Spitfire BL628 – stunning air-to-air pic!

As Eddie said but its all about the construction date of the aircraft. When it left the Westland factory it would have been painted Dark Earth/Dark Green (upper surfaces) and Sky (lower surfaces). Literaly a few weeks after arriving at her first service unit the Air Ministry issued orders for Dark Earth to be over-painted in a new colour, Ocean Grey and for the lower surfaces to be painted Medium Sea Grey. Both schemes are therfore correct for ‘213 depending on the period one wishes to portray. As Tom W told us, the owner has selected the original delivery scheme which was largely unchanged from the typical 1940 Battle of Britain era schemes of the previous year. I suspect this selection was made as the colours emphasise the unique position of ‘213 as an airworthy Mk 1 Spitfire while at the same time being correct for the airframe itself.

Hi all, Thanks for the info on AR213 paint & also on abbrieviation IIRC, now I understand.

Steve

Hi, Why is AR213 is to be painted in colours applicable to it’s marks “Finest Hour” (1940) when she was built in july 1941 ?
I did mention paint to Tom when I was at booker 2 weeks ago but have forgotten what he said !

Steve

As Eddie said but its all about the construction date of the aircraft. When it left the Westland factory it would have been painted Dark Earth/Dark Green (upper surfaces) and Sky (lower surfaces). Literaly a few weeks after arriving at her first service unit the Air Ministry issued orders for Dark Earth to be over-painted in a new colour, Ocean Grey and for the lower surfaces to be painted Medium Sea Grey. Both schemes are therfore correct for ‘213 depending on the period one wishes to portray. As Tom W told us, the owner has selected the original delivery scheme which was largely unchanged from the typical 1940 Battle of Britain era schemes of the previous year. I suspect this selection was made as the colours emphasise the unique position of ‘213 as an airworthy Mk 1 Spitfire while at the same time being correct for the airframe itself.

Hi, Why is AR213 is to be painted in colours applicable to it’s marks “Finest Hour” (1940) when she was built in july 1941 ?
I did mention paint to Tom when I was at booker 2 weeks ago but have forgotten what he said !

Steve

Mark V actually said

…colours that are more closely associated with the Mk 1 as a type and its ‘finest hour’ (1940).

I.e. the colours are associated with the Mk.I’s finest hour, not AR213’s.

Steve.

IIRC stands for = If I Recall/Remember Correctly.

Brian.

IIRC

IIRC it is a doped patch over the flare chute.

This is probably going to sound a silly question to you service types, but what does the abbreviation “IIRC ” stand for? Cant figure it out , not being in the forces.

Steve

Sadly not.

LR, I do not think they are ‘scared’ of anything. They are simply selecting an authentic scheme which this aircraft wore shortly after she was constructed. If a ‘fake’ scheme was being selected I could understand the concern but the chosen scheme is correct for the aircraft and consists of colours that are more closely associated with the Mk 1 as a type and its ‘finest hour’ (1940). The OG/DG scheme, is although correct, authentic and interesting, associated with a later period of WWII history and was a unit applied scheme rather than how she was originally finished on leaving the factory.

Quite correct Eddie.

Hi, Why is AR213 is to be painted in colours applicable to it’s marks “Finest Hour” (1940) when she was built in july 1941 ?
I did mention paint to Tom when I was at booker 2 weeks ago but have forgotten what he said !

Steve

Pity the owner wouldn’t allow stick on stripes for one photo sortie – maybe with an another Spitfire as the ‘victim’!

Fantastic!! – i’m sure you’ll all join me in a ‘sigh for a Merlin’- with apologies to Alex Henshaw!

In this picture on another thread the painted parts of G-AIST look grey/dark green not dark earth/dark green.
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=159174

Correct…and sadly they will be changed.

Mark

The last I heard, AR213 will be in dark earth/dark green/sky when the paint is finished. Since the wings were painted last year, the decision has been made to change away from the later scheme, more’s the pity… I know that Tom lobbied extensively for the “bounce” scheme, but it was not to be.

In this picture on another thread the painted parts of G-AIST look grey/dark green not dark earth/dark green.
http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=159174

More photos of BL628 and the restoration team here:
http://capphotography.fotopic.net/c1423649.html

Ben

Gorgeous! Thanks for posting 🙂

That Mk V looks absolutely beautiful, and 100% Spitfire!
Re AR213 Are you talking about the stripe scheme applied to the lower nose panels? If so looks far better without as it spoils the lines of the Spit horrendously.

All engine cowlings painted in red, white and blue ‘Zebra’ stripes. AR213 was the personal machine of ‘Ginger’ Lacey in this scheme when at 57 OTU at Harwarden, where he played the role of ‘Jumper’ to the pilots under training.

Mark

That Mk V looks absolutly beautiful, and 100% Spitfire!
Re AR213 Are you talking about the stripe scheme applied to the lower nose panels? If so looks far better without as it spoils the lines of the Spit horrendously.

Sorry to keep on about this…. But!
The Booker Mk1a G-AIST/AR213 will look almost exactly like this (albeit different codes/serial) when painted unless they put the nose stripes ON!

Sadly not.

I just can’t see what the owners are scared of.

LR, I do not think they are ‘scared’ of anything. They are simply selecting an authentic scheme which this aircraft wore shortly after she was constructed. If a ‘fake’ scheme was being selected I could understand the concern but the chosen scheme is correct for the aircraft and consists of colours that are more closely associated with the Mk 1 as a type and its ‘finest hour’ (1940). The OG/DG scheme, is although correct, authentic and interesting, associated with a later period of WWII history and was a unit applied scheme rather than how she was originally finished on leaving the factory.

The last I heard, AR213 will be in dark earth/dark green/sky when the paint is finished. Since the wings were painted last year, the decision has been made to change away from the later scheme, more’s the pity… I know that Tom lobbied extensively for the “bounce” scheme, but it was not to be.

Quite correct Eddie.

Only one think I can say here….

Jesus H Christ…!!!Stunning pics..Thanks for the link..:eek:

More photos of BL628 and the restoration team here:
http://capphotography.fotopic.net/c1423649.html

Ben

One thing that has always intrigued me, is the yellow band on the leading edges of the wing outboard of the cannon. Every other Spit seems to have them. Sticking in my memory is something I think I read a long time ago, about these yellow bands being used only by the Fighter Leader School and they were used to identify instructors. Is that incorrect, or are they just painted on machines today because they look good?

Theatre markings to identify RAF fighters – all ETO RAF fighter aircraft have them after 1941. Sometimes they can be seen on RAF fighters in other theatres but only because of transferred aircraft not being repainted. In the Desert the theatre marking was a red spinner etc.

Painted on the leading edge they allowed quick identification of a plane viewed head on. Oddly the JNAF used a similar marking but it was restricted to the leading edge from the fuselage to mid-wing.

Sorry to keep on about this…. But!

The Booker Mk1a G-AIST/AR213 will look almost exactly like this (albeit different codes/serial) when painted unless they put the nose stripes ON!

I just can’t see what the owners are scared of… They have a unique aeroplane with a unique colour scheme. What’s the problem?

Anything less is simply a missed opportunity in my view.

The last I heard, AR213 will be in dark earth/dark green/sky when the paint is finished. Since the wings were painted last year, the decision has been made to change away from the later scheme, more’s the pity… I know that Tom lobbied extensively for the “bounce” scheme, but it was not to be.

Roxeth,
Have I messed something? Who is scarred of what?

One thing that has always intrigued me, is the yellow band on the leading edges of the wing outboard of the cannon. Every other Spit seems to have them. Sticking in my memory is something I think I read a long time ago, about these yellow bands being used only by the Fighter Leader School and they were used to identify instructors. Is that incorrect, or are they just painted on machines today because they look good?