Camouflage patterns?

[deviant]

So last weekend I was at a loose end when I had a sudden urge to recreate my younger years and build an Airfix kit.

I picked up a Lancaster and the required paints, glue and the like. I'm at the painting stage and last night I got to wondering about camouflage patterns.

Are they completely random or does every aircraft have the exact same pattern? How are they designed?

For some reason I had an image of a factory full of Lancasters with people climbing all over them with buckets of paint just putting randome patches of green and brown everywhere..

[deviant]

Thanks for the informative replies guys.

Thats an interesting pic Eric...The model I have shows the exact same pattern as the BBMF Lancaster.

I did all the black first using masking tape down the sides of the aircraft to get a straight line. Its not looking to bad even if I do say so myself!

[deviant]

Its an Airfix 1/72 with the options of:

Avro Lancaster B.X
No 419 Squardron Royal Canadian Air Force based at Middleton-St-George 1945.
The letters on the side are VRR.

Or

Avro Lancaster B.III
G for George, No 420 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force as preserved at the Australian war memorial in Canberra.
Lettering is ARG

I have had a look around and there is not a great range of models available off the shelf here and they certainly seem to be priced a lot higher than I remember them....this kit was AU$76 so about 40-45 pounds I think. Is that compareable to UK prices? Might have to see about getting my parents to send them over if they are cheaper there.

I was hoping I would spot something a bit different like the B1 special. Either that or a D-Day special Spitfire or C47. Thanks for the heads up on the other brands, this kit I have is looking good but is a little basic in some of the finer details.

This is the kit:



Actually in searching for that picture I have found a local hobby shop that looks like it has a better range of kits so I might go and have a brows tomorrow.

How many kits have you built Eric? I can see this becoming a bit addictive again but I wouldnt know where to put them all! I have found this kit a great way to unwind after work.

[deviant]

Thanks for the info guys.

Eric did you do the camo on those with an airbrush?

[deviant]

I think I will have a look at airbrush kits. I have found that the paint on the Lanc looks a bit 'thick' which has the effect of making the camo pattern look a little childish if you understand? I think I have done a neat enough job but its kid of obvious that its hand painted and not by someone of the same scale as the kit...kind of hard to explain