Dear me. I think many on this post need to go away and do some swotting up on FAA squadron history before posting comments and also stop listening to/repeating unsubstantiated tittle-tattle from un-named sources. Ref 849 NAS, the unit flew Avengers as part of the British Pacific Fleet in 1945, long before the concept of AEW. RNHF have three Swordfish, none of which are up for disposal. And the FAAM’s example, XB446, is the sole surviving original MDAP Fleet Air Arm Avenger – anywhere. It was a miracle that it survived long enough to be around when the Museum first opened.

Yes, the paint scheme is horrible; no it isn’t correct for the mark; yes I’d love to see it reverted back to its original Culdrose Station Flight markings. But be thankful in the meantime that it is still safely on display when so many other types had a less fortunate fate.

And as for ‘clueless museum curators’, don’t you think that comment is a bit harsh and un-warranted?

…..(Sea Kings had an underside of 626 camouflage grey)

No they didn’t. The undersides were the same as the rest: BS381C-637 Medium Sea Grey, which is what the Lynx currently are.

More details on paint schemes in my Haynes books on both subjects.

I think there are two wrecks at Yeovilton? There is one on the fire dump and the example that was at Montrose air station until fairly recently, which is the donor aircraft.

The one on the dump is WV911, owned by RNHF. Unfortunately it’s not just a case of going in and taking bits or even taking bits with permission. The aircraft is technically a MoD asset and as such would have to be disposed of via the DSA. The ex-Montrose example is owned by FAAM. Same applies.

Is it an urban myth (surely it must be!) that in the 1970s RAFM were offered a “Whirlwind cockpit” but turned it down because as the said item was situated at RNEC Manadon it was assumed that it was from a Whirlwind with rotary wings rather than a Whirlwind with fixed wings. The cockpit was subsequently burnt in a fire fighting demo on a families day

Urban. No evidence of a Whirlwind fighter being at Manadon. Plenty of other interesting stuff, but not that.

Great to hear of the progress, but I think that the Bluebird teams diary & fun approach to the progress reports was a much better style and read.

Bob T.

There’s no satisfying some people, is there! The standard of workmanship being shown here certainly sets the progress apart from anything else. So much for FAAM not having the expertise, skills or capacity…Proof of the pudding is in the eating, as they say :rolleyes:

Correct! The Wyvern was never ‘white and darkish blue’, but was painted in Sky Type S (Duck Egg Green) with Dark Sea Grey top. I first photographed it in those colours outside the museum in March 1969 and it remained in those colours until the early ’90s when it was stripped to bare metal. The photos Robbo has posted is indeed in those colours and only looks ‘bluish’ due to the poor weather and type of film used.

Adrian

Not quite correct. For ‘Sky Type S’ please read ‘Sky’. And it isn’t ‘Duck Egg Green’ at all. They’re terms produced by urban myths and have been perpetuated over many years. And the top is Extra Dark Sea Grey, not Dark Sea Grey.

I noticed in your S-55/Whirlwind Warpaint, which Mick showed me his copy of the other day, that you’ve used these terms throughout. Also your paint specs are incorrectly referenced as BS.318C. They should read BS381C.

Likewise, the Whirlwind HAS.22s of 781 NAS (and the Sea Devons and the Wessex) were Grass Green, not Emerald Green (although at the time we wrote our FAA book we didn’t have that information, we’ve known for several years now). Compare the green of the drawings with the (very nice) colour image on the front and it will be quite clear.

There are also some errors with blues and RAF Blue Greys I noticed. And shades of dayglo (Red Orange, not Red). All detailed within the chapter on colour schemes and markings in FAAHS1943.

Xtangomike: Ref the Supermarine 510/517 debate, that was me on Facebook. Glad to see others have recognised the difference. And the Wyvern is Sky, not ‘Duck Egg Blue’…..!

Lee

Are those the markings I drew up for you several years ago? Looks good.