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I am currently working on the new Airfix 1:48 Avro Anson Mk1 and need some help with the underwing colour of the aircraft I am depicting. The aircraft is Anson N9857 of 19 OTU, RAF Kinloss which crashed during a blizzard near Ben More Assynt in NW Sutherland on 13th April 1941 whilst on a navigation training exercise. I live near there and am currently working on a modelling project to honour the crews of WW2 aircraft which crashed in the far north of Scotland. I have completed a Spitfire Mk1 of 124 Squadron (R7154) which force landed on Sandwood Beach in September 1941 (model can be seen in Ready For Inspection) and will also model a Spitfire Mk VII of 2AGS (MD109) which belly landed on nearby Sheigra beach in April 1945 and a Mosquito Mk IV of 618 Squadron (DZ486) which crashed on the mountain Cranstackie in April 1943. Other than Spitfire R7154, I have not been able to unearth any photos of these aircraft. The best I have been able to find are pictures of other aircraft, often of a different type, for the same squadron. As such, I am relying on what would appear to be the typical colour and markings for the aircraft type and period from photos and written descriptions- especially the excellent ‘British Aviation Colours of World War Two, The Official Camouflage, Colours and Markings of RAF Aircraft 1939-1945’, RAF Museum Series: Vol 3, Arms and Armour Press. However, I am a bit confused with the underwing colour and markings of the Avro Anson Mk1 in a an OTU in 1941. According to the above mentioned book for the time period “Service types of aircraft in operational training units, air fighting development units, the Fighter Interception Unit and No. 2 School of Army Co-operation are to conform to the normal colour scheme for the aircraft ro1e. This would mean the underside was Sky if the Anson was still considered to be a “Service” type of aircraft. As the Anson had been retired from its maritime role by then and was mainly used in training and communication roles could it still be called a “Service” type of aircraft? If it not, then under Training and Communication aircraft “The under-surface, of aircraft, except fighter training aircraft, are to be coloured yellow.” and “operational type aircraft coloured yellow for training purposes, are to carry these numbers (registration numbers) on the under-surfaces of the wings." So, was the underside Sky or Yellow? If Yellow, what size was the underwing registration numbers as the book does not specify this? The book says the fuselage side codes should be 48 inches unless the fuselage size required smaller. Would the underwing registration numbers also be this size? The underwing registration numbers with the kit are for a RCAF trainer and are about 40 inches – is this a more appropriate size as 48 inches takes up a lot of wing cord? If anyone can give me help with this I would be very grateful – it will stop me getting progressively tied up in knots. I have visited the crash site many times and have photos of the remaining bits of wreckage but nothing of what is left helps me with this. Incidentally, this Anson’s turret was taken away intact and is apparently fitted to the Anson in the Imperial War Museum, Duxford. My model of the Spitfire which force landed on Sandwood beach can be found in Ready For Inspection here Cheers Murdo MacPherson