bobmig Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 Hi, everyone! I'm considering including a BOAC C-47 on a sheet of Berlin Airlift C-47s decals that I'm currently working on. Based on the photos I've been able to find, this is what I've come up with. The only external mod I can see is the addition of a window on the rear door. I thought I'd run the markings by the group as I'm certainly no expert on this kind of subject. Please have a look-see and let me know if I've missed anything. Thanks. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 The one set of Berlin Air Lift decals I'm looking for is a sheet to go onto one of the Halifax tankers, particularly a Lancashire Aircraft Corporation example. A photo is lacking, but as far as I know the markings were the same as those on the cargo examples. However, I don't see this as a very likely example for you to pick, having limited sales value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Work In Progress Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 Can''t help directly I'm afraid, but I very much like the idea of a Berlin Airlift sheet or two. As well as C-47s you could do the newly kitted C-54 and coal-carrying Sunderland as well as Halifax and Lancaster derivatives. Other novelties readily available in a/72 kit form could include the French-operated JU.52/3m, PBY and B-24 (though I don't know which version). The list of types operated is weird and wonderful. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Blockade#Aircraft_used_in_the_Berlin_Airlift Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 The one set of Berlin Air Lift decals I'm looking for is a sheet to go onto one of the Halifax tankers, particularly a Lancashire Aircraft Corporation example. A photo is lacking, but as far as I know the markings were the same as those on the cargo examples. However, I don't see this as a very likely example for you to pick, having limited sales value. I disagree, I'd like to see it in 1/72 and 1/48. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Ramsden Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 Are you sure about the colour of the "Speedbird" emblem and the registrations? They appear to be black on your sheet. I don't have an answer but I have a feeling I've read somewhere that these are dark blue and blue was a house colour for BOAC in later years, and for Imperial Airways pre-war. Of course, the way to find out is to print the decals and within days somebody will come up with a colour photo showing that they are wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted February 2, 2016 Share Posted February 2, 2016 I was going to say the same, if you look at pics the registrations don't look black 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmig Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 Thanks everyone for the input. This is exactly why I wanted to ask a more knowledgable group than myself. In the meantime I've done a bit more rooting around online. There don't seem to be any colour photos of BOAC C-47s around. The only somewhat contemporaneous BOAC aircraft I found colour photos of were a Solent and an Empire flying boat. Both had a black 'speedbird' and black registrations. But on the other hand, I found some BOAC advertising which had the 'speedbird' in blue! It was recommended that I contact the Britiah Airways heritage centre, so I'll now run it by them and see if they have anything definitive to add. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMB Posted February 13, 2016 Share Posted February 13, 2016 I would certainly agree with Dave and Ivor in that all the BOAC lettering, logo and registration letters were dark (Navy) blue. I have b/w photos of their DC-3s and Constellations from this period and the tones certainly don't look black, but the same blue as in the Union Jack flag on the tail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobmig Posted February 13, 2016 Author Share Posted February 13, 2016 An update: Again, thanks to everyone. I heard back from Adrian Constable at the BA Heritage Centre (turns out we knew each other from many years ago!), and he was very helpful. He supplied some drawings and we exchanged thoughts on this over a number of long emails. The conclusion is that the Speedbird logo is most likely the colour they called "Corporation Blue". The exact colour spec is lost in the mists of time, but it's probably akin to the flag blue. The registration could be blue... could be black. The vagaries of the lighting make it difficult to be precise. I'll try to examine more C-47 photos. But, I did find that you can't really be dogmatic about the early post-war/ex-military aircraft, as they received a rather "quick & dirty" refinishing as opposed to those aircraft that were factory-finished. Here are the two flying boats. The registrations are definitely black, and while more difficult to say for sure, the logos MAY be black. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now