hunter prototype

[rd49]

would just like some clarification on the following:

the correct colour that the prototype was painted
were any underwing wing markings carried - the photos I have seem to suggest that no serials were carried, but cannot tell if roundels were.

Thanks in advance
Rogerd

[sanguin]

Roger,
My ancient copy of Hawker Hunter (Modern Combat Aircraft 15) by Robert Jackson cites the initial prototype WB188 as being "a pale, duck egg green overall, carried no armament and and was fitted with a spin recovery parachute at the base of the fin." The photographs of this aircraft in the book show fuselage and upper wing roundels and the serial in black on the fuselage below the leading edge of the tailplane. I have no underside views so cannot comment on roundels or serials below the wings, but I suspect that it had roundels at least. As to the correct colour.....well, what colour was the first Spitfire? But I'm sure it was glossy, whatever the hue!
WB188 was later modified to be the World Air Speed Record aircraft, but this was structurally a bit different as well as have an after burning Avon and a bright red colour scheme to aid visual tracking.
I hope this is of some help,
John

[rossm]

Tim McLelland's book also states duck egg green. I can't find a photo of the underside of WB188 but in the Hawker Putnam is one of the second prototype, WB195, with underwing serials and roundels so I'd think WB188 probably had them,
Ross

[ptcruiser]

OK, so this link is to a 'recreation' but one would think that they obtained their references from somewhere and it may be worth trying to contact Classic Jet Aircraft Company at Exeter?

www.airsceneuk.org.uk/airshow01/kemble50th/kemble.htm

Hope this helps a little
Rich

[edgar]

With Hawker building Sea Furies, about that time, the "pale green" is likely to have been Sky, as painted on the Sea Fury undersides. WB188 carried underwing serials, port wing readable from the front, starboard from the rear. The wing roundels were enormous, about 3/4 of the way out from the c/l, and, on the top, stretching from l/e to aileron hinge; underside roundels were only slightly smaller. Fin flash was raked, no guns were fitted (consequently no muzzle holes,) no airbrake, and there was a bullet-shaped fairing, on top of the tail cone, which housed a spin-recovery parachute.
Edgar

[alfie]

Hi

Further to the earlier posts, this is from the Crowood book on the Hunter by Barry Jones:

...the appearance of WB188 was enhanced by its simple colour scheme. Another Kingston-Upon-Thames company, Cellon Limited, with forty years experience of protective finishes for British Aircraft by 1951, recognized the publicity value of donating a new paint for Hawker's first transonic prototype. The colour, a pale variant of the Fleet Air Arm undersurface of the time which became known by all associated with the P.1067 as 'duck-egg green', was applied over all external surfaces and only broken by national roundels, serial numbers and various small instuctional legends.

There are 3 photographs of WB188 on page 32 that show the positions of all the serial numbers and roundels.

Regards, Alfie

[rd49]

thanks for all the replies- now where can I get oversize roundels in 1/144?
Regards
Rogerd

[rossm]

Try a 1/72 sheet and see if any of the small ones work out right in 1/144 (e.g. those intended for Vampire tail booms perhaps ?).

If you tell me the size you want I'll search my Modeldecals and Xtradecals.

You could also try the Decal Bank,
Ross