kekelekou Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 Hello everyone ! One of the stack kits at home being the 1/72 Mach 2 B-45, I am gathering data to model the RB-45C used by the brave RAF crews to overfly Moscow in 1952 (while their USAF friends were having a beer at the mess J). Then I need Type D roundel decals to do so. I am considering buying a sheet from Xtradecals, but my problem is that I am not sure that the roundel sizes on the sheet (84", 66", 54", 48", 36" and 30") correspond to the ones sported by the RB-45C. I have tried to measure them on the pictures and extrapolate their diameters, but I have ended up with pretty peculiar dimensions (77” and so on). My maths might be wrong… So I need a little help from you RAF experts. In 1952, did RAF regulations enforce only certain specific roundel size, or was the diameter adaptable to each plane? If specific sizes existed, on which criteria was the size chosen : type dependent (eg for wings : 100” for heavies, 54” for jet fighters, 30” for light planes)? what looked best? The largest one possible? Thank you very much for your help on this topic! Best regards, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I suspect that the sizes on the RB-45C were non-standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selwyn Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 I suspect that the sizes on the RB-45C were non-standard. I agree. These were US aircraft based at Sculthorpe, a US base, and probably painted by US Personnel. The Roundels were probably not painted to any RAF standards and most likely painted in US equivalent paints. Selwyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzn20 Posted February 3, 2015 Share Posted February 3, 2015 (edited) One of my dads friends from his RAF Lindholm Lincoln days was a Flt Eng. on these R45s................My dad didn't find out until a Channel 4 programme blew the lid. He phoned him straight away and asked him about it. He said how did you find that out? There is a TV programme all about it,its on now. I can't tell you anything,its still secret! He got an AFC or AFM but we're not sure if he got it for that or being the only one that survived a RAF B-29 Washington crash landing at Marham (I think) He was in a rear facing Flt. Eng. seat, it broke free and he was still strapped to it on the Runway. There is a well known Photo of these 45s lined up at Skulthorpe,the crews lined up in the foreground and a Lincoln in the background,he's on that. I can't ask him anything as he's in a bad way at the moment with Altzheimers.Horrible thing to see.He was also the VC-10 Flt Eng on that BOAC advert in the 60's on youtube. Edited February 3, 2015 by bzn20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kekelekou Posted February 4, 2015 Author Share Posted February 4, 2015 Thank you all! So I guess I might enjoy a little of artistic licence regarding roundel size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marty_hopkirk Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 One of my dads friends from his RAF Lindholm Lincoln days was a Flt Eng. on these R45s................My dad didn't find out until a Channel 4 programme blew the lid. He phoned him straight away and asked him about it. He said how did you find that out? There is a TV programme all about it,its on now. I can't tell you anything,its still secret! He got an AFC or AFM but we're not sure if he got it for that or being the only one that survived a RAF B-29 Washington crash landing at Marham (I think) He was in a rear facing Flt. Eng. seat, it broke free and he was still strapped to it on the Runway. There is a well known Photo of these 45s lined up at Skulthorpe,the crews lined up in the foreground and a Lincoln in the background,he's on that. I can't ask him anything as he's in a bad way at the moment with Altzheimers.Horrible thing to see.He was also the VC-10 Flt Eng on that BOAC advert in the 60's on youtube. The programme is "Timewatch: Spies in the Skies" and originally aired on BBC 2 in 1994 - an edited version has done the rounds on cable TV through the years. Not sure the crews were overflying Moscow, they were looking for far more sensitive sites. Marty... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bzn20 Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) Thanks Marty I wrongly thought Timewatch was C4. I don't know where he went, he wouldn't tell,just said what was on the TV and no more! Edited February 8, 2015 by bzn20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marty_hopkirk Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) I had similiar issue BBC Radio 4 researcher contacted me with respect to interviewing my late father about what part he played in Cuban Missile Crisis (he was Chiefy of 617 at the time). But, he was far too ill at the time - I'm not sure what he would have told them as he was always very tight lipped had he said had he been fit enough to speak, possibly mindful of the OSA. It is pretty clear from what the researcher told me in conversations with him, that the Squadron ORBs from the time had been santised Marty... Edited February 8, 2015 by marty_hopkirk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marty_hopkirk Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 (edited) The irony of this, the British Government is still in denial about the RB-45 and Canberra overflies of Soviet territory - whilst the Russians will give one the serial Nos of the aeroplanes involved and the US administration will do the same. Marty... Edited February 8, 2015 by marty_hopkirk 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bentwaters81tfw Posted February 8, 2015 Share Posted February 8, 2015 This will give you an idea of what you have in store. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234955179-mach-2-b-45-172-scale-picture-heavy/?hl=%2Bmach+%2Bb-45 http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234959587-north-american-b-45-tornado-mach2-172/?hl=%2Bmach+%2Bb-45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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