Classic British Flight Sim

Some years ago there used to be a small A5 Magazine called 'Airfix Magazine' at 1/6d.......(talking about the 60's here ). Anyway, there was a feature every month on Camouflage & Markings by (I think) Bruce Robertson.

What I am after is images of the pattern templates for the disruptive camouflage patterns used by the RAF during WWII and post war for all types including training and communication aircraft. I would have thought a quick 'Google' would have led me somewhere but try as I can.....what I want eludes me so far.

Can anyone here point me in the right direction?....I have tried the plastic model route but all I get are links to books on Amazon.......and I have just spent all my pocket money this month on a good book on the Rapide so it needs to be an image...

Regards.


Bridon Bear

Hi BB

Which Aircraft do you want to know the pattern for ?.

I might have some of them.

Regards
Rick

I was after generic patterns for the Fighter, Bomber, Training and Communication aircraft rather than a particular species as it were..

I know the patterns were specific and not as 'random' as they looked so I was thinking that a few stock templates could be archived away for later use in repaints.

Regards.

Bridon Bear

messenger ?.

Bridon Bear,

It's not as straightforward as you might think.

While it looks as if the whole process was pretty simple, each type had it's own scheme and there have been entire books written about it. Not to mention the basic colours changed quite a few times mid-war.

In early years the two main colours were Dark Green and Dark Earth, with either Black/White or Sky undersides. Later on the Dark Earth was changed to Ocean Grey and the underside was usually Sea Grey Medium, but bombers tended to use Night (Matt Black early on, gloss Black later) which ended at various heights up the fuselage side depending on the CO's whims.

In addition there were 'A' and 'B' schemes, with the latter being a mirror image of the former. In early years aircraft were painted in alternate 'A' and 'B' schemes as they came off the production line, but later on this was done on a batch basis instead. Apparently there is one Spitfire sub type of which every one is an 'A' scheme, but I've never managed to find out which one it was.

Each type had it's own pattern, even if the basic ideas were similar, to take into account the placement of canopies, turrets, engines etc. so there was no generic scheme to work from.

In the 70s there was a part-work published called 'Aircraft Camouflage and Markings' (confusing title, eh?...) which dealt with each type in turn, and I have a number of them stashed away. The booklets are well out of print now, and are highly sought after among the modelling fraternity, but I'm sure I could scan a page or three as required........

Hi Kit,

Yes I know that what seems a random application of paint is in fact not the case....I have managed to get hold of some data for Fighters and Bombers but what I still want are patterns or data for Communications aircraft and ex Civilian 'Impressed' types like the Dragon Rapide etc.

If you have any data on these there, also Training aircraft that would be useful information indeed so if any scans are possible as and when and emailed over, they would be gratefully received....

Regards.

Bridon Bear