RAF Heavy Day Bomber colours

[NARSES2]

In the Aug SAM Paul Lucas has an interesting article (part 2) on trying to track down the actual blue colour used for a short while on the Mustangs of 361st Fighter Group, 8th AF in July 1944.

Anyway one of the colours he mentions as a possibility is "Deep Sky". Apparently this was developed by A&AEE Boscombe Down in 1941 as an underside colour for the B.17's and B.24's the RAF was expecting to get in the spring of 42 and use in the day bomber role. Now I knew the RAF used Fortress I's over Norway, unsuccessfully, and Liberators in the Med and Far East but had no idea they had planned large scale use of these aircraft over Europe in the day bomber role.

Now "Deep Sky" appears to be a very distinct quite bright blue (it was used on Mosquito NF XV's and Wellington Mk VI's) so B.17'sand 24's in dark green/dark earth uppers over this colour would look quite unusual and attractive I would have thought. Indeed I might be tempted with the new tool Airfix B.17 when out. I'm assuming the demarcation line between upper and lower would be low down ?

As an after thought I got to thinking about what the RAF would have used as an escort fighter, circa 1944/45, if they couldn't get enough Mustangs and Thunderbolts.

[kitbasher]

The Thunderbolt seems rather short-legged compared to the Mustang. P-51D with drop tanks, range 1650 statute miles.  Tempest V with drop tanks 1530 statute miles with drop tanks.  P-47D ferry range (whatever that means) 1800 statute miles (all Wikipedia).

So I'd go for the Tempest V with Typhoons staying longer in the ground attach role in 2TAF.  Tempests were already deployed by ADGB in 1944-45, so just add more. How about medium Sea Grey Uppers plus PRU undersides as per Spitfire VIIs and high-flying IXs?

[Old Wombat]

As an after thought I got to thinking about what the RAF would have used as an escort fighter, circa 1944/45, if they couldn't get enough Mustangs and Thunderbolts.

MB.5's?

Given the need for indigenous escort fighters & more funding the MB.5 may have been in production by mid-1944, instead of in the prototype stage.

[Dizzyfugu]

Check this for reference... 



From: http://i39.tinypic.com/1z3ctnr.jpg and https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http://amair4raf.blogspot.de/2009/04/raf-fortress-camouflage.html respectively (but unaccessible to the public)

Even though the colors are crappy, Deep Sky Blue appears very attractive - reminds me of FS 35109?

By 1944, the upper colors would also have changed from Dark Green/Dark Earth to Dark Green/Ocean Grey, I'd assume?

[Old Wombat]

Um, you seem to be missing a link, Dizzy!

[Dizzyfugu]

Better?

[Old Wombat]

Nope, I get a tiny pin-point of light in a dark grey field.

[The Wooksta!]

There's apparently a Tamiya equivalent, or at least very close, for Deep Sky, according to Nick Millman* over on Britmodeller.  However, the post was from 2012 and I can't find it.  But I did get said bottle and use it on this:



Sadly, it's dried up and went the journey a while back.  I can't remember the colour but it *might* have been XF24.


*He could bore for England on the subject of paints as he is incredibly knowlegable one the subject.  However, reading said posts I tend to lose the will to live.

[PR19_Kit]

That's a very strange photo of the two B-17s.

The near one seems to be in RAF Desert camo but toned down a tad, plus the Deep Sky undersides. It has old style USAAC roundels with the red dot in the centre, but it has an RAF fin flash with USAAC codes above.

Was someone building 1:1 scale Whiffs back then?

[Old Wombat]

Sorry, Dizz, still not working for me.

However, it seems to be working fine for others. Guess I'll just have to miss out on that one.

[kitnut617]

That's a very strange photo of the two B-17s.

The near one seems to be in RAF Desert camo but toned down a tad, plus the Deep Sky undersides. It has old style USAAC roundels with the red dot in the centre, but it has an RAF fin flash with USAAC codes above.

Was someone building 1:1 scale Whiffs back then?

If you scroll down a bit on this link, there's another photo of that pair, although it's in black & white.

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Boeing-B17.html

[Dizzyfugu]

Nope, I get a tiny pin-point of light in a dark grey field.

Maybe a browser issue?
I have the pic displayed properly, and I linked it the usual way?

[Dizzyfugu]

There's apparently a Tamiya equivalent, or at least very close, for Deep Sky, according to Nick Millman* over on Britmodeller.  However, the post was from 2012 and I can't find it.  But I did get said bottle and use it on this:

Sadly, it's dried up and went the journey a while back.  I can't remember the colour but it *might* have been XF24.

XF-24 is Dark Grey, something you might put onto early German WWII tanks?
XF-18 "Medium Blue" could come close, though, it has that touch of teal/green that sets the tone apart from Azure Blue and also PRU Blue. 

Also found a source that claims Deep Sky is equivalent to FS 35102, so my 35109 estimate was not that far off. 

[PR19_Kit]

That's a very strange photo of the two B-17s.

The near one seems to be in RAF Desert camo but toned down a tad, plus the Deep Sky undersides. It has old style USAAC roundels with the red dot in the centre, but it has an RAF fin flash with USAAC codes above.

Was someone building 1:1 scale Whiffs back then?

If you scroll down a bit on this link, there's another photo of that pair, although it's in black & white.

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/aircraft/Boeing-B17.html

Yes, so it is Robert. Well spotted. 

That front B-17 really is in an RAF Type A camo scheme too. Perhaps it was destined for the RAF and was photo'd while acceptance testing in the US before delivery?

[kitnut617]

I'm following a decal/camo scheme found on a Carpena sheet for this P-47M below, the dark blue it suggests is Hu104 Matt Oxford Blue but I've clear glossed it for the decals and the blue change shade