Brush marks on cowling

[stona]

The SAAF is the oldest or second oldest airforce in the world after the RAF if I am correct.

The SAAF flew SE5's during WW1 and there is a nice example of one here in a meusum.

Theuns

I believe you are correct, at least as far as the Commonwealth goes. I can't think of anyone having an earlier seperate air arm, except,possibly, one of the other European "Powers" (France, Germany ,Italy, surely not Russia!) or maybe Japan. It was the South African General Smuts who recomended to the Imperial war cabinet that Britain should establish an air force as a seperate arm leading to the formation of the RAF. It is hardly surprising that he would do the same think slightly later when he got home to South Africa, establishing the SAAF.

Cheers

Steve

Just had a quick look and it seems everyone wants to be the oldest! All the candidates above, and many more, operated aircraft (the Americans even weigh in with bloody balloons!) so the debate is when they actually established a seperate service i.e not under army or naval control. Britain, South Africa and Australia (in that order) would be the Commonwealth contenders but may have been beaten to it by....... wait for it....... Belgium.

Of course every nation that could was developing aerial forces at this time so we are really nit-picking!

[Guest]

Damn, beaten by the Belgiums! At least Flemmish is close to my mother tounge- Afrikaans :-)

It makes for some interesting reading.

I can not figure out why the US has an "air arm" for seperate services like the Army ,air force and navy/marines.Maybe because they are so big, it makes for better admin/controll??

But doesn't the UK military have rotor wing school at Middle Wallop to train Army helli pilots?

So it would then seem that the SAAF who suplies service to the entire SANDF is one up on all you guys! ha,ha

Interetingly the SAAF during WW2 had the standard RAF roundel, but in some cases the red centre was orrange.

Theuns

PS. I did my first 6 hours of PPL training on a DHC1 Mk 10 Chipmunk in red and white/light grey RAF collours.

[stona]

Damn, beaten by the Belgiums! At least Flemmish is close to my mother tounge- Afrikaans :-)It makes for some interesting reading.

I can not figure out why the US has an "air arm" for seperate services like the Army ,air force and navy/marines.Maybe because they are so big, it makes for better admin/controll??

But doesn't the UK military have rotor wing school at Middle Wallop to train Army helli pilots?

So it would then seem that the SAAF who suplies service to the entire SANDF is one up on all you guys! ha,ha

Interetingly the SAAF during WW2 had the standard RAF roundel, but in some cases the red centre was orrange.

Theuns

PS. I did my first 6 hours of PPL training on a DHC1 Mk 10 Chipmunk in red and white/light grey RAF collours.

Not sure who trains who these days. My late father was a fleet air arm pilot but did all his basic flight training in the U.S. at Kingsville Texas (1952/53.) His first deck landings were on U.S.S.Monterrey. He converted to helicopters in 1955 but this was done by the Royal Navy, in house, by 705 Sqdn.

I've got some unique photographs of 801 Sqdn Sea Furies and also 845(helicopter) Sqdn Whirlwinds. One day I'll scan some and post them in a reference thread!

You are correct about South African roundels,the red of the fin flash was also orange.

Cheers

Steve

[stona]

Posting that picture of the Grunherz 109 in its Eastern camouflage caused me to dig out a Fw190 I did some years ago,trying to replicate that sort of scheme. It has lived in the attic for a while but it brushed up okay.

I can't remember whose paints I used but back then they would have been enamels.

Steve

[Guest]

Rats!

Seeing that model has now made it so that I MUST go and do some work on the 1/72 academy PBY catalina.

No early night for me now!

Going to paint it in the RAF collours that operated from RSA WW2 or Netherlands WW2 in RSA.

Must get the code for "us navy matt blue grey" in humbrol. Any sugestions?

Theuns

[stona]

I guess you mean this - USN Blue Gray (FS25189) - I'm afraid I have no idea if Humbrol do an equivalent.

Steve

Have a look at White Ensign Models. I expect they ship to your part of the world and they were my enamels of choice. They also match their model paints rigorously to original paint chips, I would recommend them unreservedly.

[Guest]

Thanx, the closest I can ger in humbrol is a 50/50 mix of 145 medium grey and 144 intermediate blue.

It will be good enough for what I want.Besides it doesn't look the same it did when it leaves the paint shop.Here in the sun it fades within 1-2 years.

Cant do the RAF Catalina as they were not amphibian like the Nethreland's.

Theuns