Crimea_River
Marshal
I was going to mention it but, you know, not that there's anything WRONG with that.....
**** DONE: GB-49 1/48 PR-XIX Spitfire - Favourite A/C of WWII
- Thread starter N4521U
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Good stuff Bill.
before painting the cockpit, check your references.
Although normally painted in the "standard" Grey Green, this changed to overall "restful" matt black, just painted over the existing colour, certainly soon after the end of WW2, and this may have been the colour used for the period being modelled.
before painting the cockpit, check your references.
Although normally painted in the "standard" Grey Green, this changed to overall "restful" matt black, just painted over the existing colour, certainly soon after the end of WW2, and this may have been the colour used for the period being modelled.
- Thread starter
- #23
N4521U
Colonel
Thanks again fellas.
It's a bit easier getting bench time being home alone while Annie works
So I've done a bit on the Starboard side.
Finishing all the bits I want to do in there.
Terry, totally unaware the pit went to "restful" black. But If that was after the end of the war this will be the standard gray green.
As it was in service at the very end as an operational PR AC. Went into service After D-Day Normandy.
So I am safe with the colours I have...... but thanks for the Heads Up!
Before and After of the Right side, cockpit.
It's a bit easier getting bench time being home alone while Annie works
So I've done a bit on the Starboard side.
Finishing all the bits I want to do in there.
Terry, totally unaware the pit went to "restful" black. But If that was after the end of the war this will be the standard gray green.
As it was in service at the very end as an operational PR AC. Went into service After D-Day Normandy.
So I am safe with the colours I have...... but thanks for the Heads Up!
Before and After of the Right side, cockpit.
Donivanp
Major
Nice
Crimea_River
Marshal
Amazing detail work Bill.
Good work so far Bill!
A4K
Brigadier General
Great choice Bill!
My uncle, (then) L.A.C George Travers, was the Airframe Fitter for PS888. The Engine Fitter was L.A.C Tex Bainbridge, Crew Chief Cpl. Ron Jones, and pilot S/Ldr. W.P. Swaby, who was C.O. of 81 (PR) Sqn. F.E.A.F.
Uncle George is the man who painted 'THE LAST!' on her port lower nose cowl, after she completed the final operational Spitfire sortie in RAF service, on April 1, 1954, at RAF Seletar, Singapore.
Which scheme are you painting her in? Earlier, she had the two tone PRU Blue/ Medium Sea Grey spinner seen in your photo and Clave's artwork (which is slightly incorrect - PS888 had the 81 Squadron crest below the port windshield, not on the tail). Later, her spinner was painted entirely White, and that is how she finished her RAF service (it was later repainted PRU Blue in Thai Air Force service, along with the upper wings. Only the fuselage retained the MSG uppers)
Note: in RAF service, she had a Black walkway strip on the port wing, and the MSG overlaps the leading edge, ending approximately 10-15 cm under the wing. Also, she had 24" serials under the wings, in rounded style, contrasting with the fuselage 8 in.serials in stencilled square style.
I have photos from Uncle George showing all these features, but they are copyrighted, so I am not allowed to post them sorry - one even shows Uncle George painting the slogan 'THE LAST!' !!
One thing I'm not certain about is the interior colour - RAF Interior Green, or Black? Looking at the photos I have, the headrest atleast 'appears' to be too light to be Black, but can't confirm or deny that. I might ask Uncle George if he remembers by chance what colour it was.
My uncle, (then) L.A.C George Travers, was the Airframe Fitter for PS888. The Engine Fitter was L.A.C Tex Bainbridge, Crew Chief Cpl. Ron Jones, and pilot S/Ldr. W.P. Swaby, who was C.O. of 81 (PR) Sqn. F.E.A.F.
Uncle George is the man who painted 'THE LAST!' on her port lower nose cowl, after she completed the final operational Spitfire sortie in RAF service, on April 1, 1954, at RAF Seletar, Singapore.
Which scheme are you painting her in? Earlier, she had the two tone PRU Blue/ Medium Sea Grey spinner seen in your photo and Clave's artwork (which is slightly incorrect - PS888 had the 81 Squadron crest below the port windshield, not on the tail). Later, her spinner was painted entirely White, and that is how she finished her RAF service (it was later repainted PRU Blue in Thai Air Force service, along with the upper wings. Only the fuselage retained the MSG uppers)
Note: in RAF service, she had a Black walkway strip on the port wing, and the MSG overlaps the leading edge, ending approximately 10-15 cm under the wing. Also, she had 24" serials under the wings, in rounded style, contrasting with the fuselage 8 in.serials in stencilled square style.
I have photos from Uncle George showing all these features, but they are copyrighted, so I am not allowed to post them sorry - one even shows Uncle George painting the slogan 'THE LAST!' !!
One thing I'm not certain about is the interior colour - RAF Interior Green, or Black? Looking at the photos I have, the headrest atleast 'appears' to be too light to be Black, but can't confirm or deny that. I might ask Uncle George if he remembers by chance what colour it was.
- Thread starter
- #29
N4521U
Colonel
Good grief!
I hope uncle George says Green interior, cuzzzzz I just painted it today wile watching the Super Bowl.
As for overall paint scheme it's the Early two toned version I am doing as when Entering service.
I don't think it was two toned After the war.
Ask Uncke George if they had any kind of camera rack when the removed the cameras, or just chucked them into a truck or on the ground? (LOL)?
Qas the seat aluminium or bakelite?
Just need to confirm the numbers Under the wing Entering service?
numbers were ugly suckers under the wings.
So, todays work.
I hope uncle George says Green interior, cuzzzzz I just painted it today wile watching the Super Bowl.
As for overall paint scheme it's the Early two toned version I am doing as when Entering service.
I don't think it was two toned After the war.
Ask Uncke George if they had any kind of camera rack when the removed the cameras, or just chucked them into a truck or on the ground? (LOL)?
Qas the seat aluminium or bakelite?
Just need to confirm the numbers Under the wing Entering service?
numbers were ugly suckers under the wings.
So, todays work.
Last edited:
Crimea_River
Marshal
Good stuff Bill and some excellent info from Evan.
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Early external colour was PRU blue overall - the two-tone was the late colour, very late war and post war.
Seat would probably be metal, as fitted to late Mk.IX onwards, and the flare rack would most likely not be there, particularly as the PR.19 had a pressurized cockpit.
Seat would probably be metal, as fitted to late Mk.IX onwards, and the flare rack would most likely not be there, particularly as the PR.19 had a pressurized cockpit.
A4K
Brigadier General
Agree with Terry.
The two tone scheme as applied to PS888 was introduced by AMO A.217/51 in April 1951, in which Medium Sea Grey was to be applied on upper surfaces of Photographic Reconnaissance aircraft. Most used Pattern No.2 (as specified, and as seen on PS888) with the high demarcation line, though two 81 Sqn Spitfire PR.19s (PS852 and PS854) were painted in Pattern No.1, with the MSG on all but lower surfaces, which remained PRU Blue.
I'm not sure exactly when PS888 was manufactured, but I would say she was very probably overall PRU Blue when entering service, before being finished in 1951 according to AMO A.217/51.
All pictures I have seen of overall PRU Blue PR.19s show underwing serials present (in varying sizes), and I would assume PS888 was no exception.
As for internal equipment, the Spitfire PR.19 was (according to Squadron/Signal No.39: 'Spitfire In Action') 'basically a Mk.XIV airframe fitted with a pressure cabin, 'bowser' wing and Griffin 66 engine driving a five-blade Rotol propeller.'
All photos of PR.19 seats I have found seem to be standard Mk.IX (etc) type, as Terry mentioned, but fitted with the flare rack. Yours looks the ticket.
The two tone scheme as applied to PS888 was introduced by AMO A.217/51 in April 1951, in which Medium Sea Grey was to be applied on upper surfaces of Photographic Reconnaissance aircraft. Most used Pattern No.2 (as specified, and as seen on PS888) with the high demarcation line, though two 81 Sqn Spitfire PR.19s (PS852 and PS854) were painted in Pattern No.1, with the MSG on all but lower surfaces, which remained PRU Blue.
I'm not sure exactly when PS888 was manufactured, but I would say she was very probably overall PRU Blue when entering service, before being finished in 1951 according to AMO A.217/51.
All pictures I have seen of overall PRU Blue PR.19s show underwing serials present (in varying sizes), and I would assume PS888 was no exception.
As for internal equipment, the Spitfire PR.19 was (according to Squadron/Signal No.39: 'Spitfire In Action') 'basically a Mk.XIV airframe fitted with a pressure cabin, 'bowser' wing and Griffin 66 engine driving a five-blade Rotol propeller.'
All photos of PR.19 seats I have found seem to be standard Mk.IX (etc) type, as Terry mentioned, but fitted with the flare rack. Yours looks the ticket.
Last edited:
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Good stuff Evan.
Still not sure about the seat flare rack - many restored aircraft, of various Marks, have them, when most shouldn't. I don't know of a signal pistol port on the PR.19 and, being a pressurised cockpit, it's doubtful a signal pistol could be used.
That said, leaving the rack in place is no big deal.
Still not sure about the seat flare rack - many restored aircraft, of various Marks, have them, when most shouldn't. I don't know of a signal pistol port on the PR.19 and, being a pressurised cockpit, it's doubtful a signal pistol could be used.
That said, leaving the rack in place is no big deal.
A4K
Brigadier General
Aye, it dosen't seem logical to have it, but it seems to be present in all the photos I've seen. Be good to find a period cockpit photo to confirm/ deny.
I agree about the lack of a signal pistol port though, with maybe the exception of the first 25 PR.19s, which were unpressurized.
I agree about the lack of a signal pistol port though, with maybe the exception of the first 25 PR.19s, which were unpressurized.
fubar57
General
PM sent Bill
- Thread starter
- #37
N4521U
Colonel
I have diagrams of XIX cockpit and it has no vary pistol port, of which I have non as well.
I will make a first aide kit tho and install it in it's empty Rack.
I will properly place the Sqn crest.
Will be painting the spinner white.
Top MSG I will extend over leading edge of wings by 6"!
I did learn Type 389 was non pressurized, 390 was! Am I correct????
Thanks for the input Laddies!
I will make a first aide kit tho and install it in it's empty Rack.
I will properly place the Sqn crest.
Will be painting the spinner white.
Top MSG I will extend over leading edge of wings by 6"!
I did learn Type 389 was non pressurized, 390 was! Am I correct????
Thanks for the input Laddies!
A4K
Brigadier General
According to this site, you're right about the Type 389/390 Bill! Learnt something myself 
Spitfire PR Mk. XIX – Cold War Warrior — Camouflage & Markings | 1944 | 1945 | post-war | Spitfire Mk. XIX
I will write Uncle George this weekend to ask him a few details about PS888. (He's the guy ducking under the cowl in your photo by the way, with Tex Bainbridge standing on the wing)
Spitfire PR Mk. XIX – Cold War Warrior — Camouflage & Markings | 1944 | 1945 | post-war | Spitfire Mk. XIX
I will write Uncle George this weekend to ask him a few details about PS888. (He's the guy ducking under the cowl in your photo by the way, with Tex Bainbridge standing on the wing)
fubar57
General
Pretty interesting Evan
- Thread starter
- #40
N4521U
Colonel
You guys are too cool. Only met people in "like" groups who go to such length!!!!!
Changed the Leather of the seat color, looks more Authentic.
Added belts, and stuck up what is finished painted.
Working on the IP to be attached when ready.
Changed the Leather of the seat color, looks more Authentic.
Added belts, and stuck up what is finished painted.
Working on the IP to be attached when ready.
