason why non-outward facing surfaces adjacent to the surfaces being camouflaged would escape liberal over spray anywhere else non-sensitive to paint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 https://goo.gl/images/HhwNzEp https://goo.gl/images/6PBzXn https://goo.gl/images/bRC6Tz Looks like it's just painted the adjacent topsides camouflage colour to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 I don't believe that any part on a British aircraft, that was exposed to the air, would be left in natural metal. (OK, the sliding part of the oleo, but that's not standard Duralumin/Alclad, and is effectively continuously oiled.) Lack of painting was adopted by the US in 1944 for their aircraft because of the short expected service life, but the RAF was always more interested in rebuilds rather than scrapping, where possible, so were more concerned about corrosion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seawinder Posted January 11, 2018 Author Share Posted January 11, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said: https://goo.gl/images/HhwNzEp https://goo.gl/images/6PBzXn https://goo.gl/images/bRC6Tz Looks like it's just painted the adjacent topsides camouflage colour to me. Those are really helpful photos, Jamie, thanks! Edited January 11, 2018 by Seawinder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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