I'm going to build an airfield ....... So what colors should I use ??????

Gondor · June 06, 2013, 02:04:45 PM

Quote from: Father Ennis on June 06, 2013, 01:52:24 PM

Thanks,guys !!! You have been a big help. I found the Unofficial(?)Airfix mirrored forum last night and found that they had had a GB at one time and it had a number of offerings of the Control Tower kit. Pretty much they were all painted Dark earth/Dark green. I also got a better idea on building a partial hanger,too. In a photo there was a blue painted hanger that looked pretty easy to make. A lot easier than my ancient kit. I'll post something on it later. What I'm interested in paint wise, is a recommendations for paints to use. I know the color but which is the "best" of the choices for the Dark Earth,for example. Like I said,I'm not much of an aircraft modeler and the ones I used to run with were rivet counters.
The reasons I use MM paints a lot is they are easy for me to get. Anything else I have to mail order so I have to plan ahead.

See below, your question has already been answered. There is no need to try and match a number/colour as bricks, concrete, corrugated Iron etc all give different finishes to any paint applied to them. They will also weather differently.

Quote from: pyro-manic on June 05, 2013, 03:01:59 PM

For things like buildings, you will be doing weathering etc. to them anyway, so the base colour isn't really critical - just choose one that looks about right for bricks (either the obvious "Brick Red" if there is one, or Hull Red, or something like that) etc. and go to town with washes and drybrushing to get the result you want. There are loads of tutorials (both written and on Youtube) about weathering buildings (a lot of model train stuff crosses over) so have a read around until you find a technique you like.

Artist licence is one of your main tools, go with what looks right

Gondor

Father Ennis · June 06, 2013, 04:01:26 PM

Thanks for you comment. My issue was that I haven't ever seen a. photo showing an airfield building ... !!!! My favorite method for bricks is a nice red-brown base and as many different shades as possible to paint random bricks. I've found that the light grey of Japanese fighters thinned,makes the best morter. All my reference material is for armor and related vehicles,as I only bought kits of aircraft and never built any !!!!!! I've only got one photo of an RAF vehicle and its dark earth overall. If I could source a 1/35 Defiant turrets I would scratch build another Beverette a/c and put it on it,like my photo. My only airfield photos are either French German and Italian. I'm not even sure I have a US one.

I'm having a rethink on this one as I got to thinking just how large a footprint this would have to be. But I'm thinking I might just make several interlocking bases. Each would have a segment of the total but also be a stand alone diarama. Has anyone done anything like this before ? I was thinking I wanted the control tower ,trucks and vehicles plus my run of Spitfires and a bomber and hanger or two. My kit is a full sized 1/72 scale one but I'm thinking I can make a partial hanger of a different type.

PR19_Kit · June 07, 2013, 01:44:50 AM

Quote from: deathjester on June 06, 2013, 06:56:43 AM
Quote from: Mossie on June 06, 2013, 06:05:04 AM
It's simply a billboard mounting. A number would be displayed on the board, IIRC this was the identifier for the airfield?
More likely the runway in use.

Exactly, and still used in some places even today. Our gliding club use the boards for our runway-in-use, or they do when the Duty Launch Point Controller remembers to get them out of the hangar!

Father Ennis · June 07, 2013, 02:44:46 AM

Can anyone recommend somewhere I can find pictures of airfields and the equipment found there ? After checking my references I found one picture of the crane truck and the tractor trailer ,both painted in RAF Blue but nothing else. I visited the Airfix tribute site and found the fuel trucks were in post war schemes but they didn't mention what the war time color was ...

Old Wombat · June 07, 2013, 07:41:37 AM

Slightly off topic but was this tower the building used in the movie "Memphis Belle"?

Quote from: dadlamassu on June 05, 2013, 11:10:10 PM

'Coz it certainly looks like it!

Guy

dadlamassu · June 07, 2013, 10:58:32 AM

It is the control tower at Twinwood Airfield which was renovated in 2002. Do not think it was used in the film made in 1990. It is a standard type that was used all over the country.

PR19_Kit · June 07, 2013, 12:40:26 PM

'Memphis Belle' was filmed at Bassingborne IIRC, but then there are LOADS of standard RAF type towers all over the place, even now.

Rheged · June 07, 2013, 03:26:35 PM

Will it be RAF or FAA watch office?

Father Ennis · June 08, 2013, 01:06:33 AM

I didn't know there were differences for the RAF and FAA ? Since all my aircraft are going to.be in RAF markings I'll have to go with them.

The control tower looks to have a common dark earth/dark green paint scheme. What about.aircraft hangers ? I've seen art work with both overall RAF blue and medium grey/dark green ,too. The instructions from my Airfix airfield equipment has a number of colors for them. I'm going for the 40-42 time frame. The standard vehicle paint scheme for UK vehicles was dark earth overall. Was the RAF equipment the same. I've got pictures of the recovery equipment in overall RAF blue which is the same as the color given for them. Red fire equipment is pretty standard. But what about trucks and cars ? Did they use standard (dark earth) or RAF Blimp or were both applied and if so what were the orders on that ?

Thanks guys. I'm really getting stoked over this. I like to have my projects fully worked out before I start. It keeps me on track and gives a way to be flexible but not stray too far afield when I get an idea.

dadlamassu · June 08, 2013, 07:49:59 AM

These are my notes from my (1983) copy of "Wheels of the RAF" by Bruce Robertson and other sources:

Up to 30s, Army Khaki or Dark Earth

30s-1940 (Battle of Britain) - RAF Blue/grey

1940 (Battle of Britain) - disruptive pattern applied to MT based in SE England similar to that of aircraft, but using industrial camouflage paint intended for buildings (he doesn't mention shades but probably earth and green)

August 1941 - standard scheme for RAF vehicles introduced of overall khaki green no3 with disruptive scheme of Nobel's tarmac green no 4 (Same scheme was applied to Army vehicles)

Also, yellowish gas detector patches were applied where the driver could see them to the offside mudguard or bonnet, yellow square until 1941, brownish yellow blotch after this. After '43 paint in general had anti-gas properties.

September 1943 - new scheme of MT brown special (similar to Dark Earth) and Matt Black (again, same as Army) Usually applied in the Mickey Mouse pattern. Depending on who did the painting, whether a spray or brush was used and the amount of thinners used the colours varied quite a bit.

For the invasion of Europe, khaki drab (a greenish colour not as dark as olive drab) replaced the brown.

Canadian and US supplied vehicles in Olive Drab.

Late 44 - Khaki drab overall (vehicles to be repainted when in for repair or overhaul)

This was the main pattern, but as always there are exceptions:

Overseas

BEF1939-40 - Many vehicles painted in disruptive scheme of Khaki and green in the field

Western Desert - Standard scheme was middle stone, sometime with dark earth in patches. Also "sand yellow" and "sand".

2 TAF -Home markings, but with the white star

Far East - Standard Blue-grey until Burma campaign, when a general change to Olive green.

Father Ennis · June 08, 2013, 04:25:51 PM

WoW !!!!!! That is great information you've provided me my friend. That's just what I'm looking for,too. The pictures are a big help,too. What is that beast in the second photo ? It looks like a three wheel gas tank !!!!!! Don't think I'd like to be the driver !!!

I'd like to say a big thank-you to you all for your help on this project. I've even scored a control tower kit from a member,too. I'm just about ready to begin on this long term project,now. Just not sure I'll be putting it when its done. Guess I'll be needing a new apartment,now .......

Dizzyfugu · June 10, 2013, 07:57:06 AM

Again, Humbrol offers IMHO a good Dark Earth enamel (#29), and there's an option from Model Master from their Authentic Line - slightly lighter and less yellow-ish. The latter would be my choice for a sun-bleached building. Model Master also has a good RAF Dark Green.

dadlamassu · June 10, 2013, 09:10:25 AM

Quote from: Father Ennis on June 08, 2013, 04:25:51 PM
WoW !!!!!! That is great information you've provided me my friend. That's just what I'm looking for,too. The pictures are a big help,too. What is that beast in the second photo ? It looks like a three wheel gas tank !!!!!! Don't think I'd like to be the driver !!!

It is a Thompson TB3 Petrol and Oil Tender.

You can get lots for an airfield here http://www.djparkins.com/acatalog/1_72ndwwii.html

And Airfix are soon to release