Aircraft Colours

I'm building the Airfix kits of the RE8 and Sopwith Camel. The instructions show that the underside of the fuselage should be the same linen colour as the wings, yet on various illustrations the fuselage bottom is RFC green.

I am new to WWI Aviation and modeling can anyone help???

according to the 'aircraft archive: aircraft of world war one', (i assume these are factory specs), the re8 finish is varnished irish linen. the camel was khaki-green dope on upper and side surfaces, clear doped linen underneath, with protective finish.

hope this helps.

leon

Point of order. It has been established (to my satisfaction at least) that PC10, the khaki colour on British aircraft, is actually brown. The various Windsock Datafile all have a section on colour in them which discusses the matter.

It appears that PC10 was very brown when it was mixed but as it faded in service it took on a greenish hue.

I'm going to paint my WW1 models with a Humbrol Matt 98 Chocolate Brown maybe lightened a little for scale effect.

As an aside, I am told Humbrol Satin 71 (Bleached Oak?) is a good colour for Clear Doped Linen. I wouldn't use Humbrol CDL as it seems too yellow.

Thanks for the info was the SE5 the only aircraft to have a Khaki Fuselage top and bottom???

If so was there any reason for this, and would I be correct in painting all other RFC Models Natural Linen on the underside??

[PeterL]

As usual the answer is "it depends". If you don't have a reference for the actual machine you're modelling then a little educated guesswork is called for. Fuselages tended to have less shrinking dope applied than did the wings, so maybe a protective coat of PC10 or 12 on the under fuselage panel would have been useful. On the other hand, imagine you are the erk who has just painted the top and sides of the said fuselage, You have a choice. Lie on your back on the ground and complete the job, and get a face full of celulose in the process, or have a cup of tea. Your call.

Peter L