RN/RAF "Squirrel Grey"?

[Dizzyfugu]

Hi, I have read that the Royal Navy experimented with a wraparound scheme in a color colled "Squirrel Grey" on at least one Buccaneer. In the wake of research I found a decals sheet from Model Alliance that bears such an aircraft - but there's no detail (e .g. a BS code or anything similar) that defines the tone. Pics have also been unavailable so far, not certain if this is such an aircraft:



Does anyone know something about that color?

[PR19_Kit]

Hi, I have read that the Royal Navy experimented with a wraparound scheme in a color colled "Squirrel Grey" on at least one Buccaneer. In the wake of research I found a decals sheet from Model Alliance that bears such an aircraft - but there's no detail (e .g. a BS code or anything similar) that defines the tone. Pics have also been unavailable so far, not certain if this is such an aircraft:



Does anyone know something about that color?

It looks like a lighter version of the Extra Dark Sea Grey that many of the FAA Bucc S2s wore.

There were inly two S2s in the XN range, XN981 and '983, both were FAA Buccs later transferred to the RAF. I can't find any more pics of either one in that odd shade.

Interestingly it's carrying the special Bucc recce pod as its bomb bay door.

[Dizzyfugu]

Maybe something like Humbrol 27 (Sea Grey)? It's also a bit odd due to the light blue codes...
I also wondered about the white belly, but assumed that it was a part from a standard RN Bucc. The recce pallet/pod makes sense.

[PR19_Kit]

The FAA used pale blue codes for the Buccs in its final years with them, so that's normal.

The white belly is the inside of the recce pod, it's normally rotated the other way up so the white is on the inside, and the outside part is painted the same colour as the rest of the aircraft, in this case 'Not Quite So Dark Sea Grey'. 

[Thorvic]

 Nope that is standard Extra Dark Sea Grey, its the light and and the colour film from the day that makes it appear a lighter blue. Nice to see the recon pallet visible for a change  .

As to the 'Squirrel Grey' it was worn by 809 sqdn in 1966 at Farnborough prior to deploying to Hermes, they had started out by painting the S1 and early S2 Buccaneers in edsg with a high demarcation line to hide them from above when low level cresting the waves, but had found the fighter could spot the flash of white when they had to turn which resulted in the experiments that led to the overall EDSG. 809 trialled a lighter grey all over scheme whilst 800 had their white areas repainted with dark sea grey. The 'Squirrel Grey' is not listed as a BSC 381 colour, just mentions that its a gloss grey however it is a BS 4800 colour 18 B 21 which is also known as Tideway. RAL 7000 is also listed as Squirrel Grey so this may be more accessible for you.

Cheers

Geoff

[Gondor]

That would be an interesting variation to fool the punters on a Buccaneer. X126 with a different varnish will work

Gondor

[Dizzyfugu]

Thanks a lot for the feedback and insights, highly appreciated! 

[Thorvic]

No problem, I must admit I did find it annoying that they included the decals but gave no help what so ever in suggesting a paint that can be used. Be interesting to see how you utilise the scheme on one of your build as I guess it won't be a Buccaneer 

[Thorvic]

Speaking of RN Buccaneers and their colour schemes. Try looking into the pale blue they used for the markings and stencils, virtually every model/decal producer uses a different shade or tints of pale blue, the CMK kits vary from issue to issue, Freightdogs Anti-flash blue set is handy but it doesn't have the stencils or other letters than the actual carriers that operated them. I found the xtradecal set the best to use as you get stencils and codes to allow a bit of mix and match to decal 2 aircraft.

Its just rather annoying that the colour can vary so much for what's supposed to be a BSC 381 colour !

[Dizzyfugu]

Checked resources - Revell's 57 (RAL 7000, Fehgrau) should be close, if not the "real" tone. Humbrol 145 (FS35237) comes close, too, but is rather blue-ish.

Thanks a lot for the input! 

[Leading Observer]

Squirrel grey would be black in these parts  , on the basis that the local Grey Squirrels are actually black in colour due to genetic mutation