Azure blue

[alex crawford]

Hi,

Thansk for the reposnses guys.

Jerry,

What is the AID colour card booklet?

I am having a discussion about the colour of the top decking of the Bristol Bulldogs with my publisher. We are trying to determine the correct shade for the Dark Green and NIVO.

Would this booklet have the answer?

Alex

[brewerjerry]

Hi Alex,
AID colour card booklet,
Never actually seen one myself, but apparently they were WW2 colour chart booklets, I was told bit like the colour charts you get at the diy for dulux/crown/etc paints, but cards.
The colour cards were for use by the a/c manufacturers and repairers / paint firms, etc to get the correct shade as specified by the AID , ( air inspection directorate , [think this is right name] ).
Never had time to find out if the PRO/IWM/RAFM/R-R, etc , have any in their archives.
I imagine one would fetch a good price on e bay !!
even if it were a bit faded & tattered !!
Cheers
Jerry

[Graham Boak]

Certainly a set of the 1930 British Standards exist, for they were studied by Mike Starmer for his British Army camouflage series, and were recently posted on the net by W.S.Marshall. Unfortunately I've lost my connection, but it was on the airwarfareforum board, and at least one other I am quite sure that the other wartime standards exist too, though I haven't seen them myself. From his text, Paul Lucas has.

The point about Azure Blue is that it was in use: it just took the AM nine months to regularize it in an AMO. However, other colours were prepared without ever, it seems, getting into use or even being seen in an AMO.

I believe that Dark Green never changed its shade until the introduction of the Tornado into RAF service. The current Dark Green is certainly lighter and less olive than its predecessor.

There have been a number of sources giving guidance for NIVO. Ray Rimmel, in Scale Models Extra "Scale Colour" gives it as Methuen 27F3. It is usually described as being close to Light Slate Grey 26E3 (or slightly bluer and lighter) but Dark Sea Green 27(E-F)4 and Sea Green 27E(2-3) seem equally close. If your publisher doesn't understand Methuen, an approximate Munsell equivalent is 6G/3.5/0.5. Some recent research has suggested it was lighter than this, and Dark Slate Grey was adopted for FAA use after seeing how effective Nivo was on Heyfords over the sea. Ian Gazely might be able to cast more light on that.

I have found my printing of the 1930 BSC - it says www.airwarfareforum.com/upld/img/O-1082626102-84GKiri@.jpg. But it doesn't work for me now. The other was Hyperscale, so I'll bet it is still on there.

[JMSmith]

hi graham,

i posted this on the board, just clicked your link and it still works.


john

[brewerjerry]

Hi Graham,
I agree with the possible use of azure after nov 40, and definitely with other colours in use.
one of many stories :-
I spoke to an ex raf guy who once built a blenheim out of three 'wrecks' at a UK airfield for use in the ME.
They didn't have the right colours, so they mixed them on site, as best that they could !
C&M a very interesting subject.
Cheers
Jerry

[Alex Smart]

hello Alex,

Have you got "British Aviation Colours of WW2 the official Camouflage, Colours and Markings of RAF Aircraft, 1939-45"" it was in the RAF Museum series.

Full (AFAIK) detailed Air Min Orders from April 39 through to October 44.

I have vol 3, so do not know what is in vols 1&2, or if there were others in the series.

Point being that in the back of this vol 3 there is a "MAP Standard Aircraft Colours 1939-1945" colour chart.

The colours are somewhat lighter in shade than the ones given in the link above, could they be a copy I wonder ?

Anyway I will scan and send to you.

Hope you do not have to move far.

Anyone know of the other vols in this series ?

All for now.

Alex

[Kutscha]

Alex,

Vol 3 is the only one on camoflage.

They are a series of books put out by thr RAF Museum. Other books that I know of are the Spit V manual, Hurricane II manual, Lancaster manual, Mosquito manual and another on rigging WW1 a/c.