The Little World

If the fumes from the paint don’t kill me, the bad puns will. Probably through the agency of enraged listeners seeking me out to stop them.

Actually, I am very proud of this one, as it involves real thinking and research. As I am building a Vultee Vengeance in RAF or RAAF service ( not decided which yet ) I have a hybrid machine on my hands – a lend-lease plane. Built in the USA and flown by a Commonwealth air force in their colours.

But the inside of the plane would have been in the colours with which it was originally made – in this case the wheel wells and inside of the cowling would have been the baby-poo yellow-green of zinc chromate treatment. I’ve seen colour transparencies taken on Kodachrome A of these planes being built and that yellow poo colour is real.

On the other hand, once in British hands the cockpit might well have been painted to standard RAF green  – and so I have used the two shades you see. It’s a small thing, but that’s what makes 1:72nd aircraft building so much fun – you pick out small details to characterise the larger ones.

If I opt for RAAF there’s going to be a further jungle green on the top along with dark brown. And all done with a new experimental Mr. Color acrylic lacquer. But don’t worry, folks…I’ll be shooting the Mr. Color on a paint mule before it gets to the model. I’ve learned my lesson…