Author Topic: Spitfire Mk VIII request: 152 Sqdn SEAC UM-E (Read 1827 times)

Karnak · « **Reply #15 on:** December 04, 2005, 03:24:56 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Kev367th
Bands upper and lower will be the same width.
They are different widths on the wings and tailplane though.
I have made the tail stripe same width as the tailplane stripes.

I actually think they have put the profile on a Mk IX spit, only early Mk IX's had the large bulge over the cannon bays.
Also going to assume the standard roundels on the lower wings are incorrect also and should be SEAC roundels.

That all sounds correct to me.

Kev367th · « **Reply #16 on:** December 04, 2005, 04:01:55 PM »

Well got the port side done, stbd won't take long, then I do the bottom in one go (it's easier).

Karnak · « **Reply #17 on:** December 04, 2005, 04:11:25 PM »

Looks good with one possible comment. The white bands might be a bit too dirty. They're looking more like a light grey that is dirty than a white that is dirty.

Thanks for doing this one.

Krusty · « **Reply #18 on:** December 04, 2005, 05:05:33 PM »

I'm looking forward to this one!

Karnak · « **Reply #19 on:** December 04, 2005, 07:12:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
I'm looking forward to this one!

It is hard to find Spitfires that deviate much from RAF standard. Usually when they do it is some small detail that isn't visible from the cockpit or from other aircraft at any sort of distance.

The big white bands on the wings of this one will meet both of those requirements and the red cannon will also be visible from the cockpit.

I will admit that I am curious about why the white bands and red cannon were done.

What Spitfire:The History lists for MT557 is as follows:

MT557 KEE 9MU 3-6-44 83MU 15-6 Clan Camp 16-7 Ind 14-8 SOC 23-8-45

All I can make out from that is that it first went to Maintainance Unit 9, then to Maintainance Unit 83 and, I am pretty sure, was Struck Off on Charge on August 23rd, 1945. More specific than that I can't make out as I am not really familiar with tracking individual aircraft. Dan might be able to tell us more.

A couple of things I am seeing is that 1) MT557 is not listed in the Spitfire Mk VIII serials on that 152 Squadron's webpage that Dan provided a link to, 2) on Il-2's forums this skin is shown with the pilot being W/O G. R. Duval flying in 152 Squadron and W/O Duval is listed in the personel section of the 152 Squadron page. This EAW skin page lists it as being flown by W/O Duval in 175 'Hyderabad' Squadron. That can't be right though. I just did a search on 175 Squadron and it was a Tiffie unit based in England and wasn't even 'Hyderabad', that was 152 Squadron. RAF history pages for 152 and 175 Squadrons.

Hard to pin it down.

My guess at this point would be that the 152 website's list of Mk VIII serials is incomplete and that MT557 was flown by W/O G. R. Duval in No. 152 'Hyderabad' Squadron in 1944 and 1945.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #20 on:** December 05, 2005, 12:12:04 AM »

Definately 152 Squadron.

Looks great Kev

Kev367th · « **Reply #21 on:** December 05, 2005, 03:15:21 AM »

Re: White - I didn't use pure white (RGB 255,255,255), instead I used RAF Ident White (RGB 242,241,234).
Maybe someone who has a reference can say whether it should be one or the other?

Kev367th · « **Reply #22 on:** December 05, 2005, 02:07:09 PM »

OK.
Tried the stipes using RGB 255,255,255
Also added an overall lightening layer to the camo only, seems though AH renders skins slightly darker than what the bitmap is at.

Karnak · « **Reply #23 on:** December 05, 2005, 03:48:40 PM »

That is looking really good Kev.

Kev367th · « **Reply #24 on:** December 06, 2005, 10:09:09 AM »

Uppers complete, view of stbd side -

Karnak · « **Reply #25 on:** December 06, 2005, 12:44:23 PM »

Kev367th · « **Reply #26 on:** December 06, 2005, 02:05:05 PM »

Gonna finish up the bottom weathering, then it will be ready.

Next project will be (with new weathering/chipping layers to be done yet).
Will also get a changed tail camo layout.

31st FG "Fargo Express"

The MA is CRYING OUT for a desert map again.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #27 on:** December 06, 2005, 02:43:56 PM »

That's some beautiful work Kev.

Any chance of you doing one of the standard MTO gray/green Spit VIIIs to fill out the set?

It would look good alongside the standard camo IXs and XVIs

Kev367th · « **Reply #28 on:** December 06, 2005, 04:23:41 PM »

Will have a look Dan, but I don't want to 'hog' the VIII's. If it looks like not too many people doing Spits, sure.

The SEAC one is done - view of underside:

Guppy35 · « **Reply #29 on:** December 06, 2005, 04:31:25 PM »

You make it really hard not to be a Spit driver