underside color He-111?

[peter havriluk]

I'm assembling an older Italeri He-111, and the painting notes say the underside wants to be 'light gull gray' which I'll need to buy.   My Tamiya paint search tells me that the suggested  color ls close to RAF 'medium sea gray', which I have.  I also have Tamya 'USAF light gray', considerably lighter than the other two, and Tamiya light gray primer. 

 

Any idea which of these shades of gray approximates what the Luftwaffe was using?

 

Or is Italeri mistaken and 'hellblau' is what I want (and have)?

 

Thanks!

Edited July 26, 2022 by peter havriluk
more text

[Dave Williams]

To be honest, any sort of gray is incorrect.  Normal underside color was RLM 65 Hellblau with RLM 70/71 upper surfaces.

[peter havriluk]

Kinda' what I expected.  No problem at all.  Thanks!

[Steve N]

I'm not sure where they're getting gray.  AFAK, all HE 111s (except the pre-war ones) left the factory with the undersides painted RLM 65.  I very light blue with a slight greenish cast.

 

SN

[peter havriluk]

Thanks, folks.

 

I concur.  My skepticism led to my question.  I've never heard of any kind of gray being associated with splinter green camouflage on the upper surfaces. 

Edited July 31, 2022 by peter havriluk
thanks

[ElectroSoldier]

Yeah Italeri always had a suspect idea of colours.
I seem to remember their Mi-24D instructions tell you to use FS ghost grey on the lower surfaces...