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Looking for a guide of USAF painting schemes.From the early 50s with their stylish metallic or all white,to the 90:s subdues markings.

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Karl-Anders posted on Sat, Feb 19 2011 12:37 PM

From Sweden I try to find a historically guide to the shifting trends in military planes paintings. Here in Sweden we have changed at least 7-8 times since the "silver/metallic" in the early fifties. After that we have paint the planes in: military green,a different kind of metallic on the SAAB 35 "the dragon"-Draken. Then it was a typical Swedish sort of camopainting,with straight edges-simmular as we have on our uniforms. But after the "camoyears" we seems to follow the big nations (USA),and have a grey tone with subdued markings. 

I was building a lot of modelplanes in the early 70:s,and always think  the "century series+Corsair/Crusaders and F4 Phantom were so good looking. So my problem is to find a site or another guide to USAFS painting history-in general.

This is my first entry in a non-Swedish forum,so maybe you must have that in mind:spelling and that sort of things. But I think my English maybe is better than your Swedish....

All the best to all of you and have a nice day, Here in Stockholm it is minus 7 Farenheith....

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Baron Inchcape replied on Sat, Feb 19 2011 2:13 PM
Hi Karl, firstly your English, very well done, I understood everything you had to say Big Smile
As a modeller, I am sure you know of IPMS - International Plastic Modelling Society. You are very lucky in having
in Stockholm one of the best branches. Here is their link
 
 
They offer an excellent model painting guide amongst other reference and discussion points.
It would probably be best to follow the variation in colour schemes of each aircraft you may be interested in from photos
and colour profiles rather than look for general themes with any one Air Force. Many aircraft modelling magazines
would also give you a guide as to colour options. Ofcourse, many Squadrons or Units had their own variations to colours, depending on how
strictly enforced the commanders were.
  
Like Sweden, all Air Forces have changed the colour schemes, dependant on where in the world they were to operate, at would
altitude and who the enemy might be. There are numerous published theatre and/ or aircraft specific reference works that
I would recommend. Many are still available. This website shows some of the range
Many are as good as the Flygplansritningar series  Wink
As a guide to the many options of aircraft / colour scheme combinations, this is a good general website that should then be researched
further through a web search engine.
There are also the numerous excellent forums were many are asking the same questions you are asking:
 
Best regards, and if I can help with any specific areas, just ask
Baron Inchcape

Is there anybody out there?

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The Jason replied on Mon, Feb 28 2011 12:46 AM

Hello, Karl

 

Squadron Signal has published many books on various aircraft from WWI up to and including the present day.  I bought my large collection at a local hobby store, though they can also be found online at http://squadronsignalpublications.com/

 

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