maxidad66

Thanks for your responses, gents.

Yes the defence of Malta and the role of the Gladiators in particular seems to have attained an almost mythical status. It's a very stirring episode in British military history.

My main concern was the colour scheme, as I said. It makes sense that if the undersides are black and white, then the colours would meet in the middle. But this was not clear (or even apparent) from the photographic evidence I saw. (What site was that great photo on, Greg?).

I will also paint the white, off-white (tinged with grey), as per Barry's advice.

As I have never done biplane before, I am cannot quite image how that would weather. Would it be dirtier along the ribs, and hence darker? Or would it be more worn/bleached along the ribs and hence paler?