RAF Markings in Late WW2

Try using decals....either some yellow decal material of the proper shade, or spraying the appropriate shade on a sheet of clear, or white, decal material. You might have to apply two "coats" (laying one decal atop another) to prevent any of the darker under-colors from bleeding through.

I have an effective way, but it is not simple! I mask the edges off with tape. I usually use Tamiya masking tape cut into long slices less than a millimetre wide. Be aware that the yellow band was not of a uniform width along its length. I then mask the remainder of the area off with fluid. Masking fluid seems to be very expensive, so I use Copydex adhesive instead.

The masking tape is laid on areas of quite severe curvature at the leading edge, so no matter what you do, it will tend to lift slightly. Therefore, I make sure that before I spray it the first time I rub it down gently with a paintbrush handle. I then spray a sealant coat, either of the base colour or a clear varnish. If there are any leaks they will be of this colour and so hopefully will not show. After that is dry, spray a couple of mist coats of white to act as an undercoat, as most yellow paints are quite thin and transparent.

Finally, you can spray the yellow on, but do make sure that you use a lot of fine mist coats. When you are satisfied with the finish, take off the masking tape. Hopefully you will find that the yellow hasn't seeped under the tape, but you will almost certainly find a ridge of paint. I get rid of that using a Flash Mark and Stain Eraser. This is a sort of plastic abrasive block that is used for getting red wine and coffee stains off glasses and cups etc . Have a look in your local supermarket. It works great for polishing down paintwork and polishing canopies!

There you have it. Not quick, not simple, but it *is* effective.

I think that it must be a Wing marking. It doesn't seem to be anything to do with 80 Sqn itself, as their Spitfire 24s never carried it. I also don't think it is anything to do specifically with Fassberg either. Bear in mind that 80 Sqn were not based at Fassberg during 1947. They were based there between 7 May and 24 Jun 1945. In 1947 they were based at Wunstorf with detachments at Gatow, Duxford and Lubeck.

Same with Japanese A/C... in painting the yellow leading edge, you'll probably have more success if you paint the yellow *first* and mask it like Enzo says. Leave it masked and paint all the other colors.

So the sequence would be:

Prime

Shoot yellow on wings (hey, hit the propellor tips while you're at it)

Mask either with flexible tape (Tamiya should work) or use tape/liquid method that Enzo talked about

Paint all other colors, having put down the yellow first

There won't be any build-to speak of because the other colors you shoot should cover the yellow easily.

--- Tontoni

Thanks for the suggestions.

I had already applied the camouflage before posting the question so I've decided to try cutting a piece of the size and shape of the stripe out of a strip of masking tape, applying the tape to the wing and painting the exposed area. If it works, it will solve the problem of the other two camouflage painted Tempest kits waiting in half finished condition in the loft!

Gordon McLaughlin

Next time, try painting the yellow *first*... much much easier

--- T> Thanks for the suggestions.

Amen to that. In fact, if the plastic is dark, paint it primer white first. Yellow is the hardest color to paint and get good coverage.

My 2 cents.

MB

Thanks. I've done that with the yellow stripes around the wings and fuselages of trainers. I've also done it with the Sky fuselage bands on fighters but didn't think of doing it with these ones. I will next time.

Gordon McLaughlin