Mid-1940 RAF Squadron code colors

[Merad]

I'm building a Kotare Spitfire Mk I mid that will be painted as Alan Deere's KL-B "Kiwi" which went down over Dunkirk.  I am going to use One Man Army masks to paint the markings, but trying to figure out the correct color for the squadron codes.  For most of the war it seems like light grey was standard, but I found a discussion (I think it was on Britmodeller, lost the link) suggesting that the light grey color took effect around the BoB onward.  So far I haven't been able to find anything that specifically states what was used prior to BoB.

 

The Kotare kit seems to be very well researched, and to my eyes at least they're using more of a blue-grey for the squadron code decals (below).  However for what it's worth the paint matching app on my phone claims the decals are a close match for MRP-119 RAF Azure Blue.

 

Edited July 1 by Merad

[MikeC]

They were officially a light-medium grey, but bear in mind that as these were squadron (and individual aircraft) identification, they were painted on the unit after delivery of the aircraft.  There was thus scope for some variation between units.

 

Grey codes were introduced around March 1939.  If you can get hold of it, Michael J F Bowyer's Fighting Colours is still a very good basic work by one who was there at the time.  

 

Kotare are good, but I'm not convinced by the colour of those codes - they look a little too blue on my monitor. 

Edited July 1 by MikeC

[RBrown]

Medium Sea Grey codes were introduced by Air Ministry order in October 1936.  Subsequently,  Paragraph 5 of AMO A154/39 established standardized specifications for unit markings.

 

"5. The code letters allotted to squadrons are shown at the appendix
to this order. They are to be painted in grey paint (Stores Ref.
33B/157). The letters are to be 48 inches high and are to be made
up of strokes 6 inches in width. Smaller letters are to be used only
when the space available on the fuselage makes such a course
unavoidable."

 

Note that Stores Ref. 33B/157 was the identifier for Medium Sea Grey paint in a half gallon container.

 

 

 

 

 

[geedubelyer]

This photo  from a thread on Britmodeller seems to show more of a blue/grey shade. 

 

I don't know if it's genuine WWII vintage or colourised though. 

 

There is another quite a familiar photo online here that supports it. 

Edited July 1 by geedubelyer

[dennismcc]

This review on Hyperscale goes through the code colour question.

https://www.hyperscale.com/2023/reviews/kits/kotarek32001reviewbg_1.htm

A quote from the above.

The codes have a bluish tint however it has been pointed out that Medium Sea Grey was not the only colour used for early Spitfire code letters. A darker and bluish grey was noted on 54 and 72 Squadron Spitfires. Here are a few examples in genuine wartime colour that were previously posted to HyperScale's Plane Talking Forum.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[mozart]

2 hours ago, geedubelyer said:

This photo  from a thread on Britmodeller seems to show more of a blue/grey shade. 

 

I don't know if it's genuine WWII vintage or colourised though. 

 

There is another quite a familiar photo online here that supports it. 

And I read that colour as medium sea grey Guy. 

[Merad]

Cheers, thanks for all the info.  Medium Sea Grey is not in my paint rack at the moment, time for another paint order...