HUDSON COWLING EMBELLISHMENTS

Basic Black

Photo by Ed Coates

When Hudsons first entered service with Adastra in 1951, the aircraft wore basic black "scallops" on the engine cowlings. These markings were worn by VH-AGG, VH-AGO, VH-AGS and VH-AGX. Note that the black markings did not continue over the carburettor air intake. Illustrated is VH-AGX at Mascot in 1955. A recently discovered (Feb 2003) and extremely rare colour photograph of VH-AGS in the Grey Scheme indicates that the black scallops were outlined in red. Having established this from a colour photo, it would appear that this feature is present in the above black and white image also.

Exotic Embellishments

Photo by Kevin Pavlich
(This image is linked to a larger version)

By 1959/60, Adastra's two remaining Hudsons, VH-AGS and VH-AGX, were wearing the Green Scheme and the cowling markings were embellished in typical Lockheed fashion. The above image shows VH-AGS and VH-AGX sporting their embellished cowls at Essendon, Melbourne in February of 1962. Although similar, there were variations to these markings as follows:

VH-AGX Photos A, B & C by Kevin Pavlich Photo D by John Hopton Photo A: This image, taken in June/July 1959, shows the inboard side of the port engine on VH-AGX. Note that the leading edge of the cowl is red. Note also that the black outlining on the rear faces of the diamond extends forwards to the panel line of the cowling "ring". (This image has been deliberately washed out to reveal this feature).This photo also shows, as does Photo C, that these markings were mirrored on the inboard sides of the cowls. Photo B: By November 1959, the leading edge of the cowl has been painted black. Note that the carburettor air intake remains red and white. Photo C: This image, taken in August 1961, shows the inboard side of the starboard engine on VH-AGX. This clearly shows that the carburettor air intake remained red and white. It also shows, as does Photo A, that these markings were mirrored on the inboard sides of the cowls. Photo D: By December 1962, the carburettor air intake (on the starboard side at least!) has lost its red and white markings. The cowl markings are otherwise the same as in Photo B.

Basic Black Revisited

Photos by Ron Cuskelly

By 1964, the scallops and the embellishments were gone and all cowls were painted with a simple black leading edge. This continued for the remaining years of the Green Scheme and throughout the years of the Orange Scheme (Image C). The only Pratt & Whitney powered Hudson to carry the Green Scheme (VH-AGE) carried these black leading edges from the outset until its tragic demise in 1966 (Image B).

Photo A: In this 1966 view of VH-AGX (immediately prior to an engine change!) the black markings do not continue over the carburettor air intake although both VH-AGX and VH-AGS were noted with and without this variation at different times, or indeed simultaneously, as was noted on VH-AGX.

Photo B: In this 1965 view of VH-AGE in the Green Scheme, the black markings cover the full circumference of the leading edge of the Pratt & Whitney cowling.

Photo C: In this 1970 view of VH-AGJ in the Orange Scheme, the black markings cover the full circumference of the leading edge of the Pratt & Whitney cowling.