There should have been always 3-colours, unless repainting. In some pictures the reddish brown isn't so evident probably due to the use of filters in orthocromatic films.
About the colour hues, the item was dealt in the past in the following topics:
https://stormomagazine.com/phpbb2/viewt ... f=30&t=424
https://stormomagazine.com/phpbb2/viewt ... =30&t=1311
The models in the second post are extremely interesting and surely are original by Reggiane. I think these kind of models are extremely important to set a list of RA 'official' colors for each factory.
What we knew until now about mottle scheme of Reggianes:
- CMPR didn't give any direct indication, just supposed the following paints for them: GM3, GM4, VM2, MM1 and MM2.
- Maurizio Di Terlizzi (Reggiane RE 2000, IBN, 2002) suggested GM4 background, VM3 and Bruno Mimetico (BM) mottles.
- RA Caccia & Assalto vol. 1 (Brioschi-Waldis-De Bortoli, 2002) supposed for GM3, VM1 and MM2.
- Ali e Colori no. 6 (same authors as above, 2005) changed to GM3, VM2 and MM2.
More recent books are based on analysis of specimens:
- Swedish Fighters Colors (Forslund-Vallet, 2012): FS 33434 (GM3), 34097 (very close to 34102-VM3) and 10076 (MM2), undersides 36293 (Grigio Mimetico)
- Hungarian Fighters Colors vol. 2 (Bernad-Punka, 2014): FS 33434 (GM3), 34102 (VM3) and 10076 (MM2), with 36307 undersides (GAC1)
Colors of the model in the post match with these latter opinions, though the hue of green is hard to establish and background yellow seems a bit greenish: is this an effect of artificial light, or a thin overspray or green? Or was it a GM2, a greenish yellow made by Masciadri as MM2 (10076) and VM2 (34092)?
A direct match under sunlight of these model with standard reference would be desirable, even to establish the correct degree of undersides grey. In an unpublished chip, Virginio Tosco (Vitocharts) tested a pale grey on a Re.2000, and this was probably referred to undersides. The chip matched FS 36622, and it could be confirmed by an original colour photo of a 3-colour camo 2000.
Another intersting feature are the red blade tips. I saw them in other original wood models and I believe this was an early feature for RA propellers, later replaced by more effective yellow tips. There are some pictures which also suggest this, though red is very dark in unfiltered b/w photos. An interesting item to research.
Stefano