brewerjerry Posted March 22, 2012 Share Posted March 22, 2012 (edited) Hi Found via the link from the WAAF with paint thread. It was suggested this would make a good discussion thread. So what are the colours on this mossie ? And as a sideline what were the mods to make it PR ? Sorry no prizes just for enjoyment. Mossie FBVI HP968 of No.60 Sqdn SAAF Note removal of armament. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/6...57605269786717/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/6...57605269786717/ http://wildaviation.com/cms/index.php?opti...mp;limitstart=2 quote :- The first Mosquito's operated by 60 Squadron SAAF were converted night fighters and they reportedly carried the standard RAF night fighter scheme of Medium Sea Grey overall with a disruptive Dark Green upper surfaces. Photographic evidence I have seen suggests that the undersides were a darker shade than the light colour (medium sea grey?) uppersurfaces. It is possible that this colour is Azure blue or even more likely Light Mediterranean Blue. At least one of these (DD744) is known to have been finished in what appears to be an overall silver scheme as well. It is uncertain if this scheme was used in operations though. These aircraft were later repainted in a dark blue scheme (bosuns blue?) cheers Jerry Edited July 31, 2015 by brewerjerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nwanda Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hi I have gone with PR blue overall and a load of artistic licence, as there doesn't seem to be a consensus. (Building the Airfix 1/24 converted to a PR II, only been busy on it for nigh on three years ..... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOAN Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hello, To me these flickr's pics looks reworked / touch up....( yellow spinner, roundels, sky ... ).So I would be very doubtful about the "real" colors.Anyway a very interresting part is the tail : any "clear" PRU here ? what do you think ? Olivier Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidelvy Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'd say standard night fighter scheme of MSG and DG but with Night undersides as applied for the intruder role. Then add in the affect of exposure to the elements to fade the paint, the odd touch-up here and there and a replacement spinner taken from a machine in a different flight or squadron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I'd say standard night fighter scheme of MSG and DG but with Night undersides as applied for the intruder role. Then add in the affect of exposure to the elements to fade the paint, the odd touch-up here and there and a replacement spinner taken from a machine in a different flight or squadron. Agree, looks quite standard to me. The undersurfaces are clearly black, comparing them with the propeller blades shows this. The P-38 (or whatver recce version it might be) behind the Mossie looks interesting, with what looks like a haze paint scheme touched up with blue under the serial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The wooksta V2.0 Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 At least one of these (DD744) is known to have been finished in what appears to be an overall silver scheme as well. It is uncertain if this scheme was used in operations though. These aircraft were later repainted in a dark blue scheme (bosuns blue?) Except that everyone sees the photos of DD744 in that scheme and assumes that, because it was later modified locally in North Africa to be a PRII, it was a PRII at that stage. It wasn't. The photos were taken in the UK and it was still an NFII at that stage, albeit without radar. Reasons why it's still an NF? No tropical filters on the engines, it still has the flame damper on the exausts, the cannon bay doors have no camera ports. On top of that, if one examines the background of the photos more carefully, there's a Mosquito B.IV in bomber camouflage in the distance, along with several oak trees! There are several photos of DD744 (and I've also got one of DD743 somewhere) during it's time with 60 sqn in the Ian Thirsk book/photographic essay on the Mosquito, and one clearly shows the modifications, especially the camera ports. Camo at that time? Dark green disruptive over Medium Sea Grey. I've never seen any mention anywhere of the aircraft being repainted in a dark blue and I've scoured every book on the Mosquito I could lay my hands on for info on the PRIIs. My apologies for the slight hijack. As for the FBVI, I'd go with what David and Giorgio have said. It definitely needs the tropical filters (Hurricane Vokes filters modified are probably closest for modelling purposes) and I'd imagine that the camera fit would be similar to that of DD744. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 Hi Sort of a bump, i am looking at my 1:32 tamiya mossie thinking of options and i thought of this and also the 4 x PRII's that went to 1 PRU Only managed to find one serial DD659 which went to 1 PRU then 540 Sqn anyone seen any info on the other 3 a/c or camo / markings etc cheers jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Marshall Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 The official war diary for 60 Sqn quotes "Midnite Blue" as two aircraft were painted in an overall scheme of MB. Regards William Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Fletcher Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 Hi Jerry, The four Mosquito PR.IIs that went to 1 PRU were W4089, DD615, DD620 and DD659. They were delivered to 1 PRU between Apr 42 and Jun 42. Best Regards Andy Fletcher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 2, 2015 Share Posted August 2, 2015 The official war diary for 60 Sqn quotes "Midnite Blue" as two aircraft were painted in an overall scheme of MB. Regards William But at which date? Presumably after the photograph referred to was taken? Or earlier? Also, there is no paint called "Midnite Blue" - whichever the spelling - so this is a term casually used by the unit's recorder rather than an accurate description. It does suggest a colour darker than PRU Blue - possibly. Earlier PR aircraft in the ME did use a colour darker than PRUB based on an ICI colour called Bosun Blue. This colour is described in Geoff Thomas's "Eyes for the Phoenix", but it is not clear when this fell out of use and may predate the arrival of the SAAF's PR Mk.IIs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Hi Jerry, The four Mosquito PR.IIs that went to 1 PRU were W4089, DD615, DD620 and DD659. They were delivered to 1 PRU between Apr 42 and Jun 42. Best Regards Andy Fletcher Hi Andy, Thanks for the info Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted August 2, 2015 Author Share Posted August 2, 2015 Hi midnite blue, ( or whatever it is called) sounds interesting Cheers Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 It's darker than Azure Blue for sure, and it looks darker than PRU blue too (albeit a bit faded). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
occa Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 The end if the right wing appears as if it has Dark Earth on it: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/6157774839/sizes/o/in/set-72157605269786717/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonC Posted August 3, 2015 Share Posted August 3, 2015 The end if the right wing appears as if it has Dark Earth on it: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8270787@N07/6157774839/sizes/o/in/set-72157605269786717/ Given the state of the aircraft, my assumption would have been faded Dark Green, but I agree that it looks rather brown! Also worth noting what appear to be oil streaks on both tailplanes, presumably from engine leaks. Regards, J. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Aereo Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 (edited) Deleted: Something I remembered wrongly. Edited August 4, 2015 by Super Aereo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 There's a colour photo of 23 Sqn Mosquitos on Malta which does appear to be showing a scheme of Dark Earth and Medium Sea Grey, and I have seen a colour profile which assumes that. However, there's no real doubt that this was simply the effect of weathering on the Dark Green of the Night Fighter scheme. This who visit the UK museums where aircraft are stored in the open air will be familiar with the dark brown appearance of the older aircraft - although more modern ones, and some of the repainted older ones, do go a rather virulent pea green. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Hugo Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I been away from my PC for some time and here are my comments and possibly Stefaan Bouwer can jump in The linked photographs are for one of at least two Mosquito FBVI's that 60 squadron operated in Italy. IIRC they were used as training aircraft to preserve hours on the PR aircraft 60 Squadron operated at the time. The different colour spinners could be because the aircraft are not attached to any specific flight in the squadron (one had red spinners and the other yellow) which could support the training/central role of these aircraft. My take on the scheme is night intruder with very faded worn dark green medium sea grey uppers with night undersides. Very very tasty scheme in my opinion (hmm Tamiya here I come) BTW some 60 Sqd SAAF pilots reportedly flew USAAF Lightnings as well, I wonder if the aircraft in the background could be one of them, how I wish I could see more of it. As to the mods for the 2 NF!!'s at minimum weapons would be removed, camera ports would be fitted as well cameras and mounting hardware. I have two photographs of these two modified aircraft from various web sources, one appears to be an overall light colour scheme, possibly an overall grey or light(ish) blue or possibly aluminium (unlikely but I like the option) the other appears to be standard day fighter scheme. Unfortunately I cannot give any dates as to when those photographs were taken Charles Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 Hi All Thanks for all the input/info I did wonder if the 'red' spinner and 'roundel red' had been replaced with that 'orangy red ' the one that the SAAF used and is shown in those famous spitfire photos apologies for my descriptions used to describe the paint colours cheers jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brewerjerry Posted August 4, 2015 Author Share Posted August 4, 2015 ...... Charles Hi Charles Thanks for the excellent info cheers jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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