RNZAF Painting Questions

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I recently acquired a Revell 1:48 SBD Dauntless and am considering painting it according to the paint scheme for the RNZAF 25th Squadron in July of 1943.

If I decide to go this route, I obviously will need to also paint the included figures (pilot, gunner, support crew) so that they will look like RNZAF personnel. With that in mind, does anyone have or know where I can find some reference photos of RNZAF uniforms/flight suits from World War II?

Also, since I am considering painting this plane according to RNZAF specs, does anyone know if that would change the painting of the interior as well? The directions state that particular parts of the cockpit should be painted interior green. Is that a standard color for cockpits in Allied planes of this era, or is that color specifically a color used for American planes?

Thanks for the help. Happy Modeling!

2

Hi,

Can’t be of much help but there is a color pic with RNZAF color info at the bottom of this page HERE. No interior color info though.

3

Im building this kit myself.

Pretty much all kiwi aircraft retained the paint scheme from american squadrons (for american aircraft anyway).

As for the pilots, during ww2 the RNZAF was a branch of the RAF so pilots were issued with RAF gear. (Its not exactly how it worked, but its close enough for this)

Paint pilots in RAF colours, Paint aircraft in USN colours.

4

This page may help too.

rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi

5

If July 1943, then this would be either a SBD 3 or 4 at Seaford near Auckland.

If a 3, then these were second hand from the USMC, so would have

been in the Blue Grey/Light grey, and kept their USMC markings for

a period, until replaced by RNZAF markings (some were repainted also)

If a 4 then again same applies as above, interiors as per US Specs for both.

These SBD 3/4’s remained in New Zealand as training aircraft

I would suggest this website for aircraft photos, and should give you some idea of

uniforms (for flight crew and ground staff)

rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/sbd1.html

Note the RNZAF was acting under the command of the US Navy in WWII. If anyone

wants to build aircraft in the forward operational areas, then flight crew would be issued

either US flight gear, or they could wear a combination of RNZAF Khaki/US gear.

If you are being specific for only July, then it’s mid Winter here. For Winter, regulation

No 3 Blues (similar to RAF), standard flying helmets, May West etc. OR

The aircrew could wear flying overalls with May West etc

Summer, is regulation Khaki.

Ground crew would wear the enlisted version of the No3 Blues or overalls, foot wear

would either be black shoes or rubber boots.

This link will give you good photos of Uniforms and combinations in New Zealand WWII

http://rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Wartime&action=display&thread=11372

Hope that helps?

Regards

Alan