Instructions says Dk. Earth / Dk. Green upper with azrue bottom. it clearly shows two shades of gray. im been trying to research but with no results. goes anyone know the correct two shades of gray? it doesn’t have to be 100% accurate. just close. thanks!
http://aussiemodeller.com.au/Images/Review/SpecialHobby_misc/SH48051_2V.jpg
???
The diagram says Dk Earth and Middle stone over Azure blue. These are the standard RAF Mediterranean camo colours.
did you read the title? i stated malta camo scheme.
The colour patches at the bottom of the linked diagram say (left to right) Dk Earth, Mid Stone and Azure blue.
The accompanying text says that the upper surface was oversprayed with thinned azure blue paint, muting the colours and causing a more bluish effect.
I know what you asked for, what I posted came from the diagram that you linked to.
I am still writing up my notes for the RAF and FAA colours. THis should help though.
All the accompianing paint chips have been shade matched 100% to the following Vallejo Model Colour Paints
|
Malta Scheme - 21. June 1940 |
|||||
|
Topside |
Dark Earth |
34079 |
70873 |
||
|
Light Earth |
30257 |
70977 |
|||
|
Underside |
Sky |
34504 |
70885 |
||
This may have changed with MAP paint orders 4 December 1940 There is no listing for Malta
|
Desert Camouflage - 4. December 1940 |
|||||
|
Topsides |
Mid Stone |
30266 |
70824 |
||
|
Dark Earth |
30118 |
70873 |
|||
|
Undersides |
Azure Blue |
35231 |
70902 |
||
Also on MAP paint orders 12 December 1940 (AMO A926/40)
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Aircraft of Middle East Command |
|||||
|
Topsides |
Mid-Stone |
30266 |
70824 |
||
|
Dark Earth |
30118 |
70873 |
|||
|
Underside |
Sky Type “S” “Duck-Egg Blue” |
34504 |
70885 |
||
AMO A.664/42 - 2. July 1942
|
Day Fighter Schemes - Abroad |
||||
|
Topsides |
Dark Green |
Choice dependent on operational requirements |
34079 |
893 |
|
Ocean Grey |
36152 |
869 |
||
|
OR |
Dark Green |
34079 |
893 |
|
|
Dark Earth |
30118 |
873 |
||
|
OR |
Mid Stone |
30266 |
824 |
|
|
Dark Earth |
30118 |
873 |
||
|
Undersides |
Sky Type “S” |
Choice dependent on operational requirements |
34504 |
885 |
|
Azure |
35231 |
902 |
||
|
Light Mediterranean Blue |
35177 |
943 |
||
I think that this will give you a better overview for your painting. Basicly the Med Theatre kept the mid stone/dark earth/Azure for a long time, but changed during the italy campaign to the standard dark green/oceam grey upper surface with a choice of lower colour dependant of operational requirements.
James
Actually, the Malta Spitfires, depending on when they were delivered were either in the Desert Scheme (DE/MS/AZ) or were over sprayed by a “blue grey” similar to Extra Dark Sea Grey with lowers painted Sky Blue. It depends on the serial number and timeframe.
Any more specifics? The link isn’t clear.
Malta is an island and aircraft defending it flew mostly over the sea. As a result various different camouflage schemes were adopted as the schemes the aircraft were delivered in, being land schemes, were not suitable. The subject is complicated and contentious as some of these schemes have many interpretations.
As well as the Desert Scheme (DE/MS) there was a Tropical Land Scheme (Mid Stone/Dark Green) used in the Mediterranean in regions where there was more vegetation. E.g., Palestine. Some Hurricanes based in Malta had this scheme. Some aircraft had the upper surfaces sprayed over, either completely or partially. Colours used may have been a blue grey colour, Dark Sea Grey or Dark Mediterranean Blue. In some examples the underlying camouflage can still be discerned through the thin overlying paint.
Later on Spitfires were delivered in the Temperate Sea Scheme (Dark Slate Grey and Extra Dark Sea Grey) and a scheme with no name of Dark Slate Grey and Dark Green.
In the case of BR112/X there exists a colour photograph of it on the beach at Scoglitti after it ws shot down on 9th September 1942, Sgt Claude Weaver being taken prisoner. That shows the upper surfaces were painted over in a blue grey colour something like Intermediate Blue. The original camouflage can just be discerned as darker areas at the front and rear. The differences in tones are more pronounced in black-and-white photographs where there is more contrast between them. Large patches of paint have peeled of the spinner revealing a light blue colour underneath. There seems to be a patch of the same colour on the rudder. The very pale appearance off these areas in black and white photographs suggests that it may have been Sky Blue.
thanks! sorry if i sounded like a dick. wasn’t trying to be mean.
well, after an hour of searching again i found a wip thread.guy sprayed water thin azure of the camo. never knew it was like that.
http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=47430
Frustrating isn’t it? You’re looking at the pic and your own eyes are telling you it’s one colour and someone’s telling you it’s something else entirely… [:)]
Interesting and unique! I have never heard of the modified Desert Scheme before but it makes sense. I like it. And since I have a Hasegawa Malta Spit in my stash, I may have to go this route when I build it. A Spit that while not " now for something completely different", is certainly not one you see every day.
Ok, seeing one done clinches it for me. My Malta Spit will be in that scheme and not standard desert. Thanks for the link[Y]
yes sir! that link also help clear things up for me. i couldn’t picture spraying thinned azure till i saw that thread.
Hi James,
Interesting figures! What was your source for the MAP paint orders?
Cheers,
Mark
My source was original documentation and Chipsets from archives for the MAP (Ministry of Aircraft Production)
It is documentation that is in the public domain. Just have to ask the right questions to track it all down and then go to the archives and research the documents and make copious notes. quite often, being an ex army officer it is not only what you know but who - and sometimes what you know about who helps too!
Has anyone thought that because the spitfires were originally flown off aircraft carriers that they may be in FAA colours??
|
Fleet Air Arm 1938 May - Tropical Sea Scheme |
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|
Topsides |
Dark Mediterranean Blue |
FS 35050 |
925 |
004 |
LC34 |
|
Extra Dark Sea Green |
FS 34092 |
895 |
014 |
UA008 |
|
|
Counter Shading - Top of lower Wings and Sides |
|||||
|
Light Mediterranean Blue |
FS 35177 |
943 |
111 |
UA126 |
|
|
Dark Sea Green |
FS 34172 |
920 |
LC39 |
||
|
Undersides |
Sky Blue |
FS 35622 |
961 |
UA139 |
|
Countershading was used by biplanes only
or maybe the standard 1941 FAA Scheme
|
March 1941 Temperate Sea Scheme |
|||||
|
Topside |
Extra Dark Sea Grey |
FS 36118 |
868 |
052 |
UA022 |
|
Dark Slate Grey |
FS 34096 |
892 |
013 |
UA142 |
|
|
Underside |
Sky |
FS 34424 |
885 |
009 |
UA095 |
Man Snapdragon I am really anxious for that complete color chart you are working on
Wow - I can’t say that I’ve really ever seen that Azure over-spray! I’ve got an ICM Spitfire that I plan to do in MTO or Malta camo - the pics I found looked “standard” I guess I’ll need to do a little digging to see if my guy (Polish pilot Eugeniusz Horbaczewski) was actually oversprayed or not!
Hi James,
Can you contact me off-line please on:
I have some archive files but they appear to be different to yours.
Cheers,
Mark
FAA schemes used on Spitfires sent to Malta - this is the first I’ve seen of this suggestion. I’ve lurked to several forums and haven’t seen mention of any official documentation/orders regarding this.
As has already been offered, EDSG is a valid choice for those aircraft delivered off British carriers. From what I remember reading from books and forums, the top surface colours were addressed since the Spitfires were launched from carrier decks at max. distance from Malta. Spending all those hours flying above water would require better concealment as the current desert scheme was just too stark.
regards,
Jack