RAF Aircraft Panel Marking Font

[JSF-TC]

Can anyone identify the font used for the external markings (detail panel markings, not the large serial numbers) on RAF aircraft of the 1970's/ 1980's, particularly for the Buccaneer with the wrap-around grey/ green scheme?

 

 

 

Here's an example of what I'm trying to re-create.

 

https://cdnw.nickpic.host/r7oWUm.jpg

 

 

Many thanks

 

Paul

[Antti_K]

Hello Paul,

 

The letters look a lot like Century Gothic or better still Grotesque but the numbers don't match at all. Probably someone here has the exact answer.

 

Cheers,

Antti

[JSF-TC]

Antti,

 

Thanks.

 

Looking at some additional close-up photos, they now appear to be a true stencil type font.

 

http://www.grubbyfingersshop.com/walkaround_galleries/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B Walkaround XV361 RAF UAS 2017/content/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B XV361 RAF UAS 2017 094 GraemeMolineux_large.html

 

http://www.grubbyfingersshop.com/walkaround_galleries/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B Walkaround XV361 RAF UAS 2017/content/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B XV361 RAF UAS 2017 097 GraemeMolineux_large.html

 

http://www.grubbyfingersshop.com/walkaround_galleries/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B Walkaround XV361 RAF UAS 2017/content/Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer S2B XV361 RAF UAS 2017 165 GraemeMolineux_large.html

 

 

Still looking for a good approximation for this font.

 

Paul

[perdu]

At first I thought RAF PW which I normally use for such stencilling would do but it isn't quite right in this context.

 

 

Looking through the fonts installed in my PC I get the most similarity from DejaVu Sans.

 

I've browsed Grotesque with an unconvinced eye, close though if you have it available.

[perdu]

The top line is RAF PW which I usually use for text stencilling unless the call out is for broken stencilling

 

The next two lines are DejaVu Sans printed in Bold and on the lowest, upper line Century Gothic after the first GLYCOL

 

The next line is Roadgeek 2005 printed again in bold and the line of thick horrid letters is Swis721 BlkEx BT

 

My own vote would be DejaVu

 

 

 

The G form in DejaVu gives me faith in it, can I ask what scale you are looking into?

[JSF-TC]

I think I found it - Phantom Stencil. Or at least it's close enough.

 

https://www.fontsupply.com/fonts/P/Phantom Stencil.html

 

 

 

Thanks for all the inputs.

 

Paul

Edited August 29, 2022 by JSF-TC

[Ossington 2]

Back in my day (76-85) the 'painters and dopers' used a stencil machine. A table mounted thing, one fed in a sheet of wet and dry, grit side down, (always fine grit, I think coarser stuff would tear) turned a wheel to expose the wanted letter and pressed a lever. The letter would be punched out and the paper moved aside slightly ready for the next one. After one or two lines, as appropriate, it would be lightly taped in place and paint dusted on at low psi.

Are these things still about?

Something akin to this:

https://d163axztg8am2h.cloudfront.net/static/doc/2e/f8/524ab43b6757aaecb29445120dd5.pdf

 

I suppose that with the section and reference (sexual peference!) of one you could back-engineer the font it used.