Oleg, here's some printed examples of what I was talking about regarding the 'shadow compensating scheme' on biplanes:
First example is from
CAMOUFLAGE AND MARKINGS No.2: The Battle for Britain - RAF May to December 1940 ISBN 0-9539040-0-8
Note that this version also takes into account the shadows on the fin and lower fuselage, something never compensated for on monoplanes, and wasn't as popular as just changing the colours on the lower wing.
Next is from
BRITAIN ALONE June 1940 to December 1941 ISBN 1-904643-06-X
Again, lower wing finished in lighter versions of the top surface camo colours.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikkOwl
I find it very unlikely that any colors would accomplish much between upward facing clear sky and surface facing, even less that it would make the upper and lower meld together. The sky is REAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLY bright, and the whole upper hemisphere illuminates the upper surfaces. It only helps a little bit. Works better with camuflage painted on faces..  |
It is important to note that the Temperate Land scheme used by the RAF from the Munich Crisis until after the BoB was not intended to help the aircraft blend in while in flight - it was purely a defensive paint scheme to make aircraft less visible while parked around the airfields during refuelling, etc. It wasn't until 1941 and the adoption of the grey/green Day Fighter scheme that the camo was meant to make aircraft less visible during
flying operations.