When did FAA aircraft begin displaying “Royal Navy”?

Admiral Beez · Jan 21, 2026

I'm mocking up a 1:72 Gloster F5/34 as a FAA fighter, entering service in early 1941. I plan to use the decals from a RN Sea Hurricane or Martlet, as the Skua and Fulmar would likely be too large. To show the custom build I want to display "Royal Navy" on the fuselage sides. But what scheme and what year was this introduced? I'd like to use an overall white colour with grey upper surfaces (like below), but I do not see this scheme with the "Royal Navy" call out online until about 1944.

Wurger · Jan 22, 2026

Actually the FAA camo for the Skua above didn't consist of the one grey colour at the tops but of the Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey. The Sky Grey was on sides and undersides initially. However the Sky Grey colour was replaced with the Sky in August 1940. And the variant of the camo became the basic one in 1941. And finally the camo EDSG and DSG on tops and the Insignia White on sides and undersides was introduced about 1943/1944.
The inscription "Royal Navy" can be found on the FAA planes already in 1940/1941 . The inscription became the part of the serials of the all new FAA kites in 1942.

Admiral Beez · Jan 22, 2026

Wurger said:
Actually the FAA camo for the Skua above didn't consist of the one grey colour at the tops but of the Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey. The Sky Grey was on sides and undersides initially. However the Sky Grey colour was replaced with the Sky in August 1940. And the variant of the camo became the basic one in 1941. And finally the camo EDSG and DSG on tops and the Insignia White on sides and undersides was introduced about 1943/1944.
The inscription "Royal Navy" can be found on the FAA planes already in 1940/1941 . The inscription became the part of the serials of the all new FAA kites in 1942.

Thanks. What I'd really like is a variant of this Sea Gladiator's scheme (matches the Skua, I believe) but with the Royal Navy inscription. But I can't see an example online.

This Sea Hurricane scheme looks good for my F5/34 mockup, but is missing the Royal Navy inscription.

This white scheme below is too boring, IMO, but does show the inscription.

Wurger · Jan 22, 2026

Admiral Beez said:
... but does show the inscription.

View attachment 864802

Yep ... BTW the white was applied on the standard FAA camo EDSG+DSG/Sky. Its part can be found in front of the cockpits. Because your camo is fictional why not to leave the top camo and add the white with the inscription ... secondly I have seen pics of the FAA Sea Hurricane that had the inscriptions painted in front of the horizontal stabilizer and more above the serial. So ...