discussion Lancaster interiors - Ian?

[stona]

I've nearly completed the two fighters and am about to start the little 1/72 BOBMF Lancaster. As a rule of thumb I know the visible interior colour (say back to wireless op's position) would be black and further back interior green. Turret interiors also black. What colour would the pilot/co-pilots seats be? I was at Duxford a few weeks ago and never thought to look, Doh! It seems unclear in the few photos I have found.

TIA

Steve

 

[Guest]

Hi Steve

I hope these links to the same website can help you out though these are obviously recent pics and not historical. heh, don't think they upholstered the seats in ruby red leather, but you never know... take a look anyways as these sites as they may help you out for other interior details and decor colouring.

Lancaster (FM213) Walk Around Page 1 - red upholstery

Lancaster MK.III Walk Around Page 1 - green

Avro Lancaster in detail - vague...

Kiwi Aircraft Images : Lancaster VII - green

Chris

 

[stona]

Thanks Chris, nice pictures and very useful. My problem with the seats I mentioned is that, not really knowing much about bombers, I don't know which crew members wore/sat on parachutes.If the pilots wore parachutes I wouldn't expect any kind of upholstery,as was the case in most fighters. However bombing missions would have been much longer than a typical fighter operation and a numb bum wouldn't have helped! I know some crew members did not wear parachutes as there was not enough room (in turrets for example) and they would have to find and attach them if needed. I'm afraid that can't always have been a practical proposition. More respect to them,they were very brave men!

Cheers

Steve

Have a listen

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolradio/history/worldwar2audioclipslibrary_clip29.shtml

 

[Guest]

yes, much respect to them... you might be on the right lines there as some of the pictures I've looked through show the seating to be bear and bucketed as if the parachute would be placed there for the airmen to sit on, not sure.

Chris

 

[stona]

Somewhat answering my own question I found this (scroll down the page)

http://www.pan3sixty.co.uk/360_full_screen_panoramas#ppquicktime

Surprised at the Interior Green floor!

Steve

 

[Guest]

Yes, it is actually - suppose if they had the spare paint to use up, they would have slapped it on anywhere... lol. Nice 360 site you found there Steve.

 

[stona]

Just read somewhere else that all Lancaster "upholstery" was green. Oh well,good job it's 1/72 and noone will really notice a little patch of red behind the pilot!

Steve