Where did you get that information Tom? Doing some google search on the history of the color shows it first introduced in 1937, although it did not become standardized until 1940.BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 5:24 pm Actually you’re close; it’s actually called RAF Grey Green but they didn’t use it until 1940 on. It’s a color I use on my WW2 British aircraft interiors. AK Interactive has RAF Grey Green paint. Prior to 1940, they were yellowish beige green or “apple green”.
https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagorie ... =9&man=AKI
Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Forum rules
Any subject or scale's welcome. You can choose a kit from his collection if you like: https://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/ModelKits2024.html
Any subject or scale's welcome. You can choose a kit from his collection if you like: https://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/ModelKits2024.html
- Stikpusher
- Moderator
- Posts: 20861
- Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:37 pm
- Location: Ceti Alpha 5
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
FLSM
- speedgraflex
- Moderator
- Posts: 11039
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
- Contact:
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Quoting Edgar Brooks in Large Scale Planes:
“All of the references, that I've seen, say that a/c, issued to the RAF, came straight from U.S. stock, so their cockpits would have been identical to the usual USAAF airframes. There is, somewhere, an article, specifying that this was especially true of early P-51s.
Grey-green was in use before WWII; the Hart, in the RAF Museum, has the colour, in its cockpit area, as does the Shuttleworth Gladiator. The original spec., for K5054, advocated the use of a grey-green for internal areas.
Can I insert a small word, of caution, here, please? I matched the real colour to a chip, in the very first issue of "The Colour System." I did not match it to the paint in the tin, and at least one fellow modeller says that it differs, now, from that chip. This wouldn't be the first time that this (or something similar) has happened. Back in the days of Humbrol Authentics, complaints, about the actual colour being nothing like the real thing, became rife, and it was found that the operative was matching each batch to a sample, taken from the previous batch, not the master, consequently the paint shade had drifted.”
Quoting Edgar Brooks within an answer from Barracuda Studios “Ready Room” online:
“I had several conversations with Edgar Brooks on this topic, including sharing of images. What became apparent is that Spitfire cockpits, up until they were painted black, were finished in a pale grey green, but it was neither MAP Grey Green, nor Eau-de-Nil. Edgar was convinced that Humbrol Hu 90 Beige Green had been specifically formulated for Spitfire cockpits when the 1/24 Spitfire I was released.”
“All of the references, that I've seen, say that a/c, issued to the RAF, came straight from U.S. stock, so their cockpits would have been identical to the usual USAAF airframes. There is, somewhere, an article, specifying that this was especially true of early P-51s.
Grey-green was in use before WWII; the Hart, in the RAF Museum, has the colour, in its cockpit area, as does the Shuttleworth Gladiator. The original spec., for K5054, advocated the use of a grey-green for internal areas.
Can I insert a small word, of caution, here, please? I matched the real colour to a chip, in the very first issue of "The Colour System." I did not match it to the paint in the tin, and at least one fellow modeller says that it differs, now, from that chip. This wouldn't be the first time that this (or something similar) has happened. Back in the days of Humbrol Authentics, complaints, about the actual colour being nothing like the real thing, became rife, and it was found that the operative was matching each batch to a sample, taken from the previous batch, not the master, consequently the paint shade had drifted.”
Quoting Edgar Brooks within an answer from Barracuda Studios “Ready Room” online:
“I had several conversations with Edgar Brooks on this topic, including sharing of images. What became apparent is that Spitfire cockpits, up until they were painted black, were finished in a pale grey green, but it was neither MAP Grey Green, nor Eau-de-Nil. Edgar was convinced that Humbrol Hu 90 Beige Green had been specifically formulated for Spitfire cockpits when the 1/24 Spitfire I was released.”
Make more models!
- BlackSheep214
- Elite Member
- Posts: 12979
- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:47 pm
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
I did two Google searches. First I typed in:Stikpusher wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 5:06 pmWhere did you get that information Tom? Doing some google search on the history of the color shows it first introduced in 1937, although it did not become standardized until 1940.BlackSheep214 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 30, 2026 5:24 pm Actually you’re close; it’s actually called RAF Grey Green but they didn’t use it until 1940 on. It’s a color I use on my WW2 British aircraft interiors. AK Interactive has RAF Grey Green paint. Prior to 1940, they were yellowish beige green or “apple green”.
https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagorie ... =9&man=AKI
early Spitfire cockpit color
Then I narrowed down the search using:
early Spitfire mk.1 cockpit color
Both info pulled up on AI Overview
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Well it's all very interesting I have say - as I said, you learn something new every day.
But it's also pretty much academic if I'm honest - you can see so little of the cockpit with a pilot and the canopy buttoned up you could probably paint the interior pink and nobody would notice
I should point out I've built well over 30 Spitfires at this point...

But it's also pretty much academic if I'm honest - you can see so little of the cockpit with a pilot and the canopy buttoned up you could probably paint the interior pink and nobody would notice
I should point out I've built well over 30 Spitfires at this point...
Stuart Templeton 'I may not be good but I'm slow...'
- speedgraflex
- Moderator
- Posts: 11039
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
- Contact:
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
You are the Spitfire Master! However, maybe not all is academic here. You've raised good points and generated an interesting exchange of posts over what is another old quagmire! You're doing great work, Stuart. Always keep your curiosity; that's what sets you apart from the herd.
Make more models!
- Stikpusher
- Moderator
- Posts: 20861
- Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 8:37 pm
- Location: Ceti Alpha 5
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Good stuff. Bruce, what you pulled up was similar to what I found in my web search. Whenever I get around to building my 1940 Spitfires, I’ll see what I can come up with for the lighter shade. I still have a couple Hawker Furies and a Gladiator to build as well. I do like finding out about variety in cockpit colors.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
FLSM
- speedgraflex
- Moderator
- Posts: 11039
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
- Contact:
- Gary Brantley
- Elite Member
- Posts: 2619
- Joined: Tue Apr 08, 2014 9:40 pm
- Location: Cameron, Texas
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
I thought that I might better pics of the scratch-built cockpit in my Lindberg (ex-Impact) Fury I but this is the best I've got. One of my Fernando Pinto resin 1/24 car kits box fell on that Fury from about two shelves above. The impact knocked off every piece of rigging and broke one wing strut.Stikpusher wrote: ↑Sat Jan 31, 2026 10:48 pm Good stuff. Bruce, what you pulled up was similar to what I found in my web search. Whenever I get around to building my 1940 Spitfires, I’ll see what I can come up with for the lighter shade. I still have a couple Hawker Furies and a Gladiator to build as well. I do like finding out about variety in cockpit colors.



I was able to collect all the bits of guitar string wire that made up the rigging. I really should try to get the old girl back together!

- speedgraflex
- Moderator
- Posts: 11039
- Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2017 11:08 pm
- Contact:
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Gary! I have Fernando’s wheels!!

Why not build a kit here? I’d love to see his work in your hands!

Why not build a kit here? I’d love to see his work in your hands!
Make more models!
- BlackSheep214
- Elite Member
- Posts: 12979
- Joined: Sun Apr 06, 2014 8:47 pm
Re: Tamiya 1/48th Supermarine Spitfire mk.I
Guitar strings?! Now thats a cracking great idea. What size do you recommend. I have a 1/32 scale Sopwith Camel in my stash. This may be the thing I should use for rigging biplanes.
What and how did you use guitar strings to attach them to their rigging points?
What and how did you use guitar strings to attach them to their rigging points?
“Who controls the skies, controls the fate of this Earth”
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn
Author unknown- 352nd Fighter Group, Blue-Nosed Bastards of Bodney
“Send one plane it’s a sortie; send two planes it’s a flight; send four planes it’s a test of airpower. - Richard Kohn