P7350 is in bits at ARCo. The wings are off and the spars are stamped 1939 and 1940. It is having a re-spar. Here are a few shots in its current state.

Spar

So why has MJ552 got a black spinner? Surely that’s a 2TAF identification marking introduced in Feb 1945……….;)

And what makes you think it should be red spinner/black codes, why not blue spinner/blue codes or also red spinner/ red codes…….:eek:

I didn’t colour the spinner on MJ552, only the green as I don’t care about that one at the moment.

Using various computer programmes, consultation with various versed colour scheme specialists, books and experience suggest a more likely scheme to consist of the red spinner and black codes. We have enough evidence to support this and no evidence at present, to support any other scheme consisting of blues or reds. Not an easy one this for sure. Corgi and Airfix want the colours to make the model so I have to decide on something.
I tried to contact the 601 Sqn association and have e-mailed a contact of an existing crew member from the Sqn when it operated in Italy to see if I can get any more info from these sources.

If not, it’s going to look like the last picture I posted.

Just mucking about. Gray or green?

Paint schemes

As always, the paint scheme takes up a lot of time and effort and is always wrong in some respect. Very difficult when there are only B/W photographs to go on. MK won’t be bare metal and will be painted silver for the obvious reasons that it is a working aircraft, corrosion control, ease of maintenance etc.

I thought tonight was a useful and educational exercise for me and will take that forward to tomorrows discussions with BBMF and ARCo.

Thanks to you all.

Col