Fleet Air Arm colours

[kitbasher]

When did the FAA change it's standard camo scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey/Sky to just Extra Dark Sea Grey/Sky?  I'm guessing 1946 but don't know.

Asking for a friend 

[The Wooksta!]

I'm sure (well, 75%ish) that it was 1946.  The change between low and high demarcation is about 1948.  I think.

[NARSES2]

Beginning of 1947, although that wasn't hard and fast. Some may still have had Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey uppers in 47 to use up some old paint stocks. Eric Brown in one of his books mentions Seafire 47's being painted in the two tone uppers as late as 1947.

[kitbasher]

Thanks chaps.

The move from low to high demarcation seems easier to determine than the dropping of Dark Slate Grey.  Not aware of Seafire 47s in the three-colour scheme, 46s in two- and three-colours schemes yes.
My Sea Fury sources hint at 1947 for the camo scheme change but it could have been sooner.  Firebrand colour changes are inconclusive, will check out Fireflies.

[PR19_Kit]

At some stage Firebrands were in overall Midnight Blue. The very last one in the FAA, serving as a 'mascot' for the Southern Air Wing RNVR, was at RAF Benson when I lived there in the 50s, and it was in that Midnight Blue scheme.

The RNVR(A) was disbanded in 1957 and they towed the Firebrand up the hill to their HQ building with a Land Rover!

[The Wooksta!]

Beginning of 1947, although that wasn't hard and fast. Some may still have had Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey uppers in 47 to use up some old paint stocks. Eric Brown in one of his books mentions Seafire 47's being painted in the two tone uppers as late as 1947.

Except Winkle says in his book "Firebrand: From the Cockpit", and possibly another, that the two colour scheme is a myth based on photos with low contrasting leading the observer to conclude that the two upper colours are one.

Personally, I think he's talking bollocks.

[kitbasher]

Speaking of Eric Brown, I suddenly remembered the Sea Vampire deck landing trials.  So....

Two colours (although the grey of the restored aircraft may be Dark Sea Grey not EDSG).  Trials occurred December 1945.

The aircraft was built in 1944; subsequently damaged, it was at Hatfield for repairs between June and November 1945.  So could the two-colour scheme have been introduced during that period?

[NARSES2]

Didn't want to open a new thread so as a variation of the original question.

When did the FAA move from matt to gloss surface finishes ? I've looked but can't find anything that gives a date when the instructions were issued.

[PR19_Kit]

The Sea Hawks and Attackers of the Southern Air Wing RNVR at Benson in 1958 were gloss.

Oh boy, were they GLOSS! They had the Reserve matelots polishing them every Sat and Sun morning, come rain or shine! 

[The Wooksta!]

RNVR stuff would always be immaculate, ditto RAuxAF.

I remember someone putting an Airfix Seafire 46 up on Britmodeller.  Nicely built but really weathered.  Well, everyone on there was well and truly jacking themselves off over the finish and how good the weathering  was.  Then I said "No, it's wrong, that's the squadron commander's aircraft and it would never have looked that filthy."  And the howls of protest, you'd think I'd stabbed their mothers. 

[kitbasher]

Well I'm glad I searched the forum and found this thread as I was just about to ask about the FAA's move from Extra Dark Sea Grey (EDSG)/Dark Slate Grey uppers to just EDSG.  Wha a doofus I'd have been running two threads asking the same question.  And judging by the date it's the same build - in the modelling duldrums for two years now! - that prompted the question on both occasions.

The Sea Vampire deck trials photos are intriguing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTxFhWVrYbY says Dec 1945, which better fits the paused build's nascent backstory.  Had hoped Sea Hornet pics could provide clues, but as the first prototype 'Hooked Hornet' was finished in the Day Fighter Scheme with yellow undersides, that's no help.

Sea Fury pics show EDSG-only uppers in 1947, but too late for the build; Wyvern TF.1s have EDSG uppers in 1946.  Can't find any Firefly pics that could provide clues.

So I'm guessing late 1945/early 1946.  Anyone able to cast any light either to confirm this assumption, or to indicate 1946?

Of course I'm asking this whilst away from home so my limited FAA references aren't to hand, but I imagine rereading them would lead me to the same conclusion.

[PR19_Kit]

More on FAA colours, but wartime ones.

What scheme would have been in use for Seafires in the Med mid WWII?

I can find some pics of such aircraft, but no info on what the colours actually were.

[kitbasher]

I'd have assumed Temperate Sea Scheme - extra dark sea grey/dark slate grey uppers with Sky undersides.

[PR19_Kit]

Sounds logical Dave, thanks. 

And to an extent agrees with the pics I've seen. It was the 'Dark Slate Grey that had me stumped, the Slate series of greys always does, I can't tell one from the other!

[NARSES2]

Sounds logical Dave, thanks. 

And to an extent agrees with the pics I've seen. It was the 'Dark Slate Grey that had me stumped, the Slate series of greys always does, I can't tell one from the other!

Me to, and I find them quite unattractive as well. Always look "dirty" to me