Author Topic: Spit V Malta (Read 1802 times)

Kev367th · « **on:** October 03, 2004, 01:23:23 PM »

Operation Calendar 1942.
Aircraft originally in Dk Earth / Stone upper, azure lower.
Uppers hastily repainted aboard ship with either Deck Blue or Navy Blue and temporary ID codes added. Became known as "Malta Blue" camo.

No paint chips, just ragged painted round roundels, serial number has exposed original paint behind it.
Little bit of fiddling left to do, just noticed a layer is in wrong position on stbd wing for one thing.

Kevin14 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2004, 02:25:36 PM »

Looks good. I like the color scheme!

United · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2004, 03:02:59 PM »

Great work Kev.

Bullethead did some work in AH1 on Malta Spits. You may want to ask him (if he's still around?) for some info.

Here are two of his:

This one is absolutely fantastic. I still get ideas off of it, and its not even AHII standards.

Kev367th · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2004, 03:58:26 PM »

They are nice, but looks like he used PRU blue for the upper surfaces.
The blue used was either Deck Blue or Navy Blue both of which are a lot darker.
Also they put a ver light covering on the control surfaces as they were worried about it interfering. Some had the control surfaces left the original color.
I'll get better pics of mine, the orignal is a little dark.

Kev367th · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2004, 02:57:19 PM »

Looked at the orignal pic again.
The aelerons definately look a different color, so I am guessing that this was one were the control surfaces were left unpainted.

Nefarious · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2004, 03:01:18 PM »

Heres some good profiles from AOA Spitfire V Aces 1941-45

Kev367th · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2004, 03:07:20 PM »

Nice,
Bottom one is interesting looks like dk earth and azure uppers, never seen that.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2004, 03:31:12 PM »

The debate over the colors of Malta Spits has gone on for a long time. I'm not sure they have ever reached a definate conclusion.

About the only thing you can know for sure is that the Spit Vc Trops that launched from the Wasp were loaded onboard in the Dark Earth, Middle Stone, Azure Blue camo.

The camo they left the Wasp in is open for debate

Dan/Slack

Kev367th · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2004, 03:35:47 PM »

What would you reckon to #21, 23 or 24 here ...

http://s96920072.onlinehome.us/Rev1/201-300/Rev289_VPD48006_Victory-Models/rev289.htm

Looking closely at 21.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 04, 2004, 04:05:21 PM »

Tough call on the camo. All part of that same debate.

Here's an artist's version of that same Spit v from "Spitfire-The Canadians"

The SN-A coded bird is a fairly well known Spit V of NZ ace Evan Mackie. The profile of that bird in the Spit V Aces book by Osprey shows basically the same camo as a normal 42 on Spit in the ETO without the tail band and a red nose. There are a couple of photos of Mackie with that Spit V that also had 6 exhaust stacks. They aren't clear as to the camo as you can't really even see the demarcation line between colors.

Dan/Slack

Guppy35 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2004, 04:10:21 PM »

Profile of the Evan Mackie Spit V

#24 on those decal sheets you posted. His biography is a very enjoyable read if you ever get the chance

Called "Spitfire Leader" by Max Avery and Chris Shores

Dan/Slack

Kev367th · « **Reply #11 on:** October 05, 2004, 11:09:29 AM »

Tried a quick two tone one.

You think the scheme is reliable, ie could it be verified by HTC?

Replicant · « **Reply #12 on:** October 05, 2004, 12:53:17 PM »

Kev, don't know if these two links are of any help?

http://hsfeatures.com/maltabluesse_1.htm

http://www.ipmscanada.com/threads/th13-moremalta.html

Guppy35 · « **Reply #13 on:** October 05, 2004, 01:08:19 PM »

The links sent by Replicant, just highlight the issue with the Malta Spits. No one really knows for sure and no one, despite years of hunting has been able to find any documentation listing the colors.

So it becomes a roll of the dice on whether the colors are correct or not. I don't know how Hitech & Co would decide as I don't think they' have any more info then all the Spit historians out there. It really just comes down to someones guess as to whether it's right or not.

As for the screenshot you posted Kev, just my opinion but somehow the blues seem too light. The Malta Spits appear much darker in the images

Image from an old High Flight Magazine showing a 249 Squadron Spit Vc on Malta. It looks almost black and there seems to be no break in the color even on the nose underneath onto the large Volks filter.

I'd suggest that any blue you use would want to be much darker and shaded towards almost dark gray.

Just my opinion of course

Dan/Slack

Replicant · « **Reply #14 on:** October 05, 2004, 01:13:16 PM »

I'll ask Furball to see if he can find out anything from the RAF Museum Hendon. I know when I phoned the Royal Navy museum they were great in specifying the correct colours. I hope the RAF museum has something similar!

My PC is being packed away this weekend so hopefully Furby can find something out before then!