Colour identification help, please - Seafire F46 drop tank

[DavidWomby]

Looking at this pic (and I have a few others in books that show the same colour difference), what colour do we think the drop tank is?



Definitely too dark for Sky but I think too pale for EDSG or Dark Slate Grey. Could it be Medium Sea Grey intended for fitting under a Spitfire?

Opinions appreciated!

David

[PaulBradley]

Here's another photo of the same aircraft:




As it was a trials airframe, how about going out on a limb and saying orange or red? Looks very similar to the red of the fin flash, and perhaps this was a trial of the new drop tank for the '47.

[DavidWomby]

Here's another photo of the same aircraft:

As it was a trials airframe, how about going out on a limb and saying orange or red?

thanks for the suggestion but good grief, Paul, no. Way too radical looking for my sensibilities!!! Although I do see your point.

David

[PaulBradley]

I agree that it's much more likely to be a grey of some sort, but the possibility is intriguing... Perhaps someone at Britmodeller has an answer - there are more potential Spitfire experts there.

[DavidWomby]

Thanks, Paul. I've posted on Britmodeller. Let's see what the collective hive mind there suggests although they have been asked this before with no conclusive answer. Here:http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/inde ... ntry841422

David

[DavidWomby]

Justin over at Britmodeller pointed me at pics of Spitfire F24 VN318 on the web that show it with a drop tank that looks MSG. So I'm assuming MSG for the later Seafires too.

David

[PaulBradley]

Sounds like a plan. Makes perfect sense that the 46 would use tanks already in use for the 24, particularly as so few were built.

Still, red would have looked good....