RAF Coastal Command B-17 Lettering / Codes and Roundels

[Magua87]

Evening, all. 

 

I've got an Academy B-17E on the go, which will be built as FK186. Two images linked below. 

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205210450

http://zoom.iwm.org.uk/view/7513&cat=photographs&oid=object-205018261

 

I've been looking at the availability of decals for a Coastal Command Fortress, and I've got choices between Xtradecal and Kitsworld. What those sheets don't have are the lettering I need; the 8 inch serial, the large J on the fuselage (36"?) and the S up front (size unknown?). 

 

I haven't seen any recent threads on Coastal Command codes / serials, but it seems we have slim pickings? I understand the colour of the codes / serials should be light slate grey, but it seems the closest we have is either dark grey or medium sea grey. And even then, no 8 inch serials available at all in those colours. 

 

Dark.

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AOD72C02

 

Medium sea.

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/X72145

 

Two questions. 

Are there any sheets in dark slate grey that I've overlooked? 

Any idea on the size of the "S" on the nose of my chosen aircraft? 

[Graham Boak]

Ventura had a sheet of light grey serials for RAAF fighters, it may still be available from Red Roo?  I don't recall which grey was intended.

 

For the size of the S on the nose, I suggest taking the kit nose and try marking it out in pencil until it looks to be the same size as in the photo.

[Dave Swindell]

If you can find them, Modeldecal did these:-

Set 111 8in serials, 36in codes, 48in numbers

Set 112 48in letters

Set 11318, 24 & 30in codes

[Ed Russell]

41 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

Ventura had a sheet of light grey serials for RAAF fighters, it may still be available from Red Roo? 

We don't have much of a Ventura range but their own site seems to have a good assortment. For instance

http://www.venturapublications.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=187

 

[Seahawk]

54 minutes ago, Graham Boak said:

Ventura had a sheet of light grey serials for RAAF fighters, it may still be available from Red Roo?  I don't recall which grey was intended.

Or even Hannants:

 

https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/VA7253

 

Think the grey intended is Medium Sea Grey though.  Can't think of a source for Light Slate Grey codes and serials other than the old Modeldecal sheets: sorry.

[rossm]

I have a sheet of Light Slate Grey codes and serials I got from an outfit called Flying High (I think) many years ago. I can send you a couple of J's in 48" which is the usual large aircraft size and FK186 in 8" if you PM me your address.

 

A technique I have used where I can't get the right colour decals could be used for the S - if you can find something similar in a different colour cut closely round it and then paint it the correct shade and apply as a decal in the normal manner. Or scan it, change the colour in a photoediting or graphics package and print onto decal paper. I can't give you RGB values for Light Slate Grey but Medium Sea Grey is given as 137, 145, 148 here https://www.e-paint.co.uk/Lab_values.asp

 

Edit - A quick Google reveals Light Slate Grey values here https://www.colorhexa.com/778899