discussion Code letter and serials rafwwii

[Ian M]

Could some kind soul please remind me of the typical sizes for RAF code letter/numbers and serials.

I feel that I need to ordre a selection, and would prefer to ordre them in the appropriate sizes.

Alternativly if the is someone that can advise an appropriate type face / font for the period.

(and I know that they did not have fonts then. but they must of had some form of description for the type of letters).

Ian M

 

[Guest]

Bomber codes were initially medium sea grey, then, from July 1942, dull red 48" high, 24" wide, with 6" brushstrokes; some medium-sized a/c came down to 36", 18" & 4". Fighters were, generally, Sky 24", 12" & 3", though Spitfires were allowed to be 20" tall, to fit into the available space, with the hood open, without encroaching onto the wingroot. Serials were generally 8", 5" & 1", red on bombers, black on fighters, though FAA were generally 4", 2.5" & 5/8", with P.R.U. the same, but in white. The design of the code letters was generally left to the Squadron, provided they obeyed the general rule regarding size. Serials could differ, since some companies employed signwriters and/or stencils, so there's no hard-and-fast rule regarding style, either.

Edgar

 

[Ian M]

Thank you Edgar for a very good reply. I was actually reading one of your posts earier on another forum (gasp).

Some thing about using Letraset as spray maskes. Would you care to elaborate on that one. It sounds fun. And a damn site easier than cuting masks with friskit or tape!!!

Cheers

Ian M

 

[Guest]

There's a touch of Mrs. Beeton (First, catch your hare) about it, since finding the correct size, and shape, of letter isn't easy. Obviously, in 1/48 scale, 48" scales down to 1", but we've gone metric, so try finding 25.4mm letters.

The system is to paint the area of the letters in its required colour, but it must be in matt paint. A lot of pressure-sensitive letters can be slightly pre-loosened, by burnishing them against the backing paper, which will help. The technique is really quite simple:-

1/. Burnish the letters into place, but lightly, using just enough pressure to hold them against the paint.

2/. Spray the camouflage colours, and leave them to dry thoroughly.

3/. Using thin strips of Sellotape, pull the letters away, leaving the underlying paint showing through. Try to keep the tape off the camouflage colours (just in case.)

The reason for using matt paint is that the letters will be less inclined to stick fast, and refuse to come off.

That's it, really.

Edgar