RAF P-40 Factory Colours

[Dave Fleming]

For those who have followed the discussion over the years as to the colours that RAF Tomahawks and Kittyhawks were painted at the factory, this video of the recovery of the Kittyhawk from the Desert provides a few moments of illumination (Pun intended, as it was shot at night!)

 

Especially at 1:30, where we see the original fuselage colours that had been protected from the elements and repaintng by the wing root - Dark Earth, Dark Green and a distinctly 'Sky' looking shade. Later in the video, you see the undersides, and areas where the Azure blue has been weathered away, again look Sky.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov8jVroC820

 

Sadly, the 'restoration' by the Egyptians has lost the chance to examine these aspects of this relic. I can only hope the RAFM survey and record keeping includes the paints (and please, paint samples)

Edited January 12, 2018 by Dave Fleming

[Biggles81]

Very interesting and sadly with the somewhat ironic title “saving kitty hawaak p40” given subsequent events.

[Vonbraun]

For the P-40 obsessed here are a few screenshots from the video showing the original Curtiss applied paint at the wing root and the RAF applied Azure Blue over the original Sky Gray...

Hopefully the aircraft was meticulously photographed prior to its restoration.