interesting discussion:
http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=8303
Battle of Britain Cr 42 code colors..Grey-Blue or yellow?
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modeldad
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Battle of Britain Cr 42 code colors..Grey-Blue or yellow?
Last edited by modeldad on Wed Oct 17, 2007 7:52 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman
Yes a very interesting discussion; the unit numbers are generally considered yellow, and the unit badge might even have a yellow border just inside the outer black border (see Caccia & Assalto). The words "ocio che te copo!" are red and underlined (Stefano Lazzaro) and the axe edge is sliver and facing forward, toward the front of the plane. The aircraft number precedes the unit number as you mentioned.
He's got some of it right in:
http://dekkerartwork.over-blog.com/article-7170656.html
However I don't think the front propeller blades were left unfinished in aluminum (Riccardo Trotta), but were pale blue (Wings of Italy) and the propeller tips painted in yellow are doubtful. Since there were a batch of planes that were sent to Belgium that carried the C2 camo scheme, the artist could have finished the plane in two tones (your article).
Regarding, the unit numbers colored in pale blue-gray (Dave Wadman), I don't have anything that shows the description in the crash report is accurate. There is however a photo of CR.42 17-85 on p.21 Caccia & Assalto and you can see the vague outline of the yellow border around the unit badge; the interior (background) of the unit badge was light blue. The light blue background of the badge appears to match the shade of paint with the unit numbers. Its probably worthwhile to point out in this photo that light blue and yellow render about the same shade in black and white (Stefano's article img 9):
http://www.stormomagazine.com/Articles/ ... lands.html
I think it may be possible the unit numbers could have been the color as the crash report says. I would also be interested to know what the crash report says about the other colors of the badge; the background color of the unit badge for instance, the color of the text etc.
He's got some of it right in:
http://dekkerartwork.over-blog.com/article-7170656.html
However I don't think the front propeller blades were left unfinished in aluminum (Riccardo Trotta), but were pale blue (Wings of Italy) and the propeller tips painted in yellow are doubtful. Since there were a batch of planes that were sent to Belgium that carried the C2 camo scheme, the artist could have finished the plane in two tones (your article).
Regarding, the unit numbers colored in pale blue-gray (Dave Wadman), I don't have anything that shows the description in the crash report is accurate. There is however a photo of CR.42 17-85 on p.21 Caccia & Assalto and you can see the vague outline of the yellow border around the unit badge; the interior (background) of the unit badge was light blue. The light blue background of the badge appears to match the shade of paint with the unit numbers. Its probably worthwhile to point out in this photo that light blue and yellow render about the same shade in black and white (Stefano's article img 9):
http://www.stormomagazine.com/Articles/ ... lands.html
I think it may be possible the unit numbers could have been the color as the crash report says. I would also be interested to know what the crash report says about the other colors of the badge; the background color of the unit badge for instance, the color of the text etc.
I viewed the pics contained in your post. The pics are very interesting particularly the color photo. Although vague/a bit washed out, the color photo shows what appears to be blue-ish colored unit numbers and a similarly colored unit badge (its background). Thierry's profile should be corrected so that the unit numbers and badge background are the same shade of blue. Finally, backing up to the color photo (F. D'Amico), the photo shows what appears to be an unusal white-ish-blurry square box preceding the individual aircraft number 14.
Riccardo Trotta
A very interesting photo from Riccardo Trotta: below the photocolor of Cr42 14-85, issued by Andrea Degl'Innocenti, one of the autors of the CMPR camouflage book, and issued in the magazine Storia Militare in September 1996; the caption says that the unit numbers are yellow; the photo is the same as F. D'Amico's, however the colors are a little different (ie., more accuarte): for instance in the photo below the sky is blue, not gray.
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modeldad
- Comandante di Stormo
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Stefano:
Most interesting pictures. Thank you,
Yes, it would appear that the numbers could be different color. But there are two issues. The first is that the picture was taken long after the BoB (not earlier than early 1941 with the introduction of the fuselage recognition band) and at a different locations (Africa). The other issue is that it seems we do not know if different squadrons may have used used different colors. Blue for 85 and yellow for 83?
So little evidence and so many questions.
Most interesting pictures. Thank you,
Yes, it would appear that the numbers could be different color. But there are two issues. The first is that the picture was taken long after the BoB (not earlier than early 1941 with the introduction of the fuselage recognition band) and at a different locations (Africa). The other issue is that it seems we do not know if different squadrons may have used used different colors. Blue for 85 and yellow for 83?
So little evidence and so many questions.
Steven "Modeldad" Eisenman