Standardized World War II RAF camouflage patterns.

[India Four Two]

I stumbled upon this interesting photo of the Lancaster production line at Woodford. It answered a question that I have often wondered about. I knew that camouflage patterns were standardized, but I wondered if they were identical on each aircraft. Now I know the answer. As they say in SE Asia: “Same same, but different!”


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/582x800/da74431a_230a_4abc_b8a3_ae878b816797_5ae998e5aa6f92456f82298 cf109e18b3122b7c4.jpeg

[VX275]

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1632x1224/img_2202_b0592481dd891c8ca312792e59ef26764dcf6c77.jpg
This is the official camouflage scheme for the WACO Hadrian in RAF service. Notice how the dimensions where the colours meet the edges are defined whilst the pattern is only suggested. Something similar would appear to be going on with the Lancasters with the pattern being sprayed freehand between the fixed points.

[India Four Two]

Thanks VX275, that explains the variations in the patterns.

Looking at the photo again, I've just noticed the Monica RWR aerial under the rear turrets.

Looking further down the line, does anyone know what the dark brown objects are on either side of the forward fuselages? Are they jigs to assist in installing the fuel tanks (the light brown objects on the left)?

[Asturias56]

Looking down the line it looks as if they attach the main spar to the fuselage about 3 stations down

[sandringham1]

The dark brown things are the inner most sections of wing leading edge, they are hinged to the spar along the top edge so that they can be rolled upwards for access during build and maintenance.
Visible in this report on Just Jane https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9273651/Engineers-lay-parts-WWII-Lancaster-bomber-like-giant-AIRFIX-model.html
Fantastic picture, I went there when they were building the ATP and tried to imagine what it was like in wartime, in fact it wasn't much different..

[oxenos]

I believe that there were rubber sheet masks cut to the required shape, which were laid on the sections prior to spraying