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Scale Warbird Restorations . . . |
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One of the lesser known services
CanMilAir is able to provide is in the area of full-size, real-life,
Canadian warbird restorations. Private aircraft owners, and
aviation museums, have approached CanMilAir to provide
brand new markings on their aircraft so they can accurately
return them to
their authentic Canadian military appearance.
Perfectly illustrating the power of vector graphics, the
artwork for these full size projects are all pulled from the
same files I use for scale model decals. Vector graphics can
be printed to any scale and the quality of the finished artwork
is limited only by the resolution of the printing device at
the small scale end of the spectrum. With large scale
graphics, it isn't the resolution that is troublesome, it is
the overall size of the markings.
Since I can't print the markings in the sizes necessary
for such large scale projects, I contract the services of a local professional
graphics company that specializes in corporate signage, trade
show displays and custom cut vinyl graphics. Indeed, among their
clients is a small commercial airline and they supply all the
graphics for the exterior of their passenger aircraft.
The material used for this application is
48" or 60" wide, 0.002" thick (2 mil), self-adhesive,
outdoor grade, cast vinyl and is computer cut using my custom
configured drawing files. A limited range of cast vinyl colours is
available and colour samples can be provided upon request.
Alternately, the artwork can be supplied as a self adhesive
vinyl "cut
mask" to allow the designs to be spray painted on the
aircraft. This material has a much weaker adhesive so it is
removable and it is specifically designed to be used for spray
painting.
Below are some before and after photos, as well as descriptions, of
completed and current projects.
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CF-104D Starfighter 104645 |
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(above) As acquired by the Canadian Museum of Flight in
Langley, BC, CF-104D Starfighter 104645 was an Instructional Airframe
(serial number 878C) from the Aircraft Battle Damage Repair
Program. Volunteers at the museum required full size cut mask templates
to spray paint the primary markings and national insignia after
their Starfighter was repainted in its Symmetrical Era
Green/Grey over Grey camo scheme.
(below) I was able to "up-scale" my Starfighter
decal set
#019 to full size and pull out just the elements they
needed, to enable the museum staff to complete
the project and get the Starfighter back on public display. |
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| CT-133 Silver
Star 133579 |
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(above) Purchased from CFB
Mountainview by Major Paul Keppeler
of Wisconsin in 2002, Silver Star 133579 (now civil
registered as NX433RD) has appeared at
many air shows in the US mid-west in pseudo USAF markings over
the original Canadian two-tone Green / Grey wraparound camo.
To acknowledge the aircraft's proud heritage, Mr. Keppeler
wanted to restore his Silver Star to the Canadian marking
configuration it wore at the time of its retirement. During its career, 133579 has been noted with VU-32 at CFB
Shearwater, 414 "Black Knight" Sqn (1982-83), 439
Sqn and 434
"Bluenose" Sqn at CFB Greenwood (1995). CanMilAIr was able to
supply Mr. Keppeler with the required roundels, FIP markings,
flags, serials, and "Last 3" for his Silver Star in
flat black cast vinyl.
(below) Mr. Keppeler is shown re-applying the stencil block under
the right side canopy to match the newly applied Canada
Wordmark. Look for this T-Bird on the air show circuits ! ! |
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"I was in a quandary. Where am I going
to get marking stencils or 1:1 scale decal templates to
restore the Federal Identification Program (FIP) Canadian
Forces (CF) markings to my Canadair T-33?
I posted the question on the Warbird Information Exchange or
"WIX" website forum and one of the recommendations
was to ask around in the modeling community. I'm an old
modeler and I figured I'd give it a shot since I knew the
modeling community had a lot of knowledge about the historical
accuracy of markings and aircraft finishes.
One of the links supplied from the forum was Bill Burns'
CanMilAir Decals site. I contacted Bill to see if he could use
the Vector based software in collaboration with a graphics
shop to print me the big markings for the T-33 i.e. the
roundels, the "Canada" Wordmarks, the flag for the
tail and the serial numbers for the wings and nose. Bill shot
me an email with a sample sheet, said "can do", and
the rest is history.
That was almost too easy! The accuracy and scale of the
markings is perfect, the finish excellent and the price
reasonable.
With the help of a friend, I cleaned and smoothed as necessary
all the aircraft surfaces before applying the decals. I also
referenced historical photos of my aircraft and the official
CF application diagrams furnished by Bill to aid in accurate
placement of the markings. What I learned is that the CF
maintenance personnel sometimes took some liberties in placing
markings so where we had guidance from historical photos of my
specific aircraft, we used that as guidance, otherwise we
referenced the CF diagrams.
I can't say enough good things about my experience working
with CanMilAir. The finished product and supporting diagrams
were first-rate and the service from Bill outstanding. He's a
tremendous resource and it sounds like my fellow warbird
cohorts who own Canadair T-33s 599 and 610 will be calling
CanMilAir in the future for help to "re-Canadianize"
their historic aircraft.
Thanks Bill for a job well done!"
Paul Keppeler
(above) As Paul's Silver Star currently appears after application of all
the CanMilAir supplied vinyl markings, including the reverse spray
paint mask of the 439
Sqn crests on the tail.
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| CT-133
Silver Star 133648 |
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(above) Silver Star 133648 was one
of the very last Silver Stars in Canadian military service and
is seen here at the CFB Cold Lake air show in July 2004, just
months before its retirement. Earlier in its career, it had
served with 414 "Black Knight" Sqn and was later
configured as a platform to test ejection seats at AETE. For
this purpose, it was to be fitted with a specially modified canopy allowing an
ejection from the rear seat . The Silver Star retirement
happened first, so it was never used to test the seats.
(below) Silver Star 133648 is now owned by Anthony
Garrison of Texas, and civil registered as N3648. CanMilAir has provided
authentic Grey markings to return 648 to its previous
Canadian marking configuration as in the photo above. |
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Stay tuned for more photos as
this project progresses.
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| CT-133
Silver Star 133467 |
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(above) CT-133 ex-CF serial
133467 is now owned by Tom Rogers of Victoria, British
Columbia and civil registered as C-FYGM. Tom intends to return his aircraft to a natural
metal, or painted aluminum, appearance and apply 1960's era
markings, complete with Red Ensign flags on the tail. This
will require full colour roundels as well as all new service
markings and stencils.
To complete this project, technical assistance was sought, and
gladly given, from the Aircraft Restoration Company at Duxford
in the UK. They were responsible for applying "RCAF+3
Era" markings onto G-TBRD in 2000 which, sadly, was lost
during a formation take-off on Sept 6, 2006.
Stay tuned for more photos as
this project progresses.
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