MSG Tornado F3

[Muzz]

I'm currently building a 1/48 Tornado F3 and plan to build ZH554 'HX' of 111 Sqn in the scheme worn in the last few months of service. In the reference photo's etc that I have I know the aircraft was finished in Medium Sea Grey wearing dark blue/red roundels on the fuselage and fin. I know some of the airframes had the whole fuselage, fin and tailplanes painted MSG and the wings left on the old Barley Grey, I also assume that some airframes were painted entirely in MSG. However the medium sea grey on ZH554 only appears to cover the upper fuselage, fin and tail planes. Can anyone confirm the colour for the main wings, pylons and lower fuselage please??

Muzz

[scotthldr]

A quick google search turned these up which may help. There is definitely a change of colour along the lower half of the fuselage. I would go with the eye and paint it as you see it

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sampilcher/51...in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilbury/5574...in/photostream/

http://www.targeta.co.uk/images/111_3529w6.jpg

[Muzz]

Scott

Thanks for your reply and taking the time to search out some pics, they help a lot!! I've seen the second photo down on Airliners.net but don't think its as clear as that one, from that view it would appear to be the forward fuselage, spine and fin that have been painted along with the tailplanes. With random MSG panels interspersed amongst the old scheme. I've also have the May 2011 edition of AFM which has HX on the front cover and clearly shows the Light Aircraft Grey underside. Could be an interesting scheme (for a grey jet!), thanks again.

Muzz

[Rob P]

Looks like a fair bit of panel repacement has been done. If doing that paint scheme, I'd use the panel lines as a guide for masking.