Hey Guys,
I got a question that needs an answer: What color did the British use to undercoat (Primer) Spits and 'Canes in 1940-41?
Take a look at this photo : www.nasm.edu/nasm/garber/98jan/CM0009.jpg
Is it zinc chromate?
It looks like it. The reason that I’m asking the ? is that, a friend of mine want to build a weathered, battle-hardened Spitfire during the Battle of Britian. He has shown me a pic of a Spit with chunks of paint peeled off, and we were discussing what color did the Brits use under the Sky and Camo on their aircraft.
Good question, remember that the rear fuselage on a hurricane is fabric as are the control surfaces on both aircraft. I think chromate is correct for the metal bits but couldn’t say about the fabric. You could always ask the RAF!
Fabric covered surfaces are first painted with silver dope
(nitorcellulose dope) to prevent Ultra-violet light from degrading the fabric.