Post by dewobz on Jun 14, 2012 12:44:20 GMT 12
Further to what is effectively a new thread started in Catalina NZ4010 XX-L, I will share my thoughts as to the possibility that 'Patua Te Ra' is repainted in NZ Blue Sea Grey over NZ Sky Grey. They are all anecdotal and I am not trying to push a barrow.
First, yes, Dec 1943 does seem early for a repaint. I wonder if there is any record of when repaints were done? My thoughts (albethey anecdotal) -
1) The 'short wave' demarcation line between upper and lower colours on 4516's nose. This seems unusual to me. 'Slippery Sam' had (what I call) 'long waves' but most PV-1s as far as I can tell had relatively straight demarcation lines.
2) In the peak of particularly the second wave in from the front it looks to me as though another, lighter upper colour is showing.
3) The overall effect of the paint on the uppers nose area seems dark to me. Of course this could be the light but the paintwork has what I might call a 'fresh' look.
4) The uppers paint on the cowling does not 'wrap' around just under the opening (as it does on 'Slippery Sam') but appears to turn upwards into the opening, leaving an area of lowers colour in the centre of the opening. This might equate with what appears to me to be a general lowering of the demarcation line in repaint schemes.
5) Although very little of the top of 4516's nose is visible, not as much as in the 'Slippery Sam' photo, I cannot see a demarcation line for Intermediate Blue/NS Sea Blue. There is a line of rivets (I think?) but I don't perceive the definite colour change visible on Slippery Sam.
6) In most cases, I gather, when we talk about RNZAF PV-1 artwork it is artwork that "survived into the operational area"? 'Patua Te Ra' is surely locally applied and therefore freshly painted artwork? Freshly painted artwork atop fresh paint I wonder?
7) We know (from hobbyvista.com) that NZ4515 was repainted and from Classic Warbirds that NZ4518 was repainted. NZ4517 was written off in Oct '43. Therefore the two surviving aircraft serialled either side of NZ4516 were repainted (at some time).
8) In the photo of the work area at Piva with NZ4518 her paintwork looks quite faded. This photograph (from memory) is undated in the book but let's say, for argument's sake, it was taken in Dec '44? Could she, 4515 & 4516 have been repainted a year or more earlier, at which time (Dec '43) their paintwork would look fresh?
9) One might conclude that the underside colour on 4516 is simply too light to be NZ Sky Grey and must be Insignia White. Compare the underside colour lightness and contrast between upper & lower colours in the photo of NZ4551 in flight later in the book. The NZ Sky Grey looks very light.
I hope these thoughts are worthy of consideration.
Regards,
Wally.
First, yes, Dec 1943 does seem early for a repaint. I wonder if there is any record of when repaints were done? My thoughts (albethey anecdotal) -
1) The 'short wave' demarcation line between upper and lower colours on 4516's nose. This seems unusual to me. 'Slippery Sam' had (what I call) 'long waves' but most PV-1s as far as I can tell had relatively straight demarcation lines.
2) In the peak of particularly the second wave in from the front it looks to me as though another, lighter upper colour is showing.
3) The overall effect of the paint on the uppers nose area seems dark to me. Of course this could be the light but the paintwork has what I might call a 'fresh' look.
4) The uppers paint on the cowling does not 'wrap' around just under the opening (as it does on 'Slippery Sam') but appears to turn upwards into the opening, leaving an area of lowers colour in the centre of the opening. This might equate with what appears to me to be a general lowering of the demarcation line in repaint schemes.
5) Although very little of the top of 4516's nose is visible, not as much as in the 'Slippery Sam' photo, I cannot see a demarcation line for Intermediate Blue/NS Sea Blue. There is a line of rivets (I think?) but I don't perceive the definite colour change visible on Slippery Sam.
6) In most cases, I gather, when we talk about RNZAF PV-1 artwork it is artwork that "survived into the operational area"? 'Patua Te Ra' is surely locally applied and therefore freshly painted artwork? Freshly painted artwork atop fresh paint I wonder?
7) We know (from hobbyvista.com) that NZ4515 was repainted and from Classic Warbirds that NZ4518 was repainted. NZ4517 was written off in Oct '43. Therefore the two surviving aircraft serialled either side of NZ4516 were repainted (at some time).
8) In the photo of the work area at Piva with NZ4518 her paintwork looks quite faded. This photograph (from memory) is undated in the book but let's say, for argument's sake, it was taken in Dec '44? Could she, 4515 & 4516 have been repainted a year or more earlier, at which time (Dec '43) their paintwork would look fresh?
9) One might conclude that the underside colour on 4516 is simply too light to be NZ Sky Grey and must be Insignia White. Compare the underside colour lightness and contrast between upper & lower colours in the photo of NZ4551 in flight later in the book. The NZ Sky Grey looks very light.
I hope these thoughts are worthy of consideration.
Regards,
Wally.