Martin RB-57E 'Patricia Lynn'

[Ghostbase]

A question regards painting the Martin RB-57E 'Patricia Lynn' version of the Airfix 1/48th scale kit.

One of the three kit colour options is for the Martin RB-57E 'Patricia Lynn' which was operated by the 6250th Combat Support Group, 2nd Air Division out of Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam, in 1963. The serial number of the aircraft is 55-4243.

Would this aircraft have been in natural metal finish or was it painted in some sort of aluminium lacquer (much like the F-105D Thuds of the same era)?

There is a large photo of 55-4243 in Robert C Mikesh's excellent book 'B-57 Canberra At War 1964-1972' and looking at it I think it was an NMF finish but if so it was a very subdued finish compared to the contemporary RB-57F model for example. This was presumably due to the rigours of the Vietnamese climate?

Can anyone confirm this? I would like to give this version of the B-57 a try ;)

Thanks

Michael

[thatguy96]

Not sure what their color was initially, but the RB-57Es operated as part of "Patricia Lynn" were eventually painted overall black with red lettering. There are 3 pictures here, including ones of 4245 and 4264.

Edited October 20, 2010 by thatguy96

[gmat]

The first RB-57Es, which had originally been scheduled to go to the 6091st RS in Japan but were diverted to SVN, were painted overall aluminum acrylic, like the KC-135s and F-105s. One later showed up in Japan in that scheme.

Best wishes,

Grant

[Andre]

Not sure what their color was initially, but the RB-57Es operated as part of "Patricia Lynn" were eventually painted overall black with red lettering.

And even later a quite sinister matt black overall with minimal markings, which weathered badly in the SEA conditions - there's a great pic in the Mikesh book.

HTH,

Andre

[Ghostbase]

Thanks for the help

Clearly a lot of possible schemes to choose from, surprising considering just how few of these aircraft there were.

Michael

[Norm DUbay]

A question regards painting the Martin RB-57E 'Patricia Lynn' version of the Airfix 1/48th scale kit.

One of the three kit colour options is for the Martin RB-57E 'Patricia Lynn' which was operated by the 6250th Combat Support Group, 2nd Air Division out of Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam, in 1963. The serial number of the aircraft is 55-4243.

Would this aircraft have been in natural metal finish or was it painted in some sort of aluminium lacquer (much like the F-105D Thuds of the same era)?

There is a large photo of 55-4243 in Robert C Mikesh's excellent book 'B-57 Canberra At War 1964-1972' and looking at it I think it was an NMF finish but if so it was a very subdued finish compared to the contemporary RB-57F model for example. This was presumably due to the rigours of the Vietnamese climate?

Can anyone confirm this? I would like to give this version of the B-57 a try

Thanks

Michael

Hi Michael, The RB-57E were paint aluminium lacquer when they went to Vietnam. The panels did weather at different rates as weathering set in. The first two aircraft to arrive in Vietnam were serial #s 243 and 245. Later on serial #'s 237 and 249 were added. All of these planes were painted this way. In early 1965 serial #'s 243 and 245 were painted flat black and were marked like the silver planes but with red lettering. Serial # 264 arrived in Vietnam with this scheme as well. Towards the end of 1966 the planes were starting to receive the all black scheme with just red serial numbers on the tail. In late 1969 or early 1970 the red serial numbers were gone and went to the larger white serial numbers seen on most u.s. air force planes wearing the SEA camo.