Spitfire belly colour

[homechild]

I know this topic comes up from time to time and I always read the threads (I even read one that someone posted with what looked like scanned WWII documents) but help...

I'm getting ready to paint my UK F4U Corsair tomorrow in the standard WWII UK camo pattern and I'm having trouble convincing myself that Tamiya XF-21 (Sky) is the correct colour to use for the underside, it just seems too green.

I'm tempted to use either XF-23 (Light Blue) or XF-12 (JN Grey) instead.

What do you use for the belly of Spitfires, etc?

[flyjoe180]

There is a lot of information on a search for the relevant information. It seems that Vought-built Corsairs were delivered in US substituted FAA colours (ANA colours) for the standard European British temperate scheme. The ANA paints were slightly different to the British paints. Overhauled machines may have been repainted in standard British paint colours later. Goodyear-built FG-1s (Corsair IV) were painted in overall gloss blue.

These links might be of help:

Fleet Air Arm Colours [Archive] - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums

Color Reference Charts -  United Kingdom

[stona]

From June 1940 until August 1941 the official underside colour for RAF fighters serving in Europe,which obviously includes the Spitfire,was Sky. After August 1941 it became Medium Sea Grey as part of the DFS (day fighter scheme). There were a few anomalies (like the short lived Night port wing and initial,early confusion about what Sky was supposed to be). Fighters serving elsewhere,Africa or South East Asia for example,carried different schemes.

Fleet Air Arm aircraft were also painted in different schemes. You'd need to know a date and where the aircraft served.

It is true that post lend lease aircraft were supplied in US equivalent colours or substitute colours. Britain was buying these aircraft. When you pay for something you expect it to meet the specifications of your order.There were British Ministry men at the US facilities who had to accept the finished aircraft. I think the differences between the US and British EQUIVALENT colours is sometimes over played.

Joe is correct that Vought built Corsairs were not painted in equivalent colours,which sought to match British colours as per the MAP,their customer,but with SUBSTITUTE colours. This is not just a matter of semantics. These substitute colours,those on ANA Bulletin 157,were colours agreed upon by the USAAC, the US Navy and the British.

For a Temperate Sea Scheme (TSS-Extra dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey over Sky )the colours would be ANA 603 Sea Grey, ANA 613 Olive Drab and ANA 602Light Grey. There is ongoing debate as to whether ANA 610 Sky was applied as an undersurface colour but I can't check up on that at the moment..

Cheers

Steve

Edit,you should be able to find FS equivalents which will be close to the ANA colours.