discussion South African post-war Spitfire question

[Guest]

This might be a bit arcane... but would anyone know if the SAAF spits used post-WWII would have carried on using the same (or even similar!) 'cockpit green' for the interiors? I've got a Spit XVI on bench with the SAAF decals from Alley Cat in the post (haven't decided on which scheme to go for yet).

 

[flyjoe180]

5553 has an interesting history

http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforce/aircraft/233/spitfire-mk-ixe-museum

http://spitfiresite.com/2012/02/ashes-to-ashes-dust-to-dust-a-story-of-a-spitfire-sortie-with-a-difference.html

Unsure about the colour for the cockpit, I presume they remained the usual interior green.

 

[Guest]

Cool info! But it's revealed an issue - the kit I've got is for a Mk XVI - which the Alley Cat decals agree is the right mark - but your links talk about the SAAF Spits being late Mk XIs.

As far as I can tell, the only difference will be in the upper engine cowling, right, which would have bulges bilaterally for the engine headers? And in all other respects a late LF IX and a LF XVI would be identical (clipped wings, pointed rudder, usual armament of 2 x Browning & 2 x Hispano and so on)?

The b&&&r of the thing is that I've already started the build, and I have to have the engine exposed (have already used some vital pieces so can't do cowling closed version!)... so on my model there will be no hiding the fact that we've got the Packard "Merlin" powerplant: it's going to be staring me right in the face!!! I worry this isn't just overlookable 'rivet counting'.

Assuming I'm right here, I now can't decide whether to pretend I never found out that the SAAF Spits were IXs, or to stash the decals for another day and get a IX kit.

(Honestly: I'm leaning towards the former as I can't wait to see the SAAF livery in situ!!!)

 

[flyjoe180]

I have no idea sorry Alasdair, but will await your build progress.

 

[Guest]

I will post the question on the SAAF model website and post the link so you will be able to view the responces.

Theuns

 

[Guest]

Link to SAAF site . -http://www.saairforce.co.za/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7300

Theuns

 

[Guest]

Some replies

"From what I've read, same as WWII RAF cockpit green, when I was digging around for my SAAF Korean era Spitty."

"I am definately no expert on SAAF Spitfires but far as I know, our post war Spitfires came directly from RAF WW2 surplus stocks (as mentioned in the link below) so I would imagine that they have the standard WW2 colours.

The bottom link leads to an article on the restored post war SAAF IXe and there is a photo which shows the inside of the cockpit door to be "interior green" as were the WW2 ones, I know you must be careful with restored aircraft colour schemes but I do believe that the Museum made some effort to get an accurate restoration.

http://www.saairforce.co.za/the-airforc ... ire-mk-ixe

http://www.saairforce.co.za/seed/public ... _large.jpg

http://spitfiresite.com/2012/02/ashes-t ... rence.html

So I would be fairly sure that their cockpits were in the standard WW2 inerior green"

Theuns