John1 Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Stumbled upon this picture when I was looking for references for my Mosquito's Merlin engines. Assuming it's not colorized, it's a pretty nice picture. I'm curious about the solid green over blue paint scheme. Never seen that before; Was it common? Also, anyone know what mark Spitfire these are? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Upper right of photo...colorized.... Mark Proulx D Bellis, John1, LSP_K2 and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted June 28, 2020 Author Share Posted June 28, 2020 2 minutes ago, Mark P said: Upper right of photo...colorized.... Mark Proulx Nice catch. That being said, any speculation on the paint scheme or mark of those two Spits? Was there a chance that some spits had a solid upper color? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted June 28, 2020 Share Posted June 28, 2020 Spitfire Mk V looking at the ER serial number to the left.. I've been around to long to comment on Spitfire colors. Mark Proulx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastterry Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 (edited) Just to add some interesting details. ER718 in the background was a MkVb built Oct 1942, sailed on the Empire Day to Gibralter, arrived 9 Nov '42. Despatched to NW Africa Feb '43, transferred to ME April '45, SOC 28-8-46. Going from that it should have had the Desert scheme ie Dark Earth, Middle Stone and Azure Blue unders. Seems it had a longer life than a lot of other Spits. TRF Edited June 29, 2020 by fastterry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMaben Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 Would've painted the windshield/canopy framing with the rest of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dennismcc Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 The photo shows some nice detail though, it's a nice touch that it is marked as colorised so hopefully will not be used as a reference. Cheers Dennis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John1 Posted June 29, 2020 Author Share Posted June 29, 2020 9 hours ago, fastterry said: Just to add some interesting details. ER718 in the background was a MkVb built Oct 1942, sailed on the Empire Day to Gibralter, arrived 9 Nov '42. Despatched to NW Africa Feb '43, transferred to ME April '45, SOC 28-8-46. Going from that it should have had the Desert scheme ie Dark Earth, Middle Stone and Azure Blue unders. Seems it had a longer life than a lot of other Spits. TRF So they applied the 2nd camo color after national markings and serials were painted on? Interesting.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 I wouldn't draw any coloring conclusions based on a "manipulated" photograph. Mark Proulx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CATCplSlade Posted June 29, 2020 Share Posted June 29, 2020 18 minutes ago, Mark P said: I wouldn't draw any coloring conclusions based on a "manipulated" photograph. Mark Proulx Yes, but you can make some best guesses based on the accuracy of the colors applied to other objects in the photo. D Bellis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonH Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 On 6/29/2020 at 10:47 PM, CATCplSlade said: Yes, but you can make some best guesses based on the accuracy of the colors applied to other objects in the photo. This could start a very long thread. Which colours do you consider "accurate"? The roundel blue and red are definitely wrong. I really don't think you can infer anything from any other colour in this photo. I would argue that the flesh tones are too healthy for this period of the war (poor diet, probably working extended shifts with little natural light, etc.). The colouring is nicely done, but forget it as a reference of any kind, in terms of colour. Dpgsbody55, chuck540z3 and Mark P 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 Using a colorized photo as reference..... holds no water. Is the lady really in red? or is it blue,? or rose, or light blue? Great photo, real color???? we know it's not DonH, thierry laurent, Mark P and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick HMD Posted July 1, 2020 Share Posted July 1, 2020 11 hours ago, LSP_Ron said: Using a colorized photo as reference..... holds no water. Is the lady really in red? or is it blue,? or rose, or light blue? Great photo, real color???? we know it's not Yum! Ahh, those were the days. It's a pity girls can't look like that today. Never mind the color. thierry laurent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Roberts Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) See Post below - forgot to add the 'Quote' ! Doh! Edited July 2, 2020 by Pete Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Roberts Posted July 2, 2020 Share Posted July 2, 2020 (edited) On 6/29/2020 at 7:59 AM, John1 said: Nice catch. That being said, any speculation on the paint scheme or mark of those two Spits? Was there a chance that some spits had a solid upper color? For a Spitfire with one upper surface colour, off the top of my head, you could go for an RAAF Mk VIII - some were finished in Foliage Green upper surfaces, usually over RAAF Sky Blue. Another option is some of the Mk V's sent to Malta, apparently repainted with a blue over all upper surfaces. Some controversy here though around what Blue was used. There are also the High Altitude Scheme Spitfires with PRU Blue upper surfaces. Perhaps easiest of all are the overall PRU Blue Spitfires but this will involve conversion to a PRU Type. Edited July 2, 2020 by Pete Roberts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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