Spitfire Colour Schemes

[FiSe]

I have just few more questions on anybody who was there with camera:
Have any-one took pictures of interiors - cockpits? I built 162 in 1:48 last year and it was impossible to get any info on them...

The same about sound of 161?

And finally I see "Aon" scribed just under the front windscreen, the same is on Grace Spitfire, ex.162. First, I thought, this is the name of this plane, but there is something else in it, obviusly, Does anybody know what this does mean. Thanks

[Frank]

Hi FiSe,

Aon is the name of the insurance company that insures the Spitfire.

I don't have any interior shots I'm afraid.


Regards,

Frank.

[FiSe]

Thanks Frank, so I have to redo this colour drawing of OUoV   my fault...but there is always something...

Anyway If anybody have them or if anybody will have a chance to take them, would you remember me, please?
Those are us modellers, pictures of whole 161 are nice, I am looking at them again and again, but we'd like to get under this green skin.

And by the way: Happy 70th Birthday Spitties  

[FiSe]

Thanks for that,
I leave it till next year - hope there will be some 85th anniversary celebrations. There is no point to go up there to see nice plane, but too far to take a "proper" pics.

Anyway, there is a link on my finished model of 162:
http://www.wicklowsmc.com/iac_spittr9.htm

[Tony Kearns]

The colour schemes for the Irish Spitfires and Seafires is a minefield. Very interesting to see the finished model. The nearest overall green colour scheme would be gloss cockpit green.I was never aware that 162 carried that combination of Green with the three colour boss and wonder do you have a source for this. I understand that 162 changed from two colour boss/ All green scheme to Silver overall with three colur boss. Serial under the port wing only. All spitfires and Seafires were matt black interiors. I appreciate that obtaining correct size decals and locating them on the model is difficult so I appreciate the differences on the model, unfortunately the "2" is not the correct shape. Don't be dishartened I have got it wrong too on many occasions.
Tony K

[Tony Kearns]

Re my last posting and last sentence. A classic example of how I get it wrong. I should have said that the serial number should be on the STARBOARD underside not he port side. apologies.
Tony K

[FiSe]

Hallo Tony,
It could be a pure fiction, but  I have pics of 158, 159, 163 in this gray-green scheme with "new style" boss. So i presumed this change would affect all Tr.9s.

This number which is on my model is taken from "silver" 162, which could be wrong, but it could be right. I know for sure, that 162 in "old" scheme has same rounded styles like Seafires...This numbers under both wings were taken from Joe Maxwell's drawings in "I.A.C. Celebrates 100 Years Of Flight". And back then, when I was building this plane, I could not found any other underside views, or referencies on this particular part of plane.
There are missing rocket pods points under wings and now I reckon, this Brigade model conversion, has rear fuselage section too short. But it is usual, you get right information, when model is finished  

This gray-green overall is, by my opinion Interior green, one reason for all: those planes were delivered after the war, in time, when too many aircrafts were no longer needed, manufacturers had piles of paints in their warehauses, already paid for, which needs to go, they can still use RAF cammo colours, but "new" interior colour is black and not green anymore, so they've used every opportunity to get rid of it... I am not sure if I.A.C. put down any requests on colour schme of these planes, though.

I know, that some Czech machinery manufacturers - Zetor, used German European sand colour, used on military vehicles during WWII, till late 50's

But it could be totaly different story....

[Tony Kearns]

As I said it is a minefield. It is necessary to treat all six Spitfires as individuals for the purpose of researching their colour schemes. Your reference to 100 years if the IAC prompts me to refer you to page 36 you will notice the "2" does not have a curve in the stroke from the top to the horizontal bottom line.Now to add to the confusion if you turn to page 35 you will see at the top left photo it is Spitfire 159 the same Spitfire at the same time is the middle photo in the right hand column. It has the 3 colour fuselage and wing upper boss and look at the front view and you see it has wing underside stripes and serial on the port underside.Confusing is it not? The all green Spitfire 163 had the serial on both undersurfaces, Joe Maxwell is correct.
The question of the colour scheme at the manufacturer was dictated by the Air Corps who specified the colour and location of the markings and as I understand it cockpit green and interior green is the same but as matt,the Air Corps specified gloss finish for the last four Spitfires.
Tony K

[FiSe]

You are absolutely right, it is a mess and I do not argue... Both of you - your-self and Joe - are doing tremendous work so, my apology, if this reference on him caused some "bad blood". I've just said I took it as a guide for this scheme...

This "2" is entirely my fault. I remember, that building this kit was a real pain in the neck for many reasons, lack of any reference material was one of them. I had to do all those plotter cut masks at work and I've forgot this only reference book at home so I had to use my memory... I will not respray this model, it looks great on my shelf, but I reworked colour profile and I will add 159 with three coloured boss and put a notice about this green 162 scheme...

I am always open to new informations about I.A.C. colour schemes or informations about planes as there is, as I mentioned many times,  no proper references out-there especially regarding early to mid years, but this does not belongs to this theme, I think.

There are some pics of this lad and I hope, that there will be no complaints this time  '>

[FiSe]

Still under construction...

[Tony Kearns]

Thereis no question of an apology or bad blood for that matter.As I said the whole matter of colour schemes is a mine field.I am working on it.
Tony K

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi all
On the N-9, on the way down to Carlow, a few miles past the Dunlavin turn-off, is a large petrol station (Moone cross?). On one of the shelves is a doctored photo of an Air Corps Lysander which force-landed in the area during WW II.It's a picture of an RAF Lysander with Irish flags daubed on the picture.
regards
GttC

[Tony Kearns]

GttC,
I think this came up before. No record of a Lysander force landing in the area. Lysander 66 was purchased as surplus and displayed on the forecourt for a number of years until it more or less fell apart. I understand the location was nearer Carlow.
Tony K

[GoneToTheCanner]

Hi Tony
Thanks for that. I was looking at a top view of 161 and saw that the Celtic bosses are painted in opposition, i.e; green-orange then orange-green. deliberate or a paint-shop foul up?
regards
GttC

[Tony Kearns]

Hi GttC,
In the matter of the wing bosses they got that right. Green inboard on both wings and the same applies to the underwing 20 inch stripes (green inboard). Tom Maloney's pictures illustrates them very well on this thread. When I saw the pictures at the time of the roll out prior to its first flight after restoration I was dubious about the shade of green. This was repeated to me by former pilots and techies at the get together at Baldonnel on the 8th, unfortunately the Spitfire could not make it until the following day due to weather. Opinion seems to be divided but I am sticking to my guns!
Tony K