Curious if there are any examples of early Spitfires having fully yellow undersides. It’s my understanding this was used for test flights or training or something like that. I’ve seen a Hurricane with it but wondering if Spitfires also got that treatment. (Have seen yellow nosed subjects, e.g. Airfix’s new tool 1/48 Mk I kit, but nothing fully yellow underneath.)
Just think it’s neat-looking & would be cool to build.
Never heard of Spits having yellow undersides except on Spitfire floatplanes. However, I have seen Spits with one half black and the other half white undersides.
Is it possable you aretalking about captured aircraft. The Germans tended to paint the undersides of enemy aircraft they captured yellow.
Also, during the war British prototypes, which would have included new variants, were painted with yellow undersides and a yellow P in a yellow circle on the fuselage.
I keep finding reference to AMO (Air Ministry Order) in forum posts, but not sure where the posters found it. Anyhow, AMO513/41 dated 10.7.41 specified prototypes to have yellow undersides. From 1942 (AMO 664/42 dated 2.7.42) specified yellow undersides and the letter ‘P’ in yellow encircled by a yellow ½” ring of equal diameter to fuselage roundel.
With the Spitfire first flying in 1936, there would be no yellow undersides. Maybe the Spitfire V, but I would not consider that mark early anymore?
regards,
Jack
Surprisingly, the prototype Spitfire, once it had been repainted into day fighter camoflage, did not receive yellow undersides. The only reference I can find to yellow Spits is the MkIII, which originally emerged with yellow upper surfaces and spinner, and split black/white undersides. By April 1941 it had been repainted in dark earth/green camo upper surfaces and yellow undersides with black spinner and went to Rolls-Royce for use as an engine test bed. I can find no other references to yellow undersides on Spitfires. Hope that helps