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

Greetings Hoping to not open up a can of worms but I am looking to build a North Africa P-40 and know that US colors were different from those painted in the UK or at MU's. I imagine US colors were ANA standard and varied in shade from MAP standard. We're the US colors used more of a light sand, dark brown with neutral grey undersides? I often see US aircraft painted in MAP/RAF colors and am not sure of how correct they are. Cheers

Hello I have two questions regarding aircraft in the SEAC. Question #1 what is the width of the white theater identification bands and how would that translate to 1/48 in mm? #2 is there a solid consensus on camouflage for the theater regarding the color schemes used? I have a Spit Mk XIV that I would like to paint in the TSL eg. Dark earth, dark green and MSG undersides but cannot find a solid consensus on whether the Mk XIV we're in those previously mentioned colors or the green, ocean grey and MSG undersides. We're the aircraft sent over in the day fighter scheme then repainted at the MU's in the TSL colors? The model companies and many reference books confuse the issue constantly so I'm just trying to end the confusion. Cheers

Thanks for posting. From what I can tell there is a slight difference in length and chord indicating that there was not one specific blueprint with strict dimensions issued by MAP. I have seen two MkXIV Spits which were bubble tops and one had the shorter, fatter blades whilst the other hand the longer more tapered blades. Cheers

Thanks again Troy. After looking at whatever pictures I could find ( old black and white photos of varying clarity) it seems that I could pick out at least two distinct types, one with slightly shorter and wider blades with pointed tips then the other type that had a less wider chord and a little longer length with tapered tips. I have resin blades for my 1/48 Mk XIV Spit but they are a bit warped with a pronounced outward curve which just doesn't look right. The Ultracast blades may be a better choice than the Daco's I have. I have seen several Mk XIV's up close and didn't think to take a picture directly of the props. Both were bubble top marks, one at the museum at Davis-Montham AFB in Arizona and the other owned by the CAF in Camarillo CA. But, my main question seems to have been answered so I can go from here. Cheers

Hello all I have a question regarding the propellers used on the Mk XIV. Were there different manufacturers as there were for the Merlin Spits eg. De Havilland, Rotol etc? We're the chord and prop length different or was the same prop used on all versions of the Mk XIV? Any help on this would be great. Cheers

The cowlings are ok shape wise but it is the opening that is a bit constricted. That can be fixed by sanding down the edges of the inside opening. It can be done using the sandpaper wrapped around your finger or a piece of wood Dowling. The last time I saw aftermarket cowlings on Ebay they went for 55.00 usd with 10.00 shipping. That could buy you a new kit. There are tutorials on the web that show how to correct the cowls. Supposedly AM corrected the cowls but I haven't seen any difference. I used sandpaper and I think the cowl openings look fine but that's just me being a cheapskate. Hope this helps. Cheers

Oh yes, the Wasp. Why was I thinking Ranger? Besides, wasn't it Churchill who said something about a wasp stinging twice? I do like to get things right even though I don't post my builds and I am the only one who really knows where the warts are but it is still bothersome to see imperfections after hours of work. I try to ignore them and do better on the next build and eventually the warts turn into minor blemishes......well sort of. Cheers

The codes are both with the JF prefix. JF502 with the squadron code 4 QJ and the other markings were for JF565 with code AZ X.

If that is an early version then the large buldge C wing cover was not used from the looks of it. From what I have been able to find out the large or wide buldge cover was for use with the twin cannon set up which with the exception of a South African Squadron was not generally used in combat, although some of the first Mk Vc's to fly off the USS Ranger to Malta arrived with four cannons supposedly. Interestingly the early Mk IXc's had the wide buldge. Apparently the early Mk VIII's also carried the wide covers and who knows what blocks/serial numbers arrived with those cannon covers. Thanks for the picture, I feel relatively confident that I have the info I need for my MkVII build. My kit version of the Mk VIII with the extended wing tips and standard rudder (I previously thought all Mk VIII's had the larger rudder, appearently not) but cannot assume with absolute certainty that the covers were wide or not. I perhaps can assume that more than likely the early Mk VIII had the smaller buldges covers I think I am becoming obsessed with this topic due to AMS or advanced modellers syndrome aka OCD. Cheers

Thank, I cannot proceed with some confidence Cheers