'The Huff' Wing Tanks

[Mike G]

In the squadron/signal book 'Mig Alley' there's a picture (p56) of 'The Huff' the subject of the Airfix kit. The tanks (including the pylons) are quite clearly not silver but painted in a dark glossy colour.

Anyone got any ideas as to what it was? It's drawn as olive drab in the artwork on p44 but looks too dark for that. It's not a wonderful image but comparing it to other colours on the aircraft it could be black, red or blue!

Any ideas?

[AnonymousFO98]

The boxart/Airfix Mag centrefold has a yellow? nose wth lightening flash.

However a photo suggests that may have been overpainted. The tank can just be seen behind a starter unit which looks the same colour.

But it is not with any certainty whether it is dark olive or black. Certainly not drab.

A patch on the top of the tank nose is yellow.

sorry I can't be any more specific, but it does seem that the dark colour is correct.

Edited May 23, 2011 by walrus

[Julien]

If OD is glossed up it goes almost black.

The US Army Helo dislpay team from the 70's The Silver Eagles had Gloss OD machines before they went to blue & white and they looked almost black.

Also druing the korean war marking on the tanks etc were not so much used, but when the cease fire was signed units went back to painting them.

Julien

[AnonymousFO98]

That would make sense as the tank in the photo looks glossy and has a green tint in the highlights

[thx6667]

"The Huff" wore several tank/pylon combos - there's a photo in Air Enthusiast 17 of her at K-13, June 1953, with silver tanks and pylons.