Brian Lane's Spitfire - help

[DominikS]

I've recently started building Brian Lane's Spitfire QV-K. And the problem occured. Studying the famous photo of Lane's plane (with erks on the wing) I've noticed that the right undercarriage leg is painted black not aluminium/silver or Sky. Does it mean that left leg was white? Does anyone have other photos of Lane's Spit that can be helpful?

Regards

[Simon]

I've recently started building Brian Lane's Spitfire QV-K. And the problem occured. Studying the famous photo of Lane's plane (with erks on the wing) I've noticed that the right undercarriage leg is painted black not aluminium/silver or Sky. Does it mean that left leg was white? Does anyone have other photos of Lane's Spit that can be helpful?

Regards

This photo?

http://www.luchtoorlog.be/img/spit_i/p9386.jpg

Sorry if this seems a daft question , but do you mean the undercarriage door, rather than the undercarriage leg? The starboard undercarriage door looks Sky on that photo...

[DominikS]

Hi Simon

That's the photo. But I made a mistake, I meant the port undercarriage leg, not starboard. Most models I've seen so far have both undergarriage legs aluminium and so the inner parts of undercarriage doors.

[Chuck1945]

The linked photo is not particularly sharp, but to me, it looks as though the dark color on the u/c is a result of shadow. You can see where the sun is actually shinning on the forward part of the lower gear cover and the color is much lighter then the part in the shade.

[DominikS]

Chuck just look at the rim (???). Part of it isn't in the shade and it's very dark (as dark as tyre) so methinks its either weathered black or night.

[Chuck1945]

The only thing I am working from is that linked photo. I know nothing regarding the time frame (date) in which the picture was taken.

In the photo, the blue circle on the underwing roundel is clearly visible and there is no yellow outer ring. This leads me to believe the wing underside is not black. If the wing were not black, why would the u/c be painted black? Further, what you describe as the rim of the wheel that is not in shadow, actually is, but the shadow is from the tire that bulges out from the rim. The wheel itself, at least the part not in the shade, appears lighter in color then does the tire. At least that is my interpretation

[Prop Duster]

The only thing I am working from is that linked photo. I know nothing regarding the time frame (date) in which the picture was taken.

In the photo, the blue circle on the underwing roundel is clearly visible and there is no yellow outer ring. This leads me to believe the wing underside is not black. If the wing were not black, why would the u/c be painted black? Further, what you describe as the rim of the wheel that is not in shadow, actually is, but the shadow is from the tire that bulges out from the rim. The wheel itself, at least the part not in the shade, appears lighter in color then does the tire. At least that is my interpretation

Without getting all Physics-Astronomical-photo interpretive; plotting the angle of the sun vs the cast shadow of various aircraft parts and the reflection of the ground light on the wing underside. I shall whole heartily agree with Mr.1945. The undercarriage leg, in question, is in shadow

So rest easy DominikS the model you are crafting will be a thing of beauty!

Edited August 7, 2010 by Prop Duster

[DominikS]

@Chuck1945. I've never mensioned the colour of the port wing. It's clearly Sky. But look at the spoke part not in the shade. It's definitely not Sky nor Aluminium...unless very dirty Alu. I'm looking at the photo in the Price's "Spitfire in Combat" which is bigger and clearer and posr wheel spoke lokks black or night.