27 Squadron Vulcan Tail art

Yes. That’s all correct. 🙂

In conclusion – the 27 squadron Vulcans would have had the Dumbo but not the Lincoln crest.

When they moved to 50 squadron they would have had the Lincoln crest and the dogs only.

As Blue 2 suggested and just confirmed by photos in the Rowland White book – 607 had her Lincoln Crest and 44 sgdn badge removed when operating on Black Buck – just fin flash and code.

IIRC unit markings were over painted for op. Corporate

Thanks to Chox and Mad Jock.

I agree in this picture the Solway Vulcan looks more like Dark Sea Grey at front and Light Aircraft Grey at rear…

Apologies I did not post the link to the Dark Sea Grey wraparound

..http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Air/Avro-698-Vulcan/0138031/L/&sid=ff538d6cdeb47c9580bd17b106a2a1d6

On 607 – she has been shown in photos – sometimes painted with the Lincoln crest and 44 sqdn circle as well as fin flash and other times just with fin flash.

Indeed, XH558 and XH560 both went to 50 Squadron and flew with the tanker and sample pod fit for some time. The 27 Sqn markings were removed pretty swiftly and they were devoid of unit markings for some time until 50 Squadron applied theirs. The shot of XL445 shows how it looked after 50 squadron applied full markings to it and also shows (on the tail cone) how the green went a strange brown-ish colour.

The one at Solway does illustrate how odd fresh Medium Sea Grey looks, especially when compared to grey that’s been applied for years. It looks particularly strange when it’s next to national insignia that hasn’t been repainted!

The 27 badge on the fin of XJ823 was put on post preservation- when 27 shut down the MRR birds went to Waddo as did some of their air and ground crew to continue their task. XJ823 was originally sent to IXs who did not apply a fin badge however the aircraft moved onto 50s who did apply their fin markings. The City of Lincoln badge [ applicable only to Waddo aircraft] would have been applied to XJ823 on its first MEAS visit- possibly for a minor.

HTH
Cheers
Madjock-McGrok

That is definitely the Lincoln coat of arms found on Waddington Wing aircraft. probably a legacy of fleet transfers between Waddo and Scampton?

Thank you CHOX – the light fading of the blue in Med Sea Grey explains the issues I have matching painted articles to photographs.

The artwork I was referring to was the Solvay one – but I suspect that the artwork is a mongrel of 27 and 50…

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Air/Avro-698-Vulcan/1345524/L/&sid=6046558362f564fc18609ae54a26e24e

This second one was also in 50 sqdn after 27 sqdn – so may have the lincoln artwork from then..

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK—Air/Avro-698-Vulcan/0729000/L/&sid=ea1c99fb168ce968231e77b0f5d5eaed

Picture of it with Dark Sea Grey – in wraparound as you mention. I guess the smiley face was here for the wargames at Nellis.

Matching Medium Sea Grey for a Vulcan is a chore. Even though MSG was the standard camouflage colour (not for wrap-round camouflage though, as that was Dark Grey), it quickly changed shade one it was applied and became much paler. The Green also faded but not as much as the MSG. The Green tended to go a brown-ish colour, oddly enough.

However, the MSG on 27 Squadron Vulcans didn’t fade all that much as, unlike their bomber counterparts, the MRR aircraft were given a gloss finish which protected the paint and kept the colours fairly strong. The NAM Vulcan is indeed painted in the correct colours. It just looks slightly odd at first glance because the paint hasn’t been applied for too long, so it hasn’t faded to the tones that you generally saw on operational Vulcans. It should be a pretty good match for a 27 Sqn MRR machine though!

As for the City of Lincoln coat of arms, I’m not sure why this would be on a 27 Squadron aircraft as they were based at Scampton, whereas the Lincoln coat of arms was applied to Waddington Wing aircraft. Again, maybe a photo might clarify what you’re referring to?

Thanks Howard.

I was planning to drive the 5 miles to Carlisle when the weather (and light) improves and take a picture of their 27 sqdn Vulcan tail and use this as a basis.

A strange point is that Medium Sea Grey I have mixed is a lot bluer than the pictures/profile artists/sim artists use to paint Vulcans. They also appear to weaken the green. If I was to match these images I would have to use Light Aircraft Grey….

Is the NAM Vulcan painted in Med Sea Grey (BS381 637) and Dark Green (BS381 241) ?

Do you have a reference for the City of Lincoln Crest?

Would a picture of XM594’s tail section help?

Thanks Blue 2 – I agree it would appear to be the City of Lincoln logo.

Excellent stuff!

Thanks to all!

Sounds like the Lincoln shield all Waddington-based aircraft (up to present day) get to display- The AWACS etc. have it on the nose IIRC, Vulcans had it on the fin.
You should be able to make it out on this shot I took of 558

Thank you to both Chox and Mad Jock for all the discussion and detail. It is much appreciated.

I have a small piece of Vulcan door – which was corroded and orange peeled – I have stripped it back and will repaint it as a 27 squadron camouflage tail fin – with code, fin flash and dumbo (white circle).

A final question – there are some 27 sqdn aircraft with the red cross/white shield in the top corner. Is this a St. Georges cross or the Lincoln City flag (with yellow/gold fleur de Lys ) – I can get enough resolution to confirm.

Yup, that particular marking was almost a one-off as the caption confirms. As far as I can recall, 27 Squadron’s standard markings comprised a dark green elephant on a white circle when they re-formed in the MRR role at Scampton – the Dumbo marking came along later. I’ve got a photo of XH558 somewhere with the early standard elephant marking on the tail.

Ahh Madjock, you’ve reminded me of 617’s most attractive markings! They looked really impressive in camouflage with the dayglow lightning bolts on the tail.

Dayglo sheet played an important part in the Vulcan fleet up to the formation of the squadrons in 1975 [ 1April if anyone is interested] Not only did 27 apply dayglo fin badges but 617 applied their lightning flashes in that way as well. Over at Waddo the only badge on the fins of the Wings Vulcans was a dayglo pig on the fin above the tail flash. While the crews were not bothered about this bit of decoration the Line SEngO used to go a bit bonkers about them now and again and insist they were removed- they were then sneakily replaced by smaller versions which grew as time passed. For those who looked at the photo of ‘595 on Andy’s site the penguin badge at the top of the fin is probably [ if memory serves] the badge of one of the Goose Bay teams.

One last dayglo sheet usage was that applied to XM608. At the 608 was a 50s aircraft and was loaned to 101s next door for a Ranger to Las Vegas. The crew chief[ name with held to protect the guilty] decided that he was not flying in a jet with a pair of sh*gg*ng dogs on the fin thus he commissioned the shift artist, a JT electrician to create a more appropriate badge. Two large circles of 3ft dayglo sheet later and some paint and 608 was adorned with a pair of Playboy bunny badges on the fin held in place with a good coat of varnish. For the modelling fraternity the green section on the wings leading edges- up to the front spar had recently been repainted. Unfortunately the paint had not been blended well therefore the green edges had a distinct blue tinge- a stark contrast to the normal grey and green.

Apologies for going on a bit but some of this might be of interest to someone.

Cheers
Madjock McGrok ex Line and 101s

Picture of the day glo dumbo here

http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/charlie_stagg/595_dumbo.htm

The Dumbo design wasn’t introduced until after the squadron had re-equipped for the maritime radar reconnaissance role. It was designed with approval from Disney, and only appeared after the unit had started MRR ops at Scampton. I can’t recall ever having seen a dayglow Dumbo design on any aircraft but if such a photo exists, I’d be inclined to think it was an unofficial “one off” – I’d be interested to see it though.

Thanks Mr. McGrok – I had not realised the elephant was green – thank you for clarifying.

I’ve a b/w photo of XH556 of 27 Sqdn- it is in anti flash markings complete with green elephant on the fin and the official crest aft of the fuselage roundel.

HTH
Cheers
Mad Jock