Wallis Rigby Swallow

**ashevilleangler** · #1 07-23-2016, 11:53 AM

I have a copy of Rigby's "Model Aircraft for Boys" published in 1935. It contains a very small set of "plans" for the Swallow which at the time was a best selling model. I have enlarged it to fit on letter size paper and since the book was B&W I recolored it to resemble the original which Mr. Rigby said was Supermarine Blue. My version is a dark blue with white trim and a red/white/blue fin flash.

Does anyone have color reference photos or perhaps even the original model that I can use for verification?

I have attached a thumbnail version of my recolor below.

Curt

**airdave** · #2 07-23-2016, 03:02 PM

Your model looks more like Royal Blue...a little too brilliant.

Supermarine Blue would refer to the Supermarine Boat/Aircraft company
and its use of particular types of blue at that time (1920s 1930s)

The photo below is an original Supermarine S.5 racer in blue and white.
probably the closest thing to what you are looking for.
How accurate the photo colour is, is another question.
You are going to find a million variations.
Even the RAF blues varied a lot.

Second photo is a replica (modern).

Do a search for "supermarine s5" and you'll see all kinds of blues!

Look at the different Insignia Blues and the Sky Blues.
Color chart - RGB and HEX values for British colors - Logtnest

**airdave** · #3 07-23-2016, 03:13 PM

A Rigby Swallow in its original box.

**bloomohio** · #4 07-23-2016, 06:44 PM

I have found in my time tunnel 2 Ingenia WW2 french models of Curtiss 75C and Brequet 690 they are on large sheets and I could make copies but would have to charge or trade. I once long ago sold them/copies at the paper model convention but were not big items as scale was !:50 too close to plastic models then on market but now would be collectable as well as buildable!

**ashevilleangler** · #5 07-23-2016, 10:34 PM

Dave, Thanks for the info! The Swallow was clearly inspired by the Supermarine S6 Schneider Trophy winner. The photo of the Swallow in the box is very interesting with the RAF roundels and the lighter blue color. For now I'm just going to build it blue and white with the tricolor fin flash. If I really wanted to do the S6 colors I would need to make both the white trim and wings silver. BTW, one of the first plastic models I built as a very youngster was the Testor's version of the S6.

Joe, Thanks for your input as well, though I'm not quite sure how the French models would help me with my original request.

Curt