Spitfires Forever

Thanks for the info. It coincides with the same info I read regarding SEAC Thunderbolts with the last shipments just bring natural metal and left as such. I was able to get a hold of Geoff Thomas' book on the subject, quite informative Cheers

Thanks for the info. It coincides with the same info I read regarding SEAC Thunderbolts with the last shipments just bring natural metal and left as such. Cheers

Greetings Once again I'm a bit confused on the color schemes if SEAC fighters, specifically regarding the application of Dk. Earth, Dk. Green over Medium Sea Grey vs Ocean Grey, Dk. Green over Medium Sea Grey. I have read varying accounts regarding the schemes. One account says that originally the aircraft were painted in the Earth, green over grey until 1945 when the Spitfires, and by many accounts Thunderbolts which arrived in the grey, green over msg were no longer repainted because command felt the mission changed enough that the repaint was no longer a priority. As an example, Ginger Lacey's Mk XIV has been depicted in both schemes so which one is correct? Anyone able to elaborate on the subject? I would like to build a Spit Mk XIV in SEAC colors but not sure which direction to go. Cheers

Thank you. Dana, as has Nick Millman have been very helpful in the past and are both recognized as authorities on the subject of paint and paint schemes.I have several books by Dana and they have helped greatly in the past and Nick has clarified much regarding Japanese aircraft. Cheers Understood, thanks.

Thanks, that corroborates the information I have read previously regarding the early P-40B's sent to China. As for "Lend-Lease" that is hourly a term to describe US manufactured aircraft in British service so perhaps I will use that term in future to not insult those with sensitivity on the issue. Sorry for the unintended slight to any of those sensitive to the subject. Supposedly the US dark tan and medium green (similar to foliage green?) started to appear on P-40E-K 's in late 1942 sent on from OZ (were they painted there or were the color OD green and over sprayed with dark tan in theatre? ) to the CBI as one very old magazine article speculated. Anyway, I feel comfortable going with the Curtiss TLS colors. Thanks again Cheers

Thanks for your input. I figured it would not be an easy answer especially regarding paint schemes and colors used 80+ years ago. As usual I try to perform due diligence then after as much research as possible I trust it all to luck. Some aircraft are more cut and dried like RAF of most US aircraft then there is the constant conundrum regarding lend lease and the myriad color substitutes/ equivalent which is enough to commit one to the loony bin. Dana Bell would know if anyone does. Maybe he will read my post and come to the rescue. The search continues as always. Cheers

Greetings I am researching the AVG and have several P-40's to choose from as possible AVG aircraft. Most likely it will be the classic P-40B. my question is what colors were used on the early P-40B's? One account I read said that P-40's meant for the RAF which were sent to China were in Curtiss MAP equivalents/substitutes, ie. Temperate land scheme/ DkEarth, Dark Green over Duck Egg Blue. Other accounts described medium US Green with Dark Tan over Neutral Grey. I'm a bit confused and don't entirely trust the kit color call outs, and looking at current warbirds only tells me that the color schemes on most P-40's are pure guess work. Any reliable information on the colors/scheme I am inquiring about? Any help would be appreciated. Cheers

Same to you and yours. Cheers

That would explain the designation, a bit confusing but it makes sense. Thanks for the clarification. Cheers

I looked at Wikipedia and the article is fairly extensive but only lists the Spots prior to 1945 when Johnnie flew the Mk IX . Interestingly the Mk IX's listed are designated IXB's which designation was rare to see yet I have read pilot accounts that listed their aircraft as B models. I imagine they were referring to the C models? Anyway, I am sure that if Johnnie flew the high back C model there would be some kind of record of it Cheers

Hello and Happy Holidays to all that may apply to from the Frozen States across the pond. My query is about Johnnie Johnson's Mk XIV types he did fly or may have flown in combat. I have built a Mk IX replica of a pre D-Day aircraft he flew but have just built a high back Mk XIVc so I was wondering if he ever flew that version. I have found photos of his Mk XIVc but have not had success finding anything on the C model. Any advice? Cheers

The P-40E would be in RAF livery with my P-40K being painted in US dark tan. I figure a bit of lightening of the colors would hopefully reflect bleaching that occurred whilst being in the desert. A good example of that would be the P-40 recently found in North Africa but maybe that would be a bit too extreme exposure-wise. Cheers

I find color questions can be very complicated and color chips sent over the internet usually don't translate well optically. The P-40 in mind would be a P-40E. I assumed all P-40's sent to North Africa would have been painted in US equivalent colors but since I can't time travel I will stick to stock colors. I'm familiar with Grumman and Vought color schemes but had read that the US colors for the Med/NA theatres were quite different in shade/tonal qualities. I will just trust it to luck and avoid the color controversy in the future since it is often more speculatory than anything else. Thanks for all the advice guys Cheers

I thought both RAF lend lease and US aircraft were painted in equivalent/ substitute colors? I mentioned early on that so was going to build a P-40 and assumed that the aircraft were painted in the US with DuPont paints. We're the RAF aircraft repainted in MAP colors upon arrival. I'm basically looking for ANA/FS colors used for the Med/ North African colors as I mentioned in my original post.

Thanks for the reply. I know Dana Bell has done some extensive research into the subject of lend-lease aircraft colors but I can't seem to find it at this time. Cheers