HMS Ajax colours ?

[rs2man]

I received from Airfix today the new Vintage Classics release of HMS Ajax .  The painting instructions show overall Humbrol 64 light grey , which I assume is intended to represent AP507c .  Is my assumption correct , and would this be a suitable colour scheme for Battle of the River Plate ? 

Also , the Fairey Seafox spotter plane is shown as overall silver .  Is this likely at that time , or would the aircraft have been camouflaged by then ?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated .

[TallBlondJohn]

I believe you are correct, AP507c, peacetime scheme. But the lower hull may not have been red - I don't know if Ajax has been sucked into that debate.

 

The Seafox was also peacetime silver, but may have had dark grey panels on the floats and fuselage to reduce glare.

[rs2man]

1 minute ago, TallBlondJohn said:

I believe you are correct, AP507c, peacetime scheme. But the lower hull may not have been red - I don't know if Ajax has been sucked into that debate.

 

The Seafox was also peacetime silver, but may have had dark grey panels on the floats and fuselage to reduce glare.

Thanks mate .

[TallBlondJohn]

2 hours ago, rs2man said:

Thanks mate .

 

Hold on a moment, better info here:

 

https://www.hmsajax.org/aircraft

 

So Ajax's Seafoxes K8582 and K8591 seem to be all silver, but with a coloured tail - no idea what colour though. The marking is the ships crest, so maybe the same black background?

 

 

[rs2man]

17 minutes ago, TallBlondJohn said:

 

Hold on a moment, better info here:

 

https://www.hmsajax.org/aircraft

 

So Ajax's Seafoxes K8582 and K8591 seem to be all silver, but with a coloured tail - no idea what colour though. The marking is the ships crest, so maybe the same black background?

 

 

Thanks again

[Our Ned]

Note that the Airfix kit depicts Ajax with a tripod forecast.  This was not fitted until her repairs after the River Plate action.  During the battle she had a polemast see here.

[dickrd]

On 9/3/2024 at 9:45 PM, TallBlondJohn said:

 

Hold on a moment, better info here:

 

https://www.hmsajax.org/aircraft

 

So Ajax's Seafoxes K8582 and K8591 seem to be all silver, but with a coloured tail - no idea what colour though. The marking is the ships crest, so maybe the same black background?

 

 

You were right first time! Ajax's Seafox at the time of the battle (K8591) had some form of improvised dark patterning painted over the original aluminium finish on some of her upper surfaces. See the photos on page 111 of 'Fleet Air Arm Camouflage and Markings 1937-1941' by Stuart Lloyd and this interpretation (by @Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies) of them in the painting guide for Flyhawk's 1/700 HMS Ajax kit:

 

 

Edited September 6, 2024 by dickrd

[dickrd]

12 hours ago, TallBlondJohn said:

I believe you are correct, AP507c, peacetime scheme. But the lower hull may not have been red - I don't know if Ajax has been sucked into that debate.

 

 

Whilst none of Ajax's docking reports survive other evidence suggests that her bottom was likely grey.

[rs2man]

Many thanks to everyone for all the information .