Australia's 2nd Flying Spitfire

At a guess, TB863 may well stay in it’s current paint sceme. It is now in it’s original colours from when it was delivered to 453 Sqn RAAF. Not sure if FU-P was it’s original designation though…

So, I think they might keep it as is, since it represents an Australian a/c already…

It was FU-P.

Mark

At a guess, TB863 may well stay in it’s current paint sceme. It is now in it’s original colours from when it was delivered to 453 Sqn RAAF. Not sure if FU-P was it’s original designation though…

So, I think they might keep it as is, since it represents an Australian a/c already…

Was talking to Matt Denning about keeping her clean a long while ago and because of our indegionous insect population the shiny paint makes it a bit easier to maintain.Not historically correct but when you try wash off a million kamikazi flies,mosquitos(the insect kind),locusts,bugs,beetles etc the shiney paint makes it so much easier.

What about semi matt; best of both worlds? nearer the authentic scheme, but easier to keep clean

Mark 12 – see were your coming from – certainly enjoy gloss red on a Spitfire more than gloss camouflage on the same bird! Maybe in the future all genuine Spits should wear matt and those with a ‘substancial provenance’ wear gloss to make it easier to enjoy seeing the genuine 1940 article!

To gloss or not to gloss!

Yep, I’ll will second that Mark mate.

Die hard’s don’t like it, Some told me that at Point Cook, the 100, 03

Yes it doe’s look just so nice :rolleyes: ,
In some shot’s, but now after seeing Hurra’s done, Matt.D’s Boomerang Suzy-q, and a few other’s, the gloss is starting to wear off for me, so to speak! :rolleyes:

It take’s away the rugged war machine, macho element :dev2: , of our beloved, but deadly War machine’s(even though we call them girl’s).

Turn’s em a bit, toy like, like the aircraft model’s, we all built growing up, I had a shinny Spit, Hurra too, Kittyhawk, then I got in to the war book’s, as I grew older, It caught on for me.

Then I Covered the Kitty with dust, oil, so on,
Made the Hurra, Matt black(liked Pete Townsend 🙂 ),

And gave the Spit a better Camo in Matt, and same underneath matt, bit of dirt, oil like stain’s, gun scorching 😎 .

The 109 I gave a gloss yellow nose, but made it light blue the rest, dirty again, oil, so on, then sort of made her a crash scene 😉 .

Made me C-47- dirty matt, and D-day stripe’s.

B-17 was a hard one, Yank’s changed it back to metal in end, but I’ll excuse the 17 and b-29.

Same with me Mustang, and Bolt., but still made em a bit dirty.

Then I set them all back up,

and BINGO, they looked like war machine’s. 😎

That element is gone with all the gloss, they did look mean and dirty in war.

Smelled and leaked, lot’s of oil.

I’ll post some of Felix, our black cat, I’m sure you will see what I mean.

They looked like just that, big black and mean, I have heard my GGF Erk flew in them from Lae to Townsville and back, after the leave, On RNR late war.

Look strange when the Cat’s all bright and shinny, colourful, nothing warbird like about it at all, that’s the thing we know these plane’s killed, and that’s just some of the awe we hold for some of them.

Ok my two bob’s up. 🙂

MV239/A58-758 on reflection.

If our Queen turned up at say the state opening of Parliament in a Rolls Royce custom built Phantom and it was painted in full flat matt – grey, olive, navy, maroon or whatever, most would say ‘something wrong here’ and by the inverse I feel exactly the same about ‘shiny’ Spitfires.

DavidB it doesn’t greatly affect the way it flies…. but it sure as hell affects my enjoyment of watching it fly.

Mark

TB863 – I hope it is not going to get the super high gloss ‘Temora’ finish.

It certainly spoils MV239/A58-758 in my view.

Care to reflect on that? 😉

Mark – Does it affect how she flies?

TB863 – I hope it is not going to get the super high gloss ‘Temora’ finish.

It certainly spoils MV239/A58-758 in my view.

Mark

Cheers Stormbird.Bit late for my taste but nice none the less.Gotta remember Auss was the largest user of the spit during WW2 outside of England.And one of the largest graveyards was about 30 kays out of town here.Just found a photo of the pilot who crashed ours in 1943(we are doing a repro adopting it,s number).Very eerie,almost like looking at a ghost as he was killed in A58-36 up near Batchelor when he was 21.Remember watching Col Pay when before it went to Temora when I was knee high and was captivated.Something that I have carried with me ever since,hence the insanity with Spits…Yep Jbs sent a couple of ours over to the mysterious bookman as well.Will sell like hotcakes I think..

Those of us over here in NZ are still recovering from the fact that we’ll never see 863 against the Wanaka backdrop again! After 17 years here she was very much a part of the NZ aviation scene, and although I’m sure she will have a fine home in Temora we’re so sad to see her going! 863 was the first Spit I ever saw flying, and after one low pass the sound of the Merlin left that indelible impression that you just never get over. But I am now planning my first trip to Temora to see her in action….

Like many kiwis I share your sentiments Mike. An interesting thing about the Spitfire and Sir Tim, they were well known in the general public’s eye, not just enthusiasts. Kiwi icons, both of them.

You may be interested in a tribute thread we have going at the Wings Over New Zealand forum. Some lovely photos of the Spitfire there:

http://rnzaf.proboards43.com/index.cgi?board=Airshows&action=display&thread=1151577028

You mean like this Oz Spitty :rolleyes:

Do I need an Excuse

More Oz (now 2 Spitfire), soon to fly!

I had a few when she was first done a while’s back, when the Booma throw together(BOM) was still about, Avalon 3 four or five ago 😮 .

I presume it was her :confused: , not shinny, but had the teeth already.

Do tell please 😉

CYA!

It,s the one which lists every known spitfire,or parts of in the world.

I understand that this book will have some pretty good piccies in it as well (cough, cough, some of mine, cough, cough) 😉

Those of us over here in NZ are still recovering from the fact that we’ll never see 863 against the Wanaka backdrop again! After 17 years here she was very much a part of the NZ aviation scene, and although I’m sure she will have a fine home in Temora we’re so sad to see her going! 863 was the first Spit I ever saw flying, and after one low pass the sound of the Merlin left that indelible impression that you just never get over. But I am now planning my first trip to Temora to see her in action….

Yeah she was a fair swim over from here to see her fly in NZ.Always looks spectacular against the New Zealand countryside.Here in Ozz everything is in shades of brown at the moment.

Ahhh, although I’ve never seen her in the flesh, ‘863 is one of my fave Spits. Glenn Alderton has some truly jaw-dropping photos of her in action, too!

It,s the one which lists every known spitfire,or parts of in the world.

You guys will have to wait until a certain book comes out.

Do tell!
Is this a ‘Spitfires in Australia’ type book, or one of more ‘restoration’ type content? (either would be good, though!)