Spitfire G-AISU colours

However the question I have for G-AISU 40 relates to the underwing, the photos show that the number is in black on a light coloured band on the starboard side, was this repeated on either the under or upper sides of the port tip. Also would the white have wrapped round or just been on the underside of the starboard tip and upper surface of the port tip?

Pictures here at NA3T seem to show that there is a white band wrapped around the starboard tip, with numbers repeated above and bottom, whereas the port tip has no band or numbers.

About the scheme with race number 82, I’ve read this thread multiple times wondering about the two different colours for the fuselage band. But now I believe that there was only one colour, red, and different photographic processes account for the different renditions in black and white.

For an example of that, please look at this thread at Stormo about the S.79 Corsa, to see how red paint can appear near white or near black for the exact same plane, painted red, silver and green, depending on the photographic film and use of filters.

Briefly, an orthochromatic film is not sensitive to red and red parts will look almost black. Panchromatic film reacts to red light and will give a medium tone, but when enhanced with yellow, orange or red filters the red portions will be brighter and brighter. Use of these filters was a common practice in B&W photography, mostly to enhance the contrast of skies, by darkening the blue sky against the clouds.

Notice how the blue paint appears very dark on the pictures above showing “82” with an apparently clear-coloured band ; this is consistent with the effect of an orange or red filter. I would be interested to see the whole version of the picture showing the tail, a dark blue sky would give a further hint.

I’m now having a look at these schemes so will throw my thoughts into the mix, to me ’40’ looks like the cheat line and serial were a yellow/gold and the band/tail back were white.

However the question I have for G-AISU 40 relates to the underwing, the photos show that the number is in black on a light coloured band on the starboard side, was this repeated on either the under or upper sides of the port tip. Also would the white have wrapped round or just been on the underside of the starboard tip and upper surface of the port tip?

Does that even make sense?

I would say that is the closest rendition of ’42’ so far, but personally suspect the cheatline and spinner to be in a gold colour. I agree with you that it doesn’t have the right characteristics for silver in the b&w images, but it does seem to have a mettalic finish to it.

It seems that it went,

Late 1946 on, Grey with large red lettering until June/July 1949.
June/July 1949 to 1955, Dark Blue with yellow / gold (IMO) cheatline, spinner, and smaller lettering. Elmdon races in July ’49 with red band and ’82’, Wolverhampton ’50 races with light colour band and ’42’.
August 1955, returned to authentic military markings by Vickers.

G-AISU by David Whitworth, on Flickr

This is one of those wonderful images posted up by David Whitworth.

I would say that is the closest rendition of ’42’ so far, but personally suspect the cheatline and spinner to be in a gold colour. I agree with you that it doesn’t have the right characteristics for silver in the b&w images, but it does seem to have a mettalic finish to it.

It seems that it went,

Late 1946 on, Grey with large red lettering until June/July 1949.
June/July 1949 to 1955, Dark Blue with yellow / gold (IMO) cheatline, spinner, and smaller lettering. Elmdon races in July ’49 with red band and ’82’, Wolverhampton ’50 races with light colour band and ’42’.
August 1955, returned to authentic military markings by Vickers.

G-AISU by David Whitworth, on Flickr

This is one of those wonderful images posted up by David Whitworth.

An excellent discussion so far.

Blimey, was this aircraft re-painted for each event or race, then? We have here an amazing amount of documented appearances for one machine! But, analysing each appearance of G-AISU over the various film types and permutations here is a bit beyond my time and competence ‘envelope’.

That said, I still maintain that the best interpretation of the first image of this thread (as “40”) is as shown in this profile: blue finish over-all, white band and spinner, and perhaps yellow (or a myriad of other possible colours) trim. The race number “40”, to my eye, looks to have been a masked-out area over the original finish, not black in colour.

Any road, this will explain better what I reckon….

An excellent discussion so far.

Blimey, was this aircraft re-painted for each event or race, then? We have here an amazing amount of documented appearances for one machine! But, analysing each appearance of G-AISU over the various film types and permutations here is a bit beyond my time and competence ‘envelope’.

That said, I still maintain that the best interpretation of the first image of this thread (as “40”) is as shown in this profile: blue finish over-all, white band and spinner, and perhaps yellow (or a myriad of other possible colours) trim. The race number “40”, to my eye, looks to have been a masked-out area over the original finish, not black in colour.

Any road, this will explain better what I reckon….

A.L. 25!

A.L. 25!

A bit too much horse-power for the Kings Cup Race?

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200943.html

Mark

Would have beat the lot!:eek:

A bit too much horse-power for the Kings Cup Race?

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200943.html

Mark

Would have beat the lot!:eek:

A bit too much horse-power for the Kings Cup Race?

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200943.html

Mark

A bit too much horse-power for the Kings Cup Race?

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200943.html

Mark

Added side view

Added side view

easy!:D

easy!:D

Getting closer.

Just pop the six stack exhausts back. 🙂

I will check out the undersides.

Mark

Getting closer.

Just pop the six stack exhausts back. 🙂

I will check out the undersides.

Mark

Its a mine field!!

Mark (thankyou!)

Do you have any underside shots per chance?

Be nice to get a 5 view of this one done.

cheers
Baz

Its a mine field!!

Mark (thankyou!)

Do you have any underside shots per chance?

Be nice to get a 5 view of this one done.

cheers
Baz