RNZAF WWII DECALS

Some helpful hints for modellers intending to use the Aeromaster RNZAF decals

The reason I wrote this is to help modelers make an accurate job of completing their RNZAF WWII models by giving some tips that are not included in the instructions for the sheet.

1) The main point to watch for is the positioning of the roundels. As many were overpainted U.S. Stars and Bars, the RNZAF positioned their masking so the white centre would not have to be repainted. This resulted in a roundel with offset bars towards the top.

I include some pages from Warren Russell's book NZPAF * RNZAF Aircraft Colour Schemes - Volume 3 - The special on the Corsair. The introduction for this volume gives perhaps the best overview of the wartime RNZAF roundels that I have ever seen, and if you don't have a copy, beg borrow or steal one and read it thoroughly. The illustrations show how the roundels were produced, and the results that are evident from this. Be careful and use the roundels as instructed, as some have the offset, and some don't.

2) On Catalina NZ4017 XX-T, the Dumbo symbols only appear to have been added to the starboard nose - I have not seen any photos of this aircraft with them on the port side.

As a further note, all operational RNZAF Cats' had the 'Eyeball' type twin gun nose turret - the earlier deliveries having had this modification carried out some time in late 1943.

3) NO ARRESTOR HOOKS ON CORSAIRS. The SBD's and TBF's retained theirs.

4) All the SBD-5's had the larger A-24 type pneumatic tail wheel for land based aircraft as they were obtained from U.S. Marine Corp stocks. All appeared to have the ASB 'Yagi aerials under the wings (as did most of the TBF's).
The TBF's all had the standard U.S.Navy type solid rubber tailwheel which appeared to give lots of problems due to premature wear, and cases of them coming off the wheel rims on landing were not uncommon.

I hope these notes will help with your RNZAF modeling, and if you have any further questions regarding these aircraft, I will only be too happy to help.

Recommended reading:

NZPAF * RNZAF Aircraft Colour Schemes: Volumes 1 and 3 by Warren Russell.

RNZAF The first decade: by Charles Darby.

MILITARY WINGS: Volumes 1 and 2 by Brendan Deere.

WINGS OVER THE PACIFIC: By Alex Horn.

PACIFIC SCRAPBOOK 1943-1947: by Bryan Cox.

PORTRAIT OF AN AIRFORCE: by Geoffrey Bentley and Maurice Conly.

NEW ZEALAND MILITARY AIRCRAFT AND SERIAL NUMBERS: Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand.