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RAF bomb painting question


alaninaustria

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This is from an old thread over at Britmodeller.

The "operational" colour used by the RAF in WW2 on all its munitions was Medium Bronze Green BS 223 and was the overall base colour seen on all British bombs/aircraft munitions manufactured post 41ish (thats an ballpark estimate! the changover was gradual) I am not sure of the changeover from Light Buff, which was the previously used Operational colour that originated from markings used on British shells from Victorian times. This colour was not made obsolete at the changeover (instigated by the RAF as a camoflage measure),   The British Army  operational shells throughout WW2 were still painted Buff. This Buff colour was present in BS381c from the start and  eventually became BS 358.

The British colour marking system  was changed and added to during and after the war with colours added and amended to warn of  hazards present in new weapons developed at that time.  This system lasted until 1964 when the British changed completely to the NATO munitions marking system. At the same time the British Operational Colour changed to overall Deep Bronze Green BS 224. Recently (in the last ten years) this operational colour has officially changed again to Camoflage Grey BS 626,( again for camoflage  reasons) for new weapons such as Paveway IV as seen on Grey Tornados.

Another thing that causes confusion to modellers comes from looking at  WW2 pictures showing US manufactured bombs that were supplied to the RAF. These  arrived  marked in the US system of marking with HE marked in a yellow band system on their Olive drab operational colour. 

You could write a (long) book on this subject!

 

Here is the link to the thread, it started out about RAF rockets. https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234938660-colour-of-rockets-fitted-to-hurricane/&page=2

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

 

Found some more info

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234917818-raf-bomb-colours/

 

Edited by dennismcc
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