The Little World

Does not necessarily mean sensible painting.

The camouflage patterns painted on British aircraft were pretty standardised in WW2. You’ll all have seen the A and B patterns for fighters, bombers, and such and the basic designs were similar.

Paint crews were issued with instructions and often masking mats to enable them to put on the required shapes. The paints were also standardised, but these could come from different suppliers to the various air ministries and at various times – so there is a reasonable range of shades that are within the ball park… or the cricket pitch.

This restored Swordfish in Canada has one of the RCN schemes for maritime patrol – though as it has been repainted I can only say the greys are close to right.

However, the pattern… What you see on the top wing is exactly what is shown by a top-down photo of the aircraft in the air. Whether the port wing was painted while the wings were folded, or by a committee, or in a hangar after midnight – I cannot say. That it has stayed that way seems to be a deliberate decision. I cannot find it on any WW2 images.

I expect, however, like the crews of the real Swordfish in action, to take flak over it…