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Dan-San,
These were Allan's comments, I have not studied the fabric in that detail and you may well be correct with your assessment. Allan did mention that the carbon or soot was in relatively coarse particles when compared with the very fine particles of the mercuric sulfide, so coarse in-fact that it roughened the surface, leading him to believe that it was soot rather than a darkener. I think he also mentioned that the fabric was noticeably darker toward the bottom of the fuselage.
I'm not sure what you are referring to about the rudder?
I believe you are correct when you state that the aircraft would have looked an even shade after it was freshly painted.
I think the interesting thing about this discovery of Allan's is that it seems the aircraft was personalised for MvR at the factory and therefore had a long association with him even though he was not successful on it until near the end.
Langdon
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