UA539 - British Sky

British Sky from the light part of the British palette

The light greenish gray tone British Sky is one of the colors the Royal Air Force (RAF) used on the undersides of its machines. It is among the most recognizable shades of the whole war era: unmistakably light, with a faint green cast that sets it apart from ordinary grays and from the bluish tones of other air forces.

A light color from below, but not only there

The purpose was the same for every air force: to break up the silhouette of the machine against the sky. Each country found a different answer, though. American aircraft handled their undersides with a neutral gray, British ones with exactly this light greenish tone. On British machines it also appeared away from the undersides: propeller spinners and a band around the rear fuselage were done in it, that is, elements meant to make recognition of a friendly aircraft easier. On a model the color therefore usually does not stay on the belly alone, and it is worth reckoning with it for small but conspicuous details too.

Typical use

• the undersides of British aircraft of the Second World War period
• recognition bands and propeller spinners
• light areas where a pure gray would look cold
• a counterpart to the dark shades of British camouflage

Who the color is for

It will be reached for by modelers of British aircraft who want the whole scheme from one acrylic range, and by those looking for a specific light tone with a green cast of a kind that cannot be mixed from ordinary grays.

Keep it well closed and out of the reach of children, and ensure ventilation when working in an enclosed space.