Jazzy Jase Posted January 21, 2009 Author Share Posted January 21, 2009 Other worthwhile points to note are the comparatively fresh overpainting of the Sky band, and the light appearance of the Ocean Grey on the wingtip and tailplane. This very light appearance is seen on a number of late-war aircraft - often at the wingtip. No known explanation. I hadn't noticed that the sky band had been overpainted, but it is quite clear in the colour photo now you mention it. Do you think they would have painted the squadron "D" code white at the same time as it looks white in the photo. (And gives me a problem as I can't find white decals for this!) Also, I think you can just about see the serial number under the tailplane, which looks white too. Again, I hadn't noticed the lightness of the grey on the wingtip or tailplane until you mentioned it. Could it just be the light fom the sun making it look lighter? The aircraft in the colour photo has a camera hole in the starboard side, but the other two photo's, showing the port side do not. Would the camera hole only be on one side? The instructions tell me to put glass on both sides? Is it also safe to assume that the squadron "D" code would be the aft of the roundel on the port side too? Thanks to everyone who has given me information so far. It is all much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 No, the serial won't be white, nor that far down. It will be black, and possibly partially overpainted. You can see where it was/will be by looking at the other photos. The code letter will probably be aft of the roundel on the other side. Probably. Re not seeing the overpainting. That's human nature I'm afraid, most of the time details are missed unless you (generic you) are specifically looking for them. On another thread, the poster has pointed out "kidney" exhausts on a Mk.II Hurricane, that I hadn't noticed. The camera window should be on both sides on an FR Mk XIVe, and not there at all on an F. Mk.XIVc or e. No, I don't think it is a sun effect, there is no sign of any shadow. It might have been the case had it just been the uppersurfaces as opposed to the fuselage side, but most of the wing shows Ocean Grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 No, I don't think it is a sun effect, there is no sign of any shadow. It might have been the case had it just been the uppersurfaces as opposed to the fuselage side, but most of the wing shows Ocean Grey. My suspicion is that it's a touch up after re-painting the roundel - whether a light batch of Ocean Grey, or no Ocean so we used MSG is open to debate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat C Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Jason Do you think they would have painted the squadron "D" code white at the same time as it looks white in the photo. (And gives me a problem as I can't find white decals for this!) Search Hannants for "Pacific Fleet" and there is an Xtradecal set that has 1/72 white code letters (incl. 24" ones). The form of the "D" is a little different but with a little snipping of the decal you could get it near as damn it to the one in the photo. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 My suspicion is that it's a touch up after re-painting the roundel - whether a light batch of Ocean Grey, or no Ocean so we used MSG is open to debate. Doesn't explain the tailplane. More generally, this could easily apply to a single example, but we'd tend to see it on both wings, and not elsewhere. Also, I'm not sure why they would want to touch up the wing after a roundel repaint - the roundel is getting bigger not smaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Doesn't explain the tailplane. More generally, this could easily apply to a single example, but we'd tend to see it on both wings, and not elsewhere. Also, I'm not sure why they would want to touch up the wing after a roundel repaint - the roundel is getting bigger not smaller. It might have been painted by someone with my touch.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Mine too. However, whatever the cause, it is something to note if you are modelling that aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Jase Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 Right, I've done some measuring of the kit decals and multiplied by 72. They've come out as follows: Wing top roundel: 51 inches Wing bottom roundel: 32.6 inches Side Roundel: 34 inches Serial number: 7 inches tall Code: 25.5 inches tall These don't conform to the standard RAF sizes from the aftermarket decal suppliers very well. My guesses for what to use would be: Wing top roundel: Type III 50 inches, or possibly 54? Wing bottom roundel: Type II 32 inches Side Roundel: Type III 36 inches Serial number: 8 inches Code: 24 inches, maybe 30? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Test Graham Posted January 22, 2009 Share Posted January 22, 2009 I suspect the upper wing roundel may have begun as a 56in B roundel with the white and yellow rings added. No size was stipulated in the change from B to C, some Spitfires carrying 32in diameter C roundels, as on the underside, but most keeping 56in as the largest convenient size. In order to keep the roundel off the aileron, I suspect the yellow was added onto the blue rather than around it. 36in C1 type for the fuselage was normal. Serials would be 8 inches. The size of the code letters was not standardised, as the recommended 48 in with 6 in strokes was too large for Spitfires. 30in and 24 in appear to be most common. In this case, that D does not look like one of the more common styles anyway, so all bets are off and use what looks best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Jase Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 I suspect the upper wing roundel may have begun as a 56in B roundel with the white and yellow rings added... In order to keep the roundel off the aileron, I suspect the yellow was added onto the blue rather than around it. That sounds entirely plausible. I can't get 56in type C decals but I can get 54in, which is 0.7mm in 1/72 so I can live with that. The size of the code letters was not standardised, as the recommended 48 in with 6 in strokes was too large for Spitfires. 30in and 24 in appear to be most common. In this case, that D does not look like one of the more common styles anyway, so all bets are off and use what looks best. Hmmm, this "D" is starting to become troublesome. I'm thinking of maybe making a template and spraying it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzy Jase Posted January 22, 2009 Author Share Posted January 22, 2009 I may have found a solution for the "D" problem... 1/48 scale decals! Unless I am mistaken 1/48 is 1.5 times larger than 1/72. So to get a 1/72 24inch "D" I can use a 1/48 16inch "D"? I've also been doing a little measuring of the photos (atached again below). I haven't really taken into account the curvature of the fuselage, but on the colour photo I think the side roundel is about 1.3 times taller than the "D". Assuming the roundel is 36 inches then the D would be 27 inches. I also measured the first black and white photo in the same way and the "V" comes out at 24 inches. The "D" does look a bit larger than the "V" in comparison to the roundel, so is the "D" likely to be 27 inches? If so, I can get a 1/48 18inch "D" that works out at 27inches in 1/72. Confused yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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