Post-war "silver" colour scheme for training aircraft.

I’m starting to suspect that it’s sea grey on the top but the fact it’s a glossy or semi-gloss finish is what’s giving it the appears of a metalic shine. Certainly makes the most sense. I’ve counted at least 4 individual Horsa’s painted this way.

This is insane really – I started out doing a bit of research for a friend and after spending months analysing pictures have so far managed to find 6 different basic paint schemes and when you add in variations in markings/roundels, etc. you end up with close to 20 different ways a Horsa could be painted in the space of 10 years.

As for when they were withdrawn – 1950 seems to be the end of them just before the regiment was disbanded.

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=111658

I can’t say that I’ve seen silver over black on British bombers, as mentioned the Washingtons when arrived were in their previous USAF wavey black and natural metal scheme.
The glossy black and light grey upper (inc wooden Mosquito) was the main scheme of the era.

I’m fascinated by your info though OEB, when was the Horsa retired and when was the concept of the assault glider dropped from British service?

Hmm but those are American types and this relates to Horsa gliders which is somewhat more home spun 🙂

Technically Horsa always followed night-bomber colours throughout the war and the photos I have from 1950 they definitely DON’T have camouflage on the upper surfaces (Pattern No.2 layout). The problem is, the top surface appears to have considerable shine which makes it look like a metallic finish.

I can’t figure out if it the fact that the tops are painted in sea grey with a gloss finish which is giving the shine or someone has followed the night-bomber spec. but painted the tops silver as they are wooden/training aircraft. There’s no evidence of yellow training bands – whatever the top is, aluminium dope or gloss sea grey, it’s one shade.

The Washingtons retained the scheme they were delivered in. Those with black bellies were veterans of the low-level night raids on Japan.

Following up in light of information gleaned from Edgar.

Is there any evidence/documentation so support the idea that around 1950 some aircraft sporting the night-bomber scheme had aluminium/silver as the upper surface colour as opposed to the medium grey usually found above the anti-searchlight black?

Several Washingtons carried that scheme

Following up in light of information gleaned from Edgar.

Is there any evidence/documentation so support the idea that around 1950 some aircraft sporting the night-bomber scheme had aluminium/silver as the upper surface colour as opposed to the medium grey usually found above the anti-searchlight black?

Edgar,

Excellent! Thanks for that. I’ll drop you a PM with my e-mail address.

You need (at least) the Air Ministry Order A.M.O. A.423/47, issued 15-5-47, which introduced the silver scheme; it was followed, 6-2-48, by DARD Technical Circular 8, which went into more detail.
The AMO talks about a plan to re-introduce the pre-war roundel, but it had to be delayed due to shortage of the necessary bright pigments; there was also a rider that any repainting should only done when a major overhaul made it necessary.
I have the orders on my computer, so can let you have copies, but to an E-mail address, since they’re far too big to put on here.