Spitfire HFVII code colours (high altitude scheme)

[PhilHoff]

Hello,

I am trying to figure out the colour of the codes on Spitfire VII in high altitude scheme (PRU blue / medium sea grey). On some pictures, they appear very light, they could be taken as white, but on other pictures, they appear definitely not white, and look more like sky codes.

Example of very light code (could be an effect of the lightening of the picture):

And example of "not so light and certainly not white" codes:

Does someone has informations on these colours?

Philippe

[The wooksta V2.0]

IIRC the decals in the CMK Spitfire HFVII had the codes in Sky.

[davidelvy]

The Victory Productions "Aces of the Empire" sheet has the codes for Pete Brother's machine in white, although these codes were personal. I have never seen illustrations of a Mark VIII with sky codes, but on that picture they certainly don't look white.

[Seahawk]

Personally I used Sky, but in the interests of balance I should point out that in the relevant Camouflage & Markings James Goulding says they were Sky Grey. This is one of those rare occasiosn when I think he may be wrong.

There is a very interesting series of pictures in "Spitfire At War 3" (pp 73-80) showing that at least some 131 Sq aircraft (eg MD172 NX-L and the OC's aircraft "Spirit of Kent") had their codes outlined very finely in a dark colour, probably black. Since the outlining is about 3/8" wide full size, I disregarded it in 1/72 though I think the transfers for the CMR kit depict it.

Nick

[Colin S-K]

Philippe,

Personally I would go for Sky, as you say not white, only leaves Sky as a paint they would have to easily have to hand......

Colin

[sanguin]

Philippe,

Personally I would go for Sky, as you say not white, only leaves Sky as a paint they would have to easily have to hand......

Colin

Philippe,

The Kopro 1/72nd Spitfire VII kit sheet has codes in Sky for 602 Squadron (MD114 DU-G) when in the Orkneys (note this, Colin!) Feb 1944 when it shot down a Bf109 recce fighter, Sky for MD188 PB with no other code from Culmhead Wing June 1944, Sky for ON-W, no serial visible, of 124 Squadron, Bradwell Bay June 1944 and Sky with thin black outline NX-O MD120 of 131 Squadron, Colerne March 1944. The last one is 'named' Spirit Of Kent in white on the fuselage ahead of the cockpit port side.

All are Medium Sea Grey over PRU blue. DU-G has r/w/b fin flash and fuselage roundel, the others have just r/b fin and fuselage roundels; all have r/b upper wing roundels and no lower wing roundels at all. PB and ON-W have full w/b/w/b/w invasion stripes above and below the wings with full fuselage stripes as well.

I have no other references for their markings, just the kit itself so I cannot give any honest credibility to the Kopro choice of colours or even overall schemes, but it ooes seem to follow the trend that others have suggested. Perhaps they followed the same logical path that everybody else has followed. It may not be correct, but it is the most reasonable choice!

Best Wishes,

John

[Edgar]

When the orders, for the new high-altitude scheme, were issued, no mention was made of code letters, just the roundels. In the absence of anything to the contrary, logic (that again!) dictates that sky should be used.

Edgar

[PhilHoff]

Hello,

Thank you everyone for your answers . I'll note the sky option in my references.

Philippe

[Prop Duster]

This seems to agree with the sky

click link here

HTH

[Ed Russell]

The Kopro 1/72nd Spitfire VII kit sheet has codes in Sky for 602 Squadron (MD114 DU-G) when in the Orkneys (note this, Colin!) Feb 1944 when it shot down a Bf109 recce fighter

For what it's worth, the Red Roo team looked at this photo and went for white codes for MD114. (It was actually assigned to the Skeabrae station flight rather than a squadron). I doubt there will be a definitive conclusion to this question but it's all interesting!

[Seahawk]

The Kopro 1/72nd Spitfire VII kit sheet has codes in Sky for 602 Squadron (MD114 DU-G) when in the Orkneys (note this, Colin!) Feb 1944 when it shot down a Bf109 recce fighter

For what it's worth, the Red Roo team looked at this photo and went for white codes for MD114. (It was actually assigned to the Skeabrae station flight rather than a squadron). I doubt there will be a definitive conclusion to this question but it's all interesting!

That photo, together with another of the same aircraft, appears on p.80 of "Spitfire At War 3". With better reproduction there's a pretty clear tonal variation between the white of the roundel and the code letters, so again my favoured non-white suggestion is sky.

NB the black area on the wingroot: would be interested in thoughts on whether this is a painted walkway area or maybe a rubber mat.

Nick

[GrouchoMark2]

Hmmm -not sure about that Kopro drawing. Appears to have a mark VI nose grafted onto a MkVIII body:- 3 outlet exhaust , gun heater tube, high rear canopy and no rails, voltage reg behind seat. Very misleading

Groucho

[Jennings Heilig]

Roy Sutherland and I had a lengthy discussion about this very subject last year, and after seeing some of his photo interpretation work, I'm convinced that they were Sky. I changed the color in the reprint of the Victory sheet on PB's airplane.

J

[Colin S-K]

Dear All,

Codes for NX-Q are not white.......! Albeit it is tempting to go for that.

Look at photo in start of thread, it has white in 'D' Day stripes, codes are plainly not white! They have to be MSG or Sky......Sky being my bet... DU-G, same again look at the white in the roundels....

Sky I feel, a colour readily available.

Colin

Edited August 1, 2010 by Colin S-K

[Dave Fleming]

The pictures in Spitfire at war 3 clearly show these were not white - there is a very good close up of NX-L's 'L'