@nickn - I love stirring the pot - that's how you get good gumbo. 🙂

Great 190, Tom. I agree that 02 was probably used as an exterior color a lot later then 1940. Simply because it was available. I’ve always thought that mixes of available paints were likely for some of those schemes too. I doubt the Soviets left much paint laying around when they retreated and moved factories east.

Using RLM O2 as a camouflage colour is a fact, dating back to the early war schemes in fighters as everyone knows, and it was also used as part of factory applied mottling for the single and twin engined fighters up to 43, maybe 44.

So using it at a field level painting makes perfect sense.

However I also believe that “older” RLM 63 was also a very strong candidate for those B&W photos of russian front machines using an apparent two green segmentation camo. Several photos clearly show a much lighter shade than expected from O2 or 71 as often described in the photos captations.

Finally getting around to some photography of the model completed.

I think this scheme grows on one with the markings on. It's definitely a better air-to-air scheme.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

A great scheme indeed, Tom @tcinla
It will definitely draw attention amongst all you other great builds.