Colours for Mustang IV in RAF Service

[Roman Schilhart]

Dear fellow modellers

I recently purchased this decal sheet for RAF Mustang IV's:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72131

Some of them come in Grey/Green upper surfaces, and according to some sources, these colours were not the same as used on Spitfires, Typhoons or Tempests.

Especially the Green seems to appear 'olive drab' (instead of 'dark green').

I understand the reason is that they were painted US colours.

Can anyone verify correct shades within the Gunze Mr.Hobby Colour range?

Thanks in advance,

Roman

[tonyot]

Some were repainted using RAF colours and some retained the US paint, however some silver Mustangs destined for the RAF were camouflaged upon arrival, again using RAF colours!! Later it was decided to keep the silver ones in the finish that they arrived in, but only later on during the war, circa 1945.

The US colours usually appear to be darker and closely matched tonally in b&w pics while the RAF colours are lighter and the camouflage pattern is easier to distinguish in photos. You are better off finding a photo of your subject aircraft and then deciding which finish to apply.

I hope that this helps,

Tony O

[Test Graham]

I've seen it suggested that only those delivered to the UK were repainted in MAP colours, and those delivered directly to Italy retained US colours. There is also evidence for different patterns on at least some Italian-based aircraft. Hopefully Terry McGrady will come along and clarify at least the latter subject.

edit: name correction. Apologies.

Edited August 15, 2013 by Graham Boak

[Terry McGrady]

I've seen it suggested that only those delivered to the UK were repainted in MAP colours, and those delivered directly to Italy retained US colours. There is also evidence for different patterns on at least some Italian-based aircraft. Hopefully Terry O'Grady will come along and clarify at least the latter subject.

Tony is pretty much on the ball with this one . . You will find that Mustang MKIVs were in service with the RAF in Italy before they were in the UK, the allocation of Mustangs to the RAF falling short for a time as they were required for escort missions with the 15th AF . As a result the RAF didn't get the numbers they were hoping for

Those MKIV that arrived in the UK were at Factories like Rootes Group for modification to RAF standards and then on to various MUs before being allocated to Squadrons in the UK Mustang MKIVs which arrived in the UK in September 44 for instance not being allocated to Squadrons until Feb /March 45

The first "Silver" Mustang MKIV in RAF service was KH716 CV*P of 3 RAAF Murray Nash.'s A/C This A/C appeared on the Squadron 10th December

1944 replacing KH677 an American painted A/C which became CV*<> which appeared on the Squadron 26/11/44.The majority of Med/ Italy based Mustangs MKII& IV were delivered via Casablanca

One reason for the repainting of UK based Mustang IV was the poor quality paint finish in some cases so I've been informed

Cheers

Tery McGrady

Edited August 14, 2013 by Terry McGrady

[Terry McGrady]

Dear fellow modellers

I recently purchased this decal sheet for RAF Mustang IV's:

http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72131

Some of them come in Grey/Green upper surfaces, and according to some sources, these colours were not the same as used on Spitfires, Typhoons or Tempests.

Especially the Green seems to appear 'olive drab' (instead of 'dark green').

I understand the reason is that they were painted US colours.

Can anyone verify correct shades within the Gunze Mr.Hobby Colour range?

Thanks in advance,

Roman

HI Roman

If you wish to model CV*W of 3 RAAF then this A/C was painted at 159 ?MU at Brindisi and you would need the MR Hobby paints closest to RAF DG /Ocean Grey Medium Sea Grey

Cheers

Terry McGrady

Edited August 15, 2013 by Terry McGrady

[Kagemusha]

This is a great article http://www.3squadron.org.au/subpages/Mustangs/3%20Sqn%20P-51K%20P1.htm

[Hornet133]

Yes that is my article which I did about 8 years ago. The info is still relevant today and has not been superceded.

Note that it only covers the airframes in Italy, the ones that were repainted after delivery to the UK in the Day Fighter Scheme with the standard MAP pattern for fighters are not included therein.

The scans of the instructions on the Hannants site are way too small to be able to make any comments as to how accurate they may be (or not).

Steve Mackenzie

[Fernando]

Hi, Roman,

In theory, Mustang IVs were painted in "Substitute" colours, according to the "ANA Bulletin no. 157". These were ANA 603 Sea Grey, ANA 613 Olive Drab and ANA 602 Light Grey. I would go for the Gunze paints matched to FS36118, some WW2 Olive Drab (NOT 34087) and FS36440, respectively.

All this counting they were not repainted in the UK.

FErnando

[Edgar]

From Tango98:-

[Paul J]

Then there is the fact that the US painted ones had a different camo pattern known as the Firewall scheme. A number of the RAAF ones were so painted.

As per the link mentioned above!!

[tonyot]

Then there is the fact that the US painted ones had a different camo pattern known as the Firewall scheme. A number of the RAAF ones were so painted.

As per the link mentioned above!!

Hiya Paul,

A bit of a minefield RAF Mustang colours but the Firewall scheme was actually an RAF applied scheme, applied to Italian based Mk.III`s & IV`s and only a hundred or so were finished in this manner. The MU responsible applied its Crocodile motif onto one side of the tail fin! 3 Sqn RAAF based in Italy was a major recipient of Firewall painted a/c but RAF units within the same wing did receive some too.

For anybody interested in RAF Mustang Mk.III/IV camo I can wholeheartedly recommend the book `Southern Cross Mustangs' which is full of interesting info and photos which also include Pacific theatre and post war use of the type by the RAAF & RNZAF.

Cheers

Tony O

[Super Aereo]

It's a great pity that "Southern Cross Mustangs" is not available in electronic format: the volume is very heavy and getting it shipped to the UK from Oz costs a fortune...

[gingerbob]

Or a pity that someone in the Northern Hemisphere doesn't just stock them.

bob

[Spookytooth]

On a similar thread, did the Mustangs keep the yellow leading edge markings ?

[Pat C]

I know that these are Mustang III's but what pattern are the middle two aircraft wearing? The nearest and furthest aircraft look to have the standard pattern but have the colours just been reversed for the middle two or is the pattern itself different? I was struggling to tell.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._19_Squadron_RAF#/media/File:Mustang_IIIs_19_Sqn_RAF_in_flight_April_1944.jpg

Pat

[Admiral Puff]

On a similar thread, did the Mustangs keep the yellow leading edge markings ?

Not in the MTO - the recognition feature there was the red spinner.

[Graham Boak]

The US seems to have adopted yellow wing bands for its Mustangs and at least some other fighters, but I don't know that this was common to the RAF in this theatre - I don't think so.

[noelh]

I noticed this preserved Mustang has been painted as KH774 G - AS. According to the Flypast article the owner wanted an 'authentic' finish and went for the 'firewall' scheme. Note the red spinner and lack of yellow leading edges. It is missing the filter on the cowling and I don't see any crocodile.

[Admiral Puff]

The crocodile was the unofficial badge of 159 MU (formerly No. 3 (ME) Aircraft Repair Unit) in Egypt, and it appeared on aircraft refinished by the unit above the fin flash on the port side only - see SCM p. 134.

[tonyot]

Here is my Hasegawa 1/32nd scale Mustang with a rather flat looking version of the159 MU Crocodile above the fin flash ;

The same aircraft but in 48th scale!

and here is a 1/72nd 112 Sqn sharkmouth to show the other side of the Firewall scheme;

I just love the RAF/Commonwealth units based in Italy during WW2,.......such an interesting yet little known subject,

Cheers

Tony

Edited March 18, 2015 by tonyot