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I have nothing to back this up with other than observation. That said it seems to me, particularly after the BoB timeframe, British ground crews took better than average care of their aircraft. Most pictures show well cleaned, and often touched up aircraft. I would conjecture that squadron markings may have often been applied in colors as close as possible to what was required but may not have always been exactly correct depending on wartime exigencies and availability of proper colored paints. The only time I have seen truly weathered RAF aircraft were those in the Pacific, Med and other harsh environments. And even there the aircraft are generally cosmetically in better shape than their American and other allied counterparts. Is this a reasonable conjecture? Or am I all wet?
Oh I did not mean to imply they never got rough looking, especially those outside Britain, just that they seemed to be in general more well cared for than your average bear. Operational tempo had as much to do with it as weather I would imagine.Here's some evidence that Spitfires could get well worn during operations. Check out the paint chipping on the walkways near the cockpit.
Fuel spills from refueling the aircraft.
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Sorry for stirring up some controversy on the subject of Sky and Sky Blue. I think the comments about the factory being mandated to paint the aircraft in sky type s /day fighter scheme colours by the air ministry is golden for the aircraft I am gong to do. I did some more research and I believe it was Edgar Brooks who essentially said after the BOB period this was correct but not during. Due to shortages of Sky Type S (unofficially Duck Egg Green) Sky Blue was used on some field re-paints of Spitfires by squadron maintenance crews during the BOB period.
Still not convinced it could be the faded Sky Blue. More likely it would be the faded Duck Egg Blue and that tone of the colour I would follow painting my model rather.