If we accept, as is likely, that the patches are orange Day-Glo Fablon, black and white images would be useful. I wonder if those panels under 890's jet pipe fairings extend spanwise under the wings?

I find it particularly interesting that the National marking and serial numbers on the fin seem to align with fuselage contour beneath. Normally they are near parallel with the leading edge/top of the fin's dorsal fillet. Her appearance at Farnborough in '55 illustrates this;
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...XA890_1955.jpgCourtesy RuthAS

Assuming post # 5 was taken at RAF Abingdon then this is an odd visitor for this airfield. Could perhaps be an early arrival for a B of B Display (or a late departure!) as the crown barriers etc are absent.
Could be it diverted there following some sort of emergency?

In front of the Vulcan there appear to be children wandering around!:hmm:

Bingo chaps

From the trials boffin:

“Those panels were certainly gloss white. They were there before Aero Flight acquired the aircraft and there were 3 panels on the leading edge of each wing and I think six on the leading edge of the fin. I understand that they were sprayed on before the V-Bombers were repainted white (with pale roundels) to reflect the flash from exploding nuclear bombs. Their purpose was to test paints provided by various manufacturers before the contract was placed. They seemed to be equally satisfactory as none ever to my knowledge ever stripped back from the leading edge. They were useful in that one could easily tell Aero Flight's XA890 from BLEU’s XA899.

Well done John and thanks - that solves the puzzle neatly. I would have put money on the patches being orange! Never even thought about the possibility of paint trials but I guess it makes perfect sense actually!

Pleasure.

J