Early Sopwith Schneider camoflague?

[wehf100]

Hi all,

I am making a model of a Sopwith Schneider in early guise- which the Windsock publication shows to be painted in a drab irregular camoflague 'probably of blue/grey.'

Does anyone have any further information on this scheme- the accompanying photograph isn't very clear.

Will

[LewisS]

How early?


Right at the beginning of the war most aircraft were not even marked with national insignias. This was a danger and frustration to pilots on both sides of the war as the infantry often took pains to shoot at darn near every thing airborne.

[wehf100]

we're talking mid-1915. The aircraft so applied seems to be those carried on ships rather than based at RNAS coastal stations. The photograph in the windsock publication is very grainy- but implies a large 'splinter' pattern of camoflague on the upper surfaces (and no national markings on the upper surfaces either. numbering was applied in the standard RNAS white patch on the tail fin.)

I was wondering whether anyone know anything else about this scheme (which was presumably an 'in service' application?) specifically about the treatment of the lower surfaces, or whether national markings were applied to those lower surfaces.

I'm sorry if this seems very narrow enquiry- but I'm building a model and fancy something different to the more common CDL or Green finishes.

[RobW]

could you reference the particular windsock and page number you are referring to?

Rob

[GrahamB]

Will,

there is a very good series of articles (3) on early RNAS camouflage in Ian K Baker's 'Aviation History Colouring Book' Vols 61, 62 and 63. He certainly seems to go with the idea that the earliest RNAS types were often finished in a 'drab' colour - probably a grey (not merely unbleached linen). Sometimes two tones were used to produce a cloudy, disruptive pattern but I'm not sure that this applied to Schneiders.

Cheers,

GrahamB

[LewisS]

I've got this image of a Sopwith HT floatplane from about 1914, that may be what you're looking for, it's pen and ink though..

[wehf100]

thanks guys for the very interesting leads. I'm a total novice in WWI aviation so this is all very gratefully received!

Will