Supermarine Spitfire MK1 WZ T - Munich Crisis

[Octávio Mântua]

Hi all,

 

I have a question about the registration of this aircraft that I would like to ask the forum.

 

Apparently this aircraft (WZ T) had as registration number: K9794. 

 

The airfix kit does not provide andy registration decals but a previous AZmodel kit issued this decal. On the other hand there is a photo os this aircraft with the registration covered.

 

My question is: Was this registration number covered on the real aircraft or was this covered only on the photo (so as not to reveil sensible information to the enemy)? 

 

Photo of the AZ kit:

Captura de ecrã 2022-11-03 212404 by ZlinXII, no Flickr

 

Captura de ecrã 2022-11-03 212404 by ZlinXII, no Flickr

 

 

Photo of the real aircraft:

 

wzt3 - Cópia by ZlinXII, no Flickr

 

Best regards,

Octávio

[Scott Hemsley]

It may sound cynical and I'm far from an expert of WZ*T, but scrutinizing the photo, I'd place my vote for it being overpainted on the aircraft.  IMO, it's far too neat for a wartime censor.  Usually in all the censored photos I've come across, anything they wanted to censor was basically scratched out on the negative.  This definitely looks painted directly on the airframe. Maybe others more familiar with this particular airframe, at this particular time .... will chime in soon.  

 

Scott

[Troy Smith]

4 hours ago, Octávio Mântua said:

 

My question is: Was this registration number covered on the real aircraft

Munich Crisis security

Other from the same era show painted out serials.

19 Squadron 40 by Сергей Кривицкий, on Flickr

 

19 Squadron 06 by Сергей Кривицкий, on Flickr

 

Possibly painted for the photos  as these look to be from a press visit. 

 

Also note the variations on upperwing roundels

 

19 Squadron 07 by Сергей Кривицкий, on Flickr

 

WZ-L has none, WZ-B only on port wing.  

 

This is always worth a read for what when and why..

https://boxartden.com/reference/gallery/index.php/Camouflage-Markings/Supermarine-Spitfire

 

HTH

[Octávio Mântua]

Thanks Scott and Troy!

 

Great information and reading material!

 

Best regards,

Octávio

[jimmaas]

In addition, at least one of the aircraft from 19 Sdn had the underwing serials noticeably blacked out (as is a black rectangle)  either before or when the white starboard undersurfaces were applied (the white also left a 'ghost' of the underwing roundel).  This was true on WZ-B,   Other aircraft had 'B' roundels under the starboard wing.  I can't shed any light on whether either case applied to WZ-T.

[Selwyn]

9 hours ago, jimmaas said:

In addition, at least one of the aircraft from 19 Sdn had the underwing serials noticeably blacked out (as is a black rectangle)  either before or when the white starboard undersurfaces were applied (the white also left a 'ghost' of the underwing roundel).  This was true on WZ-B,   Other aircraft had 'B' roundels under the starboard wing.  I can't shed any light on whether either case applied to WZ-T.

I seem to remember from somewhere that the large serials were painted out but the aircraft were re marked with the serial in small lettering (1"?) on the fin, just about where the parachute is placed in the image above!

 

Selwyn

[72nd SQN]

Thanks @Troy Smith - that first photo has some very interesting chipping on the nose of the Spitfire. I also thought that the look on the “Erk” in the background was a look of enjoyment at watching the pilots running to their aircraft (probably first time since 1918), needless to say, but little did he know how common that would become !

Edited November 5, 2022 by 72nd SQN

[Graham Boak]

The serial was sometimes replaced by small lettering on the top of the fin, sometimes near the top of the fuselage ahead of the tailplane, and sometimes not at all.

[gingerbob]

At least some of the aircraft also had the four digits of the serial (not the letter, as I recall) just under the spinner, white on the black half and vice versa.

[Octávio Mântua]

Thanks for all the useful information.

 

I guess I will paint the place of the registration and also the area around the fuselage roundels (in the photo the yellow of the roundel was overpainted with brown and green but still visible).

 

Best regards,

Octávio

[Octávio Mântua]

Hi,

 

I was looking at the 1/48 instructions from Eduard and the specify that the section right next to the wind sheild had diferent reinforcements (?).

 

In the following photo, there seems to be 3 diferent options:

- A- with no reinforcements;

- B - with a lateral reinforcement (2) and the upper panel seems to be sectioned (1); 

- C - with a lateral reinforcement only (2).

 

Spit_MK_diferent_motor_cover by ZlinXII, no Flickr

 

Analyzing the photo of WZ-T:

- it looks to me that this particular aircraft was the same as option B or C. Any suggestions? Which option do you tinhk is more correct?

- Also the pitot tube under the wing that is painted black seems to be painted white? Or was this photo taken before they painted the ubderside fuselage white and black?

 

wzt3 - Cópia by ZlinXII, no Flickr

 

Best regards,

Octávio 

[Rolls-Royce]

Looks to me like "B". My guess is that WZ_T's pitot is in the original aluminum underside color, not white. Note also that the underside of the aileron is also aluminum color, not black. This was seen sometimes.

Edited November 8, 2022 by Rolls-Royce

[Octávio Mântua]

19 hours ago, Rolls-Royce said:

Looks to me like "B". My guess is that WZ_T's pitot is in the original aluminum underside color, not white. Note also that the underside of the aileron is also aluminum color, not black. This was seen sometimes.

Thanks very much for your comment! The pitot tube being aluminium makes sense!

Best regards,

Octávio

[Mr T]

Quite a few aircraft appear to have retained aluminium painted  control surfaces, especially ailerons. This was apparently because the control surface was balanced and the extra weight of paint on one surface would affect the balance and therefore handling of the aircraft. At some stage the control surface would be re-balanced.