Jump to content

UKPonchoMan

Members
  • Content Count

    785
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by UKPonchoMan

  1. On 10/26/2016 at 3:03 AM, ikar said:

     

    It sound good.  It's a shame you can't make those stripes reflective for the yellow ground equipment.

     

    Are you doing the complete set of vehicle markings?  This would not only include the door markings but rear license plates.  Normal vehicles used a code that started with the last two numbers of the vehicle's year, such as 70.  Then came the class, which was usually a "B", then its serial number, usually 3-4 numbers.  Large fire vehicles probably had a higher letter, maybe a "L" or more.  In the A.F. police combat vehicles normally carried a "K" code.  This went on something as small as a M-151 to armored vehicles.  Above this code were the U.S. Air Force and under it "For Official Use Only"  If the vehicle was blue, the type was yellow, if green, it was black.  The license plates were simplified, the name of the base and then USAF.

     

    scan0231.jpg

    scan0054-1.jpg

     

     

     

     

    Hi Bob,

     

    We did look at this, but there's no practical way of doing it in 1/72 - the decals are just too small. And when you look at pictures of the real thing they appear pretty dull - the white especially...

     

    As regards "full" vehicle markings, I did look into doing number plates for the P-19 but they were so small they would have been pretty much unreadable! We have considered a set with door markings - these would be just about readable in 1/72 so it's certainly an option - the main issue being that it would have to be vehicle specific as they'd be too small to allow the modeller to make up their own numbers! Something to look into though - maybe in yellow (for security vehicles) and black (for green vehicles) ?

     

    Chris

    USAFline

  2. Hi all, 

    For those of you with an interest, we (at USAFline) have just released our Vietnam 12' revetments in t/48 to complement the existing 1/72 set - see https://www.usafline.com/index.php/products-by-scale/1-48/view/productdetails/virtuemart_product_id/6/virtuemart_category_id/4. 

    We will hopefully have 1/144 versions out soon - we have them in stock but I haven't had chance to prepare instructions as yet... 

    Finally, we will be releasing a decal sheet to aid marking 1/72 USAF vehicles and AGE - it provides tape strips in black and white. 

    Chris 
    USAFline - www.usafline.com

  3. I suspect the best way to get that effect would be to lay over a white decal underneath... There are so many individual variations that making a sheet to cover them would have to be almost subject specific... I will probably do an 18" white sheet at some point, although the next sheet(s) will be 24", potentially both 1/72 and 1/48 if I can get my act together!!

  4. Nice sheet! I can build specific aircraft.

    I am looking for 48 scale sheey.

    Do you have plan for shadowed letter for boss birds?

    Hi Nat,

    I don't plan to produce shadowed letters, mainly because there seems to be very little consistency from one scheme to another. However, I will probably get around to doing a white and black sheet at some point, so it will be possible to layer decals to get the effect you are looking for.

    48th is also a possibility, although it depends on sales of this sheet, since each sheet has to fund the next one!

    Chris

  5. Very nice! You just made my day! I can now finish my stalled project, when I messed up the tail code. Already bought a sheet on Ebay.

    Although you have provided different styles of 2s and 5s on your sheet, there is only one style of 7s on the sheet. Compare the 7s of your sheet to the 7 shown in the T.O. excerpt. I have a load of F-16 pictures that have exactly that style of the seven but 12" high.

    I can live with it by using parts of unused numbers to get that seven as on the jet, but maybe keep that in mind for the next issues.

    Hi Dennis,

    Well - it's a learning experience for me! I'll add this to the list of things for sheet no2!!

    Chris

  6. The difference works out to be about 0.25mm (0.01 in) in 1/72 scale! I'll certainly bear it in mind if the sheet comes up for a reprint though. 1/48th and 1/32nd would be a different matter...

    It is interesting - espcially considering how often the wing/squadron/maintenance unit markings replace the serial numbers anyway!! Mind you, reality often seems to deviate from TO 1-1-4!!

  7. I know that feeling - what's even worse is when you do take something from another sheet...but it doesn't quite fit!!

    The plan is that each sheet will be designed for its subject - so if I do an 18" black sheet, it will have to cover everything from Vietnam onwards. Slightly more of a challenge than this sheet but hey, someone has to :)

  8. Jennings - have to admit I wasn't aware of that - I've used standard sizing. Having said that, it's not really noticeable in 1/72 although it is something I'll have to look at for 1/48 and larger.

    It does make you wonder why the US military bother to have standards since they spend most of their time ignoring them!!

  9. Hi guys,

    U.S. National Insignia is certainly something to consider - both in black and greys. I have to admit I'd not thought about it (mainly because it's taken a year to get this first sheet out!!) but there's no reason why not...

    As for scale, I've started with 1/72 being UK based, but 1/48 is entirely possible. I have some ideas as to the next sheet (which will also be 1/72) but past that I'm certainly open to ideas.

    It does amaze me that nobody has done this before (excepting Repliscale 20 odd years ago!) ...

    Chris

  10. Hi all,

    Shameless plug...

    Back in the 1990s, Repliscale released a set of sheets with generic markings in 1/72 and 1/48 for USAF aircraft. These were really useful but a bit iffy in size, and have not been available for some time.

    Whilst there are a huge variety of decal sheets available nowadays, nobody has released generic sheets for USAF/ANG aircraft covering the obvious areas.

    I would therefore like to introduce USAFline - a new venture which will, over time, aim to provide tail code and serial number markings in black, white and grey.

    The first sheet is now available - USAFline 72-001 provides 18" markings in Gunship Grey (FS36118) mainly designed for the F-16. I have tried to provide as much content on the sheet as possible (slightly larger than A5) and include a complete set of tail code letters (18"), serial numbers (12"), year designators (from 1978-2009 although most of the early F-16s were out of service by the time tail codes switched from black to grey) and a set of wing/squadron/unit designators (e.g. FWW, FS, FW etc) as well as command designators (AFRES, AFRC and ANG).

    The sheet is currently available via eBay (just search for 'USAFline') or direct (email "info@usafline.com").

    USAFline_72_001_Instructions_1-419-800-1200-80-rd-255-255-255.jpg

    USAFline_72_001_Instructions_1-419-800-1200-80-rd-255-255-255.jpg

    USAFline_01_Master_3.2-421-800-1200-80-rd-255-255-255.jpg

  11. You're right - I stand corrected! I'm going to blame this on the fact that it's been a LONG working day!

    It is interesting how the rules changed but it took such a long time for everything to move from buzz numbers to tail codes - your RF-4C is a great example

  12. To clarify... The "Buzz Number" system was actually an adaptation of the British system.

    It was first adopted in October 1945 through a revision of TO 07-1-1B (Aircraft Camouflage, Markings and Insignia) - unfortunately I don't have a copy of this

    In 1956 this was amended to be TO 1-1-636 and in 1964 it was revised to be TO 1-1-4.

    There was a revision of 07-1-1B in 1948 which removed the buzz number from under the wing and replaced it by "USAF".

    As regards sizes, the only thing I've found is a reference that states a minimum size of 8"x12" and a maximum of 32"x48"

  13. Chris, you should read Ben's post.

    There wasn't "only one" TO 1-1-4. There were many of them over the years, each with a date of effectiveness on them.

    I'd say that Ben has a release that is earlier than your's.

    The same thing happens in the Navair specs, too, they had different names at different times, and different dates on the ones that the names matched on,,,,,,,sometimes they had the same name, the same number, and a different suffix letter for each newer release.

    Rex - I'm well aware of that. You may notice from my sig that I'm the webmaster and owner of the USAF SIG site :) The "buzz number" system pre-dates TO 1-1-4 which did not come into being until around 1964 (from memory).

  14. Jeffrey - buzz numbers are not covered in TO 1-1-4 as they were far earlier.

    There is a good book on the subject - "Buzz Numbers" by Peter Bowers which is a great reference.

    I can have a look when I get home later in the week if that would help?

    Chris

×
×
  • Create New...