Ron Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Doing a Tom cross over forums hear!😉 I was not aware that any WW2 RAF serial numbers have survived? But since young Tom acquired the serial number for his Norton and passed on the contact details to me I made inquiries about my RAF WD/CO. The guy has access to post war key cards from 1949. So only vehicles still in service with the RAF at that time are listed.....Tom was lucky!! My Royal Enfield is not listed so obviously demobbed before 49. However, he did find a CO with the next frame number after mine, although it is far from certain that the Enfield's where given serial numbers in sequence of frame numbers. So our best guess is to allot the previous serial number, which will be much closer that the made up number it currently wears. I think we only have one original picture of a CO marked up with the RAF and it appears to have the standard RE font as used on all their models. So my challenge now is to re-spray my tank and fit the new (correct ?) number and transfers (Already in stock). My main concern is to save the roundels that were hand painted several years ago by a dear departed 80 year old sign writer friend.....Squares are easy to mask up:thinking_face: Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatchFuzee Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Ron said: Squares are easy to mask up:thinking_face: Ron Have you looked at liquid masking tape? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norton.rider Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 Awesome Ron was wondering how you were getting on with the enquiry great to see another Raf one being worked on. Yep I still can't belive how lucky I was some things are meant to be I guess. Interestingly there was a batch either side of mine as well Ron think it was 3 one side and 5 the other of my number. They were actually running in sequence so I don't think it'd be that far fetched for Royal Enfield to have done the same when the Raf marked them up. Couldn't see them working differently for different Marques. I'll have to have a hunt though all the Raf bike pics ive hunted out Ron an see if there are any RE ones. The material Sarah at axholme did the masks for the roundels might be a shout but I'm not sure how long you could leave them on very low tack though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 22, 2020 Author Share Posted April 22, 2020 Never heard of liquid masking tape? Axholme's won't work on the curve surface. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 OK I've seen the liquid masking stuff on Google. I've already bought a roll of Tamiya 3mm tape. So I'll see if I can apply that successfully first. Other wise I'll order some liquid........But then that requires a sign writers steady hand😕 Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 23, 2020 Author Share Posted April 23, 2020 Well it didn't take long to realize that I'm going to loose the hand painted roundels, as the first trial run with the 3mm tape pulled the sign writers paint off😣 Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 I've resprayed tank, ready for markings now. Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norton.rider Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Looks good Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Making good progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 25, 2020 Author Share Posted April 25, 2020 The number stenciling is done. Using the correct RE font for the RAF number that Jan researched and available from "Axholme Signs". Just waiting for the postman to deliver my roundel stencils...Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norton.rider Posted April 25, 2020 Share Posted April 25, 2020 Looks brilliant Ron cracking job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Looks like you have done this before Ron, great job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 26, 2020 Author Share Posted April 26, 2020 (edited) Yes Steve! Once or fifty!!😃 Ron PS. Mind you it could all go wrong! Those roundels are a sod! Edited April 26, 2020 by Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garys39 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Hi Ron, you shouldn't be too fussy, they weren't back then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 26, 2020 Author Share Posted April 26, 2020 You could be right Gary, although I'm not sure that is an original WW2 picture? The factories had professional sign writers although Royal Enfield used pre made transfers for their census numbers........However, what happened in workshops or the 'field' is probably a different matter.☺️ Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garys39 Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Yes original picture Ron, here's the full photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 26, 2020 Author Share Posted April 26, 2020 Thanks Gary. Any idea where this is? Are those ladies Dutch? What I was focused on, was the china bowl on his bonnet, which reminds me of the little paper sticks of sugar that is normal in cafe's nowadays? Ron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11th Armoured Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 It's on Facebook - a page called 'Colourised - PIECE of JAKE'. The caption for this one is: "An RAF sergeant shares an alfresco lunch with two Dutch women in traditional costumes at Nieuw- and St. Joosland, near Middelburg, soon after the town had been liberated by Allied forces, November 1944". HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 26, 2020 Author Share Posted April 26, 2020 Thanks for that! I've saved the picture and the caption. Ron 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatchFuzee Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Could the red run just be because of the colourisation of something on the roundel or of a mark/damage on the black and white photo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norton.rider Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 Darn that's a cool pic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
11th Armoured Posted April 26, 2020 Share Posted April 26, 2020 1 hour ago, MatchFuzee said: Could the red run just be because of the colourisation of something on the roundel or of a mark/damage on the black and white photo? Or could it even be a bit of macabre humour - 'bullseye' & all that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Posted April 28, 2020 Author Share Posted April 28, 2020 Job done. Ron 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfleasteve Posted April 28, 2020 Share Posted April 28, 2020 Looks brilliant Ron! Great job 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rewdco Posted April 29, 2020 Share Posted April 29, 2020 Very nice indeed! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.