I’m guessing this is a new-build Fw-190

Yes.

if so is this the first time one has visited the UK?

Flying, yes.

I’m not aware of any ever flying a “warbird”, so when was the last time one was in the UK skies?
1946-47?..probably in Eric Brown’s logbook…

An original has not (in the post 1968 ‘warbird era’) so yes I guess you would be about right in your estimate.

I was using the technique to see how it worked – I was not saying that roundels were painted in this way- just that I had some small roundels to play with.

Sorry – it was your phrase ‘re-create this approach to painting roundels’ that seemed to indicate it was a method that had been used in the past.

Hello Edgar, you seem a little defensive about this question :). There is no disputing the use of such mats in WWII aircraft production (on my part), I refered the OP to a photo showing use of the mats at Curtiss, I am merely questioning just how widespread their use was in both the US and over here.

Most manufacturers aircraft paint scheme drawings (including Supermarine) are indeed very precise in terms of the location of the edges of camouflage lines to the airframe and clearly this would assist with the location of the masking mats.

Scrutiny of production aircraft from say Castle Bromwich (that famous ramp shot that shows 60+ Spitfires for example) suggests a most consistant appearance to camouflage lines over the production period (a week or so) but was this down to the use of masks or simply the consistancy of the painting staff who, faced with the endlless task of finishing the same aircraft type to a given drawing, would almost certainly have produced quite similar results without masks.

Its an interesting question and if we could get a little more information on thre use of the masks I for one would like to try to reproduce the method on our next suitable job.

We have to presume that it’s easier, today, with the rare necessity for a warbird to be painted, to do this “wet-blending” method, than go for masks which will not be needed again for a long time, unlike wartime production, which was definitely not unhurried.
Edgar

Painting these aircraft is not so rare an activity – we are normally dealing with one or two Spitfires, whether it be for scheme consultation or markings/stencils assistance at any given time (worldwide) although I accept its not on Castle Bromwich scale any more!

kartman……

The numbers below appear on a brochure I have from the museum:-
01604 811582
07968 061708

also e-mail addresses…….richardwatts2@yahoo.co.uk
[email]bbrown@sherwooddunham.com[/email]

Hope this helps……. Planemike

E-mail no longer corect for Ben Brown!

In this day and age, it’s becoming increasingly common for Spitfire variants to have their correct Merlin engines fitted wherever possible.

I’m afraid I can only think of the Mk.XVIs that are flying that might have them – though I’m bound to be wrong….

Other Spitfires have them today but only 16’s originally had them.

😮 it’s amazing just how many there is:eek:

With 12 flying the Hurricane is still a rare bird (although not so rare now compared with 40 years ago) – just depends on whether you are a ‘glass half full’ or ‘glass half empty’ person!

and look’s like a few more to come 😎

In the shortish term there are really only two more to come (to flying status) – from the Hurricane Masters, HRL.