'Black Flight' pilot uniform

Rinahe · 23 December 2005, 04:20 AM

Hi everybody,

I'm trying to make a Revell 1/72 Sopwith Triplane, Naval 10.
By now, I'm still working in the pilot figure (I'm using a Matchbox IIWW pilot, 1/72, with some new details sculpted on GW green putty), but I don't know how to paint it.

Could anybody tell me what was the correct uniform of Naval 10 canadian pilots of the 'Black Flight', please?

Thank you very much in advance,

Best regards

Rinahe

BLOWHARD · 23 December 2005, 10:57 AM

Standard Navy uniforms?

Rinahe · 23 December 2005, 11:07 AM

Sorry, Blowhard, but I'm still novice with many aspects of IWW (i.ex, uniforms), and I don't know what were the standard navy uniform colors. Could you help me? (I need coat, gloves, coat neck, boots and skullcap colors)

Thanks

BLOWHARD · 23 December 2005, 01:34 PM

Well, as far as British WW1 uniforms, I don't know much either. Dark blue, brass buttons, long pants, black shoes, no gaiters (or long boots?), double breasted coats, white shirts and black ties...or dark blue?
Something like this maybe?

Not sure what the regulations for white pants would have been at the front, but I bet they weren't popular, if used at all! White hats, who knows, but there would have been a regulation for everything I'm sure.
There's a picture of Collishaw in an RFC uniform.
http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/canada/collishaw.html
Perhaps that was adopted later, or when the RNAS was absorbed into the RFC?
There's got to be someone here who's a uniform expert

BLOWHARD · 23 December 2005, 01:41 PM

Additional- Coats and scarves were, I believe, individual’s choice. I seem to remember that officers had to buy their own flying coats.

Rinahe · 24 December 2005, 03:25 AM

Thank you very much Blowhard

I'll post pics of the miniature as soon as I have finished it.

Best regards,

Rinahe

MikeW · 24 December 2005, 03:44 AM

Aaarrrggghh, Not Navy Blue uniforms.

The RNAS in France wore Khaki uniform. The peaked cap will not have the white "cover". A Sam Browne was usually worn.

Blue was normal wear for UK and sometimes worn overseas for "official" or "ceremonial" duties.

If you are painting a figure in the aircraft you would not see any uniform anyway. It would be a dirty flying coat and flying helmet and perhaps Sidcot overtrousers.

Mike

MikeW · 24 December 2005, 03:51 AM

Here's a shot of HS Broughall, a Naval 10 pilot contemporary with the B Flight pilots.

Rinahe · 24 December 2005, 05:41 AM

Ok, MikeW. Thank you very much.

The flying coat and helmet should be brown or khaki-green? Someone tells me about near-orange flying coats fot this especific type of pilots... I can't find in the net any Tripehound kit with a canadian pilot painted inside, and I don't want to paint my pilot in a khaki dress if it must be in other color.

Thanks for the pic. and for your help.

MikeW · 24 December 2005, 06:37 AM

Rinahe,

I think the flying coats were personal purchases, not a prescribed part of the uniform. I suppose, as you say, they could be anything from a tan colour through brown to black. I think I would go with a dark brown. Same for the flying helmet. The flying clothes became quite oil stained so there could be an opportunity to weather the clothing a little.

If you modelled a pilot standing by the triplane then the khaki uniform would be appropriate.

Good luck and please post a photo of your finished model on the forum.

Mike