Gloster Javelin prototype colour scheme

[John R]

In Martyn Chorlton's book 'The Javelin' there is a picture of the prototype wearing roundels but not, apparently, camouflaged. The topside is one colour and the underside a lighter one. The topside seems to be gloss as there is a reflection of the tail insignia in the top surface. Did it make its first flight wearing this scheme and if so what were the colours? The picture also shows the original jetpipe configuration. Later pictures showing it wearing camouflage also show a revised jetpipe configuration.

Another query concerns the top surface of the stabiliser where there is a large streamlined fairing which is not there in later pictures of it when wearing camouflage although it is there in pictures of the second prototype. What was it and when, and why, was it removed?

John

[71chally]

That top fairing was the spin parachute housing, it would be deployed if the aircraft entered a spin to help it recover.  It seems to come and go on the prototypes, but can't add anymore than that.