PT462 has Departed Duxford – 10 Feb 06

More Pictures of PT462

Go here to see more pictures of the spit on the live side of Area 51

Spitfire Pics

Yes, its actually the real original canopy for that aircraft. After conversion, it was squirrelled away in Norfolk, and later reunited with the aircraft.

Bruce

Original rear canopy?

IAC-161

Brian

I never understood/understand why in the case of the dual Spits no one seems to bother that several of these, including the one described here, are fitted with a complete wrong canopy. Might look for many better than the original I guess, but it is not original. Dual Spits weren’t made like this, and never looked like this. BW Roger

😀

I do so love these discussions…

‘Originally’ there were no ‘original’ ‘dual’ Spitfires at all! Apart from a Russian field mod, and none by Supermarines. After the fuss was over, they knocked out a few, which were a mod by the manufacturer, so, fair enough. None were built as trainers – which is as relevant to say as complaining they have been modified again, IMHO.

Back in the 80s Dick Melton designed a ‘look alike’ rear canopy and set up for the rear seat on these trainers, making a new canopy that was, in fact, significantly different to the front. I know, I’ve tried to draw them!

The ‘Dick Melton Specials’ have now looked like this for a considerable time now, and are now as much a part of the aircraft’s history as their pre-conversion history and their training history. In the case of ML407, it wears a version of its original livery, and has a second cockpit that’s allowed a great TV programme as well as a lot of very happy people. Back in the 80s no-one was likely to go for an ‘authentic’ trainer; it was DMA or single seat (see the ex-TFC single seat Mk.IX).

All the DMA Specials ‘have looked like this’ for twenty odd years now, so I guess the vote is they look good. The bonus is we now have PV202 with an Authentic IAC scheme and second position – your cake and eat it, I’d suggest. For my money ML407 would look awful with a bubble on the camouflage, and I don’t want the seat taken out… Maybe one day…

I don’t think we are short of Spitfire marks, schemes and configurations. Let’s enjoy the diversity. “Edmonton Oil Special” on an 18 anyone?

PS IIRC, part of the problem was finding / making the bubble canopy and screen.

I never understood/understand why in the case of the dual Spits no one seems to bother that severall of these, including the one described here, are fitted with a complete wrong canopy. Might look for many better than the original I guess, but it is not original. Dual Spits weren’t made like this, and never looked like this. BW Roger

You are going down the wrong path. Spitfires were built at Castle Bromwich – now the home of Jaguar (well almost). British Racing Green anyone?

Bruce

well, if one is going to use Ford standard colours to paint a Spitfire, may I suggest either of these two catching schemes?

Personally, I fancy the red one with the Mexico stripes; reminds me a little of G-FIRE…

cheers

gv

How about SAAB works colours from the 70’s

Rob

Nooooooooo! The two BL colours from that era that stick in my mind were a violent putrid green and a pale brown I’ve always referred to as “brat dung”. What a horrible thought.

wouldn’t it be more appropriate to paint a Mustang in Ford standard colours……
………….(exits stage left, shoulders hunched against a shower of stones)…….

Ah, yes, but then you’d have to source Triumph or BL colours for your Spit now, wouldn’t you? I had a nice 1980 Spitfire finished in “Carmine”, I think it would look fab on a TrIX…

wouldn’t it be more appropriate to paint a Mustang in Ford standard colours……
………….(exits stage left, shoulders hunched against a shower of stones)…….

well, if one is going to use Ford standard colours to paint a Spitfire, may I suggest either of these two catching schemes?

Personally, I fancy the red one with the Mexico stripes; reminds me a little of G-FIRE…

cheers

gv

I’ve always thought the camo colors on the Russell Hurricane looked a bit “pastel”. Maybe they were going for that sun faded look? Anyway, I had the pleasure of seeing the airplane when it was at Santa Monica and I can assure you I was not complaining a bit about the colors (colours?)!

Must admit always thought the humbrol colours were pretty accurate – i beleived they were coloured from AM paint chips…am i a muppet?

TT

I agree, I’ve used the charts before on various colour schemes that I’ve worked on as the paints are quite accurate. Only problem I’ve had, was once was asked what scale the aeroplane was and when I said 1/1, I just was given some odd looks. But even so, some schemes have had to be taken from automobile paint as there has not been a close enough paint match for example Rob Davies’ G-TVIJ is painted in what is known as Fiat Bus Yellow.

As to a Muppet…..I was one once as some people would remember from my Squadron days at North Weald

Martin (nee Gonzo)

And was … painted in the USA.

With reference to a “Humbrol paint chart.”

Must admit always thought the humbrol colours were pretty accurate – i beleived they were coloured from AM paint chips…am i a muppet?

TT

The Ed Russell Hurricane.

This will be the ex David Price machine from Santa Monica?

http://www.airic.ca/html/hurricane_rcaf_5481.html

If so, this was painted as US-X from paint drawings and detailing supplied from the the UK. I personally was not involved.

I remember the application of the code overlapping on to the roundel being criticised at the time. I also remember the person who did the scheme responding with period photographs showing that was exactly how 56 Squadron applied them on some of their Hurricanes.

This overlap was most probably generated when the outer yellow was added to the fuselage roundels in June 1940. I seem to remember that at that time the RAF had quite important things on their mind and moving code letters six inches to the left or right was not high on their priorities.

Mark

Try the Ed Russel Hurricane…

Perhaps beauty is in the eye of the beholder – I always thought it looked OK. Maybe not quite 100% accurate, but OK for me! :rolleyes:

And was … painted in the USA.

With reference to a “Humbrol paint chart.”

Which is based in ……… Canada.

Dave

I can’t think of any US-based Hurris painted oddly – unless you count the one nearing flying condition here in the UK, but it’s still authentic…

Try the Ed Russel Hurricane…

We’ve certainly seen a few coulour variations on Spits over the post BoB years.

TR yellow, post box red, PR Blue, PR pink IAC green, racing silver, plus all the wrong paint jobs. And then theres the authentic ones such as the temporary desert scheme (Fargo Wells) brown/green, grey/green and…….no doubt I’ve missed a few.

It will be nice to see the HFL Mk V in her desert scheme, SM969 in her all over silver.

What else is there to look forward to and are there any other unusual schemes that could appear on Spits?