Coastal command colours?

[Guest]

The instructions for my Locheed Hudson calls for a colour of Dark slate grey,dark sea grey over sky tipe S (RCAF 1943)

I can't sem to find any pix of this colour sceeme , is this correct???

Theuns

[Dave W]

I know that in around 1942 Hudsons were painted in the 'Temperate Sea' scheme. The colours were extra dark sea grey/Dark slate grey uppersurfaces with sky undersides.Earlier in the war they were painted in the land scheme of dark green/Dark earth with sky undersides.At one time they were told to paint the undersides black.But this changed sometime as the Hudsons operated during daylight.Hope this is of some help.You could try the RAF museum web site.

[stona]

Dave is correct. AMO A.664/42 of 2nd July 1942 ordered Coastal Command aircraft of various types,including Hudsons, to have upper surfaces painted in the Temperate Sea Scheme (TSS) of EXTRA Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey and to have Sky undersurfaces.

Sunderlands were ordered to have White undersurfaces at this time,still with TSS upper surfaces,and at least one squadron operating Hudsons (500 Sqn) appears to have been confused. It's Hudsons were sporting White undersurfaces in August 1942!

In early 1943 (February?) a memo was issued to make the upper surfaces one colour only,Extra Dark Sea Grey.The undersurfaces and fuselage sides became Gloss White and Matt White respectively. This change certainly doesn't appear to have happened quickly on aircraft already in service,maybe aircraft were repainted on a major overhaul. I think the TSS over Sky scheme is entirely plausible for your subject.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thanx guys, I found a pic of a Swordfish in TSS and tried to match the paints I had by mixing green and grey to get the dark slate, the dark sea grey seems to have a strange brown tint to it so I tried that aswell.

I am sure it will not be very acurate, but tough! I had a hard enough time to build this monster of a kit LOL!

I will post some pix in my Hudson thread.

Theuns

[stona]

Theuns Extra Dark Sea Grey is a dark grey colour with a blue cast,particularly when seen next to Dark Slate Grey which is not grey at all but much more green.

Here are a few colour photographs which show the two colours on various aircraft.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Stunning info and pix as usual ,Thanx a mil!

I will have to re-mix my grey, but I see the green in all the pix actually apear slightly different so I will stick with what I have on that.

Would the cammo edge of the grey and green have a hard line in April 1943, same for the sky S line?

Theuns

[Ian M]

Stunning info and pix as usual ,Thanx a mil!...........Would the cammo edge of the grey and green have a hard line in April 1943, same for the sky S line?

Theuns

In 1/72 scale I will have to say yes to that one.

Ian M

[stona]

In 1/72 scale I will have to say yes to that one.Ian M

So would I. Even a post production respray which might not have used factory masks would still appear hard in 1/72 scale.

BTW I'm not sure if the last picture (Blackburn "Firebrand") is a wartime shot or not.

Steve

[flyjoe180]

The Firebrand did not serve during World War Two. It had developmental issues and did not enter service with the FAA until late 1945.

[Guest]

I will try to replicate the colours on that bi-plane.

Theuns

[stona]

The Firebrand did not serve during World War Two. It had developmental issues and did not enter service with the FAA until late 1945.

True Joe but the guy flying it doesn't look like a service pilot and I don't know at what point some of these aircraft may have received a camouflage finish.

Firebrands certainly flew during the war though not in service. This one might be taking a spin around Blackburn Aircraft's Yorkshire factory

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Theuns

Safety Warning. Some info which may help. But not authenticated in anyway. I say this as otherwise I will be jumped on in every uncertain fashion by those experts who have gone before me.

Building a Yamiya 1/48 Fairey Swordfish Mk2. Tamiya give the colours on the top wings as. AS-4 the grey & AS-9 the dark green.

Accuracy !!!!!. But those are the colours I shall be using

Also wasted £10 on a book by Geoff Coughlin entitled Swordfish. He used on his models & got he says the info from Warpaint Guide what ever that is !. Extracolour. Upper wing camouflage Extra Dark Sea Grey X5 & Dark Slate grey X25. Lower wing (but shadow scheme) Dark Sea Grey X4 & Light Slate grey X37 SlateGrey X25.

He also states it is important to get as fine a feather edge as possible between the colours in order to preserve a realistic effect. Looks good in his photos but how he came to this conclusion he does not say ie as was done in the real thing or for scale & effect.

Laurie

Hey that is a new one a Yamiya.

[stona]

Laurie the Warpaint series started back in the 90s and each issue concentrates on one particular type. I remember buying a couple. They give a reasonable overview of a type and despite the blurb are aimed more at modellers than enthusiasts.

As far as I know the series is still going today.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I also have pix of Sword fish with a much lighter almost greyish brown in place of the dark sea grey witch to my eye has a slight blue tint to it.

Please go check out my post of the Hudson in the aircraft section, I will be happy to hear your feedback on it.

Theuns