Skua L2987 colours?

[GrahamB]

Hi All,

I'm tempted to paint my Special Hobby 1/48 Skua in the simplified markings of L2987 as iilustrated on page 150 of Matthew Willis' book.

This aircraft was a guide, or pathfinder, for a batch of Hurricanes launched from HMS Argus on 17 November 1940 bound for Malta. For a variety of reasons the formation got lost, all the Hurricanes ending up in the sea (all pilots killed) while L2987 managed to find a rough landing on Sicily.

The only photo of this Skua that I have is that printed in Peter Smith's 'Skua!'. Clearly taken with orthochrome film, almost all the dorsal fuselage is dark-toned, along with the rudder. While the artist in the Willis book has quite reasonably interpreted this as an overpainting with Dark Slate Grey - this does show up dark in orthochrome prints - I wondered if the rudder might have been yellow (also dark in this film type). If the Skua was formation leader it may have had some high-visibility markings to assist its flock of Hurricanes. I have a vague recollection of seeing an article (possibly in a model magazine) about similar markings but cannot remember any details - it may have had something to do with the Takoradi (Gold Coast)-Egypt run.

Does anyone have any views on this - or evidence for such formation-leaders?

Many thanks.

Cheers


GrahamB

[Pilot]

There is used some bands, I know for Fulmars but for Scua I have to look. I have selected whole folder for the book about the Malta but I have discard all material.

[Graham Boak]

For the Takoradi Ferry Route, white was painted on the fin and the top of the fuselage. Also, perhaps, on the upper tailplane - I am uncertain about this point.

I have not read of any distinctive markings being used on ferry guides to Malta.

[Ex Shack]

Hi GrahamB
Try and get a look at another book, "Malta -the Hurricane Years" by Christopher Shores, Brian Cull and Nicola Malizia.On p87 there is a photo of the Skua on it's belly. with the engine detached and sitting behind the port wing. It may well be another reproduction of the photo you have already seen but the book attributes it to Nicola Malizia. The rudder appears to be dark and the same tone as the upper fuselage and it would be difficult to interpret it as Yellow, the fin to which the rudder is attached is painted in the standard UK red,white and blue vertical stripes. As to special "ferry guide" markings I think the Skua was a standard Sqn a/c from the carrier
Regards
Dick

[GrahamB]

Hi Ex-Shack, Graham and Srecko,

thanks for the replies. It looks as if it is going to be unresolved.

Ex-Shack -this is almost certainly the same photo as I've seen. The yellow rudder possibility is quite compatible with the very dark tone - see the near black outer yellow ring of the fuselage roundel - film type.

May be I should steer clear of this model subject and do something more definitive.

Cheers

GrahamB