Much confusion over this colour.
In the following document about camouflage against the sky the colour Sky is also referred to as duck egg blue,which is not unusual,but is clearly differentiated from another extant colour Sky Blue.
The colour referred to in the document as having been used by Cotton at Heston was called Camotint. This colour is the same as Sky. It was simply renamed as evidenced here.
On June 7th 1940 the order was sent out to change the undersurface colour of RAF fighter aircraft to the new colour Sky. This immiediately caused confusion and it is likely that some squadrons confused Sky and Sky Blue.
A clarification was sent.
Now it turned out that there was not enough of the new colour to go around. Another signal was sent allowing aircraft to operate in the earlier scheme (Black/White halves) until supplies became available.
The suffix "type S" has nothing to do with the colour. It refers to the finish of the paint,in this case smooth (S). Matt finishes were referred to as "type M".
What does all this mean as you paint your Spitfire or Hurricane?
After 7 June 1940 the official colour for the underside was Sky. Some aircraft,already in service seem to have been painted Sky Blue and there is some evidence that a few units had a go at mixing their own version of the new colour. If you are doing an aircraft with some evidence pointing to this then noone can be sure what colour was applied. Some aircraft must have continued operating in the earlier scheme for a time,I doubt this was very long.
There is little photographic evidence,taking a camera onto a frontline fighter station would be a quick way to end up behind bars in 1940!
If you are doing an aircraft produced after 7 June 1940,or one of the majority that received the correct colour,then that colour was Sky.
Cheers
Steve
In the following document about camouflage against the sky the colour Sky is also referred to as duck egg blue,which is not unusual,but is clearly differentiated from another extant colour Sky Blue.
The colour referred to in the document as having been used by Cotton at Heston was called Camotint. This colour is the same as Sky. It was simply renamed as evidenced here.
On June 7th 1940 the order was sent out to change the undersurface colour of RAF fighter aircraft to the new colour Sky. This immiediately caused confusion and it is likely that some squadrons confused Sky and Sky Blue.
A clarification was sent.
Now it turned out that there was not enough of the new colour to go around. Another signal was sent allowing aircraft to operate in the earlier scheme (Black/White halves) until supplies became available.
The suffix "type S" has nothing to do with the colour. It refers to the finish of the paint,in this case smooth (S). Matt finishes were referred to as "type M".
What does all this mean as you paint your Spitfire or Hurricane?
After 7 June 1940 the official colour for the underside was Sky. Some aircraft,already in service seem to have been painted Sky Blue and there is some evidence that a few units had a go at mixing their own version of the new colour. If you are doing an aircraft with some evidence pointing to this then noone can be sure what colour was applied. Some aircraft must have continued operating in the earlier scheme for a time,I doubt this was very long.
There is little photographic evidence,taking a camera onto a frontline fighter station would be a quick way to end up behind bars in 1940!
If you are doing an aircraft produced after 7 June 1940,or one of the majority that received the correct colour,then that colour was Sky.
Cheers
Steve
Comment