Our serious camouflage people seem to be standing back here (apart from Roob!) so one thing that, IIRC, is critical about the error. It’s not ‘the wrong set of wings’ but someone’s incorrectly reversed the colour instructions on them. The A & B Schemes are mirrors in pattern to each other, not a swap of the colours in the same pattern.

See:
http://www.gatorsmask.com/files/RAF_Spit_A_camo.gif
http://www.gatorsmask.com/files/RAF_Spit_B_camo.gif

First one that came up on the interweb, but the upper view illustrates the system.

Thanks Mr Tweed. Seeing the markings in colour makes so much more sence.

Tony.

That made me smile, so which is correct the fuselage or wings?

This question got me thinking. So I dug out my ‘Morgan/Shacklady’ and did a spot of research (I could have asked you guys but this was more fun). Please forgive me if this is like teaching some of you to suck eggs but it’s all new to me.

There were 2 colour schemes at that time, A and B. It appears the wings on the replica are scheme ‘B’ and the fuselage scheme ‘A’. Hence the difference. So, which is right, A or B? Well on the BBMF website there is a picture of Geoffrey Wellum DFC standing in front of P7350 and that fuselage is diffinately scheme ‘B’. Once again, which is right?

(Yvonne, I hope you don’t mind me using your pics for this?)
[ATTACH]185845[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]185846[/ATTACH]

So, my aviation friends, which scheme did the original K9998 have during the BOB? A or B?

Ahh…..the “C” scheme.

I can now appreciate spitfireman’s comment about the ‘C’ scheme. 😉

I know in the great scheme of things this isn’t a major important issue but I am a perfectionist in my work and other things I do so this kind of error does get to me. 😡 😀

UPDATE:

Just been on the interweb and found this old painting which shows K9998 in scheme ‘A’. Does this mean the BBMF have got it wrong or is it when commemorating famous planes in this way, it’s the lettering that’s important and not the colour scheme??

[ATTACH]185848[/ATTACH]

Tony.

ANOTHER UPDATE
Sorry guys, I got my As and Bs round the wrong way. In the book I was using the first scheme is B and the second is A and I was assuming the reverse. the text in my post is now correct.

It’s a new one. The old one was up for sale on ebay.

I still don’t think its a disaster, most (normal?) people won’t notice!

So we’re not ‘normal’? :confused: Oh well, that explains a lot.:D

Yep and the Roundel Police are going to go mad….

Is there a problems with the roundels as well?

Sorry guys. It gets worse.

Just popped down to see the Spit in situ and, well, the pics say it all. They must have mixed the wings up with another. Shame, it looks nice apart from that.

Looks good from a distance.
[ATTACH]185838[/ATTACH]

Oh dear. The other side is wrong to.
[ATTACH]185839[/ATTACH]

Close up of the port wing.
[ATTACH]185840[/ATTACH]

Thought you might like to see what I have on top of my mini. 😀
[ATTACH]185841[/ATTACH]

Let’s hope they get the Hurricane right tomorrow. Though I suspect they will be checking for that tonight. I hope!

Tony

Do you think there is someone elsewhere with another plastic Spitfire wondering why his camouflage pattern doesn’t match!

My thoughts exactly.

Not much externally, but if you look inside the cockpit of the Rafale, there is an ashtray for the Gauloises

:D:D:D