MH434 And Her Many Guises

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MH434 one period a RNLAF spitfire does have my great attention….
regards
Pauljos
the Netherlands

Sorry to resurrect this old thread, but did/is anything happening? JDK, Pauljos ?

As I am retired some month ago, I do have timespace to join in if you want to.
Please give me a message.
MH434 one period a RNLAF spitfire does have my great attention….
regards
Pauljos
the Netherlands

Well done Pauljos hope you can pull it off,I would like to see it published so good luck.

No, sadly, it has not. Several people have very kindly offered help, several material (many thanks to them) and there is a viable project. However it requires someone or a team to take it forward, and that has not eventuated, despite some promises (and one demand!).

I’d (still) like to undertake it myself, but the publishing job has gone from being a hobby (when the idea was proposed) to my main livelihood, and I cannot justify the same degree of charity work as a result, much as it would be a wonderfully worthy cause and a great book to do. I hope to make it happen one day, it is in the list of projects on the shelf.

For the record, if someone were interested in taking it forward as a project, either working with me, or with the OK of the other parties, separately, I’d be delighted to see that happen.

Regards,

As I am retired some month ago, I do have timespace to join in if you want to.
Please give me a message.
MH434 one period a RNLAF spitfire does have my great attention….
regards
Pauljos
the Netherlands

Is her current scheme the longest one she has retained in recent decades?

What happened to the projected book JDK? :diablo:

I suggest you go back and read post # 190 for an answer to your question.

What happened to the projected book JDK? :diablo:

More

[QUOTE=Roobarb;1496679]

there are quite a few nice shots of her when based there plus some of 2-seater G-AVA and Mk.14 G-FIRE.
QUOTE]
That’s G-AVAV to us spotters Mark V… :p

Theres me dropping me ‘V’s again! 😀 – now corrected. How are things at your end by the way?

Thanks again one and all for the cornucopia of info. I’ve got the Elstree book ordered, as well as a DVD from Ian Allen on MH434’s history.

Here’s a crack at one of the later schemes. There are several errors on the one I posted yesterday (working very late at night will do that). I think this one is pretty good though…

Cheers,

J

[QUOTE=Mark V;1496530]there are quite a few nice shots of her when based there plus some of 2-seater G-AVA and Mk.14 G-FIRE.
QUOTE]
That’s G-AVAV to us spotters Mark V… :p

Thanks for that. Do you know if she had the wing regs when she had the clipped tips??

Cheers,

J

So many variations on MH434’s 60’s schemes! In the Riding/Peerless book on Elstree there are quite a few nice shots of her when based there plus some of 2-seater G-AVAV and Mk.14 G-FIRE.

The earliest shot shows the ‘shark fin’ scheme with OO-ARA serial (in a hanagar, presumably shortly after her 5/7/63 arrival), the next shot is an air to air taken on 24/8/63 and shows clipped wingtips but with the serial on the sbd wing on a white rectangular background. The elevator tips are dark coloured (presumably blue). Well worth getting a copy of this 2003 book – ISBN 0-7509-3412-3.

Does ANYBODY have photos of either MH434 or a similar 222 Sqdn aircraft in full D-Day stripes? What I want to know is, did 222 slop the black & white paint right over the codes and serials, or did they go carefully around them like some squadrons did?

Definitely not carefully around. MK892 downed 10 June. F/Lt Lazenby PoW.

The outer portion of the extended horn elevator was initially ‘blue tipped’ with small white cheat line. When they went to the white wing tips the blue tip elevator was retained for a period then appears to be painted out. My interpretation is that the whole of the upper surfaces of the tailplanes and elevator were changed from silver to white. Under surfaces..I am not sure.

Mark

Looking again at the air to air shots in post 188 it would appear that the tail planes and elevator went to all over silver with the white wing tips.

A trick of the light of flat expanses filmed in bright sunlight in the shots I have. 🙂

Mark

And my hypothesis waves its legs in the air and dies. 😀

One more question Mark –

It’s hard to tell in any of the photos I’ve seen – did the horizontal stabs have any decoration on their tips like the wings did in either of the schemes??

Thanks again for the help!

J

The outer portion of the extended horn elevator was initally ‘blue tipped’ with small white cheat line. When they went to the white wing tps the blue tip elevator was retained for a period then appears to be painted out. My interpretaion is that the whole of the upper surfaces of the tailplanes and elevator were changed from silver to white. Under surfaces..I am not sure.

Mark

Very nice, Jennings!

Here’s my take on the early round wingtip version of the scheme. It appears she came to Britain with clipped wingtips, and must have had the standard ones refitted sometime relatively shortly thereafter.

I have a vague recollection that the round tips were refitted very early to assist in getting in or out of a base – Elstree? Mark 12 would be better informed.

I’m open to comments and criticisms. Anybody know if the dark blue paint was metallic?

Highly unlikely, IMHO given the date. Metallics weren’t as prevalent then as they are now, nor as popular. (I think – anyone reckon otherwise?) That’s just an opinion, of course.

Also, anyone know if there are blue/white/black tips on the horizontal stabs in this scheme? It’s hard to tell in photos.

Again, pure guesswork, but the tips of the ‘horizontal tailplane*’ are the aerodynamic and mass balances for the elevators. As a rule of thumb, it’s best not to add extra layers of paint to these areas – which is why the RAF reduced roundels to not cover ailerons, and shifted from rudder stripes to fin flashes. Not conclusive, but indicative.

*Horizontal stabs are for the Mafia and American English. 😉

Here’s my take on the early round wingtip version of the scheme. It appears she came to Britain with clipped wingtips, and must have had the standard ones refitted sometime relatively shortly thereafter. I’m open to comments and criticisms.

Anybody know if the dark blue paint was metallic? It appears so in some photos, but not in others. Also, anyone know if there are blue/white/black tips on the horizontal stabs in this scheme? It’s hard to tell in photos.

Cheers,

J

One more question Mark –

It’s hard to tell in any of the photos I’ve seen – did the horizontal stabs have any decoration on their tips like the wings did in either of the schemes??

Thanks again for the help!

J

Thanks for that. Do you know if she had the wing regs when she had the clipped tips??

Cheers,

J

Yes.

Thanks for that. Do you know if she had the wing regs when she had the clipped tips??

Cheers,

J