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RCAF post war numbers & letters - where to buy?


Rabbit Leader

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Greetings all, especially our Canadian members, 

 

Just coming to the tail end of a very enjoyable Canadian Skiing holiday (.. and by the way, I make a better modeller!!) and have taken a renewed interest in the RCAF. 

 

I reliase that there are some great local decal manufacturers such as Leading Edge, Cannuck and Aviology however I cannot seem to find any generic post war numbers and letter decal sets in similar vein to RAF Modeldecal and Xtradacel sheets. 

Can anyone point me in a direction where I can find some suitable serials for specifically 1/72 models? 

 

Any advise would be greatfully appreciated. 

 

Cheers... Dave (who looks more like a local Brown Bear rather than the suave Mr. Shaw as dipicted in my avatar!)

 

** Also - may I place a little shout out for anyone who has some spare Airfix RCAF Chipmunk decals (still usable of course!)

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Dave, both Belcher Bits and Mike Grant Decals do specific sets for some Canuckian airyplanes, but I don't recall ever seeing anything such as you want. Maybe a quick email to both of these gents will bear fruit, they may be able/willing/waiting for a demand such as yours!

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Flight Colours/Sabre Decal used to make sheets of early RCAF era numbers and modern post-unification letters & numbers(there is a difference)  

 

They sometimes pop up on Ebay.  Arrow Graphics is another OOP supplier of letters/numbers

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SABRE-DECALS-1-72-NUMBERS-RCAF-CAF-NEW-STYLE-/331889773342?hash=item4d462c0b1e:g:xpUAAOSwOVpXbH4p

 

in 1/48;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-72-arrow-graphics-rcaf-caf-48-and-30-inch-numbers-new-style-/272460190986?hash=item3f6fe4950a:g:BgIAAOSw-CpYBVcM

 

Cheers, Tony

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Thanks Rob and Tony.. I've purchased that numbers set on eBay (cannot hurt at that price!). 

 

Tony - excuse my ignorance however can you shed some more light on the early vs. late style fonts? 

Is it as easy as saying that these are either pre (early) or post (late) the 1968 forces unification?? 

 

Cheers and many thanks for the tips and links.... Dave 

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None of my references point to an exact date, but it seems the 'new' font started in the early 60's but can be still seen as late as '69 on some 104s.   Definitely not tied to the unification of our forces

 

Photos are the only way to determine the correct style i'm afraid.

 

Cheers, Tony

 

ps;  easy to tell the difference , note the roundness of the 3, 6 and 9 and the notch in the 1 of the old script     I have scans if you need.

Edited by Tony Edmundson
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I truly appreciate everyone's quick assistance with this. If you both don't mind I'll send you both my email address as one version may end up more compatible with my devices - who knows!! 

 

Cheers.. and thanks for extending the generous Canadian hospitality that has been so consistent during our short stay. 

 

Dave. 

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Whistler B.C to be exact.. 

 

My wife vistied Canada a number of years ago and has always said that I'd love Vancouver and the nearby ski resorts. 

Like most things in life - she was right. My two children have grown up enjoying beachside holidays and they also had a wish to see and play in the snow for the first time in their lives. They certainly got their wish as soon as we cabbed it from Vancouver Airport to our downtown hotel. 

 

I normally like to take in a little aviation deviation when I travel oversees, however it was a little difficult this time round - but there will certainly be a second time. It would be nice however, if the temp rose above zero degrees every once in a while though - it's been freezing!! 

 

I shouldn't complain - I'll be sweating like anything in hot and humid Brisbane in a day or so!  

 

Cheers.. Dave

 

 

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Ha! You're not all that far from me right now, as the rabbit flies :) I hope you've been enjoying that strange frozen white stuff on the ground; we normally get it in the form of rain, but perhaps because of your skiing holiday the temperatures fell low enough for it to stick around a while.

 

Next Monday the temperature is supposed to go up and our regularly scheduled rain will come back. Enjoy the sunshine while it lasts!

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Hey Jessica, 

Seeing you're a local and still up, you don't know if they sell any of that Red Canoe RCAF related apparel at YVR airport? 

I came across this at the Capilano Suspension bridge gift shop, however didn't buy anything. I thought that there would have been a shop here at Whilster that sells it, however I cannot seem to find anything but cuddly moose toys and wall to wall ski gear. 

 

I'd purchase it mail order, however USD35.00 postage to Australia for a cap and possible shirt is a bit pricey. 

 

Cheers.. Dave. 

 

 

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I can help with the Chipmunk decals if you like. Glad to see another Canadian aviation fan. I have a set of decals with letters and numbers in the unique RCAF style by Leading Edge. But its long OOP and I don't think Dave Kos at Leading Edge is doping any more sets sadly.

 

Re visiting Canada. I was there in Vancouver first week and in to the 'interior' second week. Gorgeous weather became quite hot at times for the  first two weeks of |September.

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On 2016-12-14 at 11:59 PM, Rabbit Leader said:

Hey Jessica, 

 

Seeing you're a local and still up, you don't know if they sell any of that Red Canoe RCAF related apparel at YVR airport? 

 

 

Cheers.. Dave. 

 

 

 

You will find the Red Canoe stuff at the airport.

 

Last time I was in Whistler my squadron flew Charles, William, and Harry up to the hill. We had five of our Griffons in Vancouver for the Royal Visit.

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I found a small selection at one retail shop, however not a huge range. There was quite a nice RCAF roundel T-shirt however I could only find them in size S or XXL - well I'm somewhere in between all that. 

 

Now that I'm back home in hot and humid Brisbane, the last thing that I can think about is putting on a think sweater!! 

 

Cheers.. Dave 

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