CCCP/CIS Post War (WWII) Aircraft Winter Camouflage

Mossie · November 30, 2008, 07:32:03 AM

Hi all, does anyone know if the CCCP/CIS ever used a snow or winter camouflage on their aircraft after WWII? I'd be grateful for any pics or descriptions, especially for helicopters, but fixed wing is fine too.

Cheers!

Simon.

TsrJoe · December 01, 2008, 03:13:32 AM

hiyas Simon, i recall seeing a photograph of an early Mi.24P Hind D in a winter camouflage of white (pale grey?) and green instead of the then norm of tan and green, based at one of the training centres in the Soviet far east (Alma Ata?) circa 1979

when the Airfix Hind D kit was released i made a model in the scheme, ill see if it stil survives in the built model boxes

during Soviet winter exercises it was common for a white paint to be applied over the base green colour on items of military equipment, a practice also carried out by most NATO. forces, iv not seen much evidence of VVS. frontline aircraft types having 'oversnow' camouflage applied altho i have seen a photograph of a Mig 'flogger' (i cant recall the sub prefix) in such a scheme somewhere in the past (it was hard to tell from the image but looked to be again 'light' and 'dark' in tone (white and green?)

cheers, joe

Mossie · December 01, 2008, 04:33:20 AM

Hiya Jo, thanks for that! It's kind of what I was hoping, similar to RAF Jags & Harriers on exercise in Norway. I'd seen a profile of an An-2 that seemed to have white applied over the whole top surface, which wan't really the way I wanted to go. It was of poor quality & had no description with it, so it could possibly have been an ambulance or a UN aircraft, hard to tell.

In the case of a three tone uppers, do you think the white would cover just one or two of the colours? I've not made my mind up on the base camo. I think most (if not all) operational Soviet helicopters have had a two tone camo, although some of the Mi-28 & Ka-50 demonstrators have been seen with three colours, which might be funky if nothing else!

Mossie · December 01, 2008, 11:44:07 AM

Thanks Lee. I heard another way to do it (IPMS Stockholm I think) was to apply your white paint over the top of your camo & allow it to dry for about ten minutes. Then take add little washing powder & allow it to 'fizz' for five to ten seconds depending on taste & wash it off

I've found a Hind with a whiffed winter scheme on ARC, roughly around the lines I was looking for & quite nicely done:
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal8/7401-7500/gal7429-Mi-24-Nielsen/00.shtm

Jeffry Fontaine · December 01, 2008, 03:22:33 PM

Matt Bittner and Erik Pilawskii have a web page devoted to Modelling The Aircraft of the VVS 1917-1950 which has a plethora of camouflage schemes to choose from. These could be easily adapted to modern (post 1950) aircraft and in most cases would be applicable if their technical manuals and field manuals on the subject and type were not changed much over the years.

TsrJoe · January 09, 2009, 02:47:36 AM

one from the stash, the old Airfix/MPC. Mi.24P Hind D kit finished in winter camouflage ...

cheers, Joe

Mossie · January 09, 2009, 03:03:08 AM

Looks good, thanks Joe!

Archangel · February 05, 2009, 03:53:40 PM

Its as much a whiff as anything but the fake Mi-24 Hinds used in the movie Red Dawn had a nifty early winter camoflage painted on them that had white.grey and sand/tan/earth color painted in a splinter(?) style camo.

Mossie · February 05, 2009, 03:59:54 PM

Sounds intriguing, do you know of any pics?

Sauragnmon · February 06, 2009, 10:35:09 AM

Actually, a few corrections to make, RE - Hinds mentioned here...

Joe, that Mi-24 isn't the P model, that's more likely the V, as the 24P is the Gunship model with the 30mm gun.

Archangel, irony of ironies, those Hinds weren't Fake, they were actually the 24A, which had the greenhouse canopy - The A was the only one to carry the greenhouse canopy though, the B and all later models went to the double-bubble we all know and love.

Mossie · February 06, 2009, 10:57:03 AM

Ah, Hind A, get you now. I'd still like to see the colour scheme if anyone has any pics.

Sauragnmon · February 06, 2009, 11:50:06 AM

Searching around the net, here's one I found:

There ya go... now I want to go get myself a Hind A model... *sigh* Not that I don't love hinds at all though.

EDIT - kick the link, there we go. Now it works.

GTX · February 06, 2009, 12:31:20 PM

Quote from: Mossie on February 05, 2009, 03:59:54 PM
Sounds intriguing, do you know of any pics?

No pics, but here's a crude section from the movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6lvso5b5FQ

Regards,

Greg

atleasticandraw · February 06, 2009, 12:38:11 PM

Here are some quite fascinating pics of the red dawn hinds! Note the cockpit!
http://www.rotaryaction.com/pages/redawn84.html

Mossie · February 06, 2009, 12:45:08 PM

Thanks for the link Greg. Hard to make it out but I get the general gist.

Boy, does that film look cheesey!!!