Authentic stencilling
 

Just wondering how the paint over a stencil would have been applied in 1954. I assume aerosol paint didn't exist. Would it have been done with a compressor and spray gun or a brush or roller?

Greg,
There was such a thing as a stencil brush, a stubby round end brush with stiff short bristles and you dabbed the paint on.

Greg,i had wondered that as well so i made contact with a vet who had stenciled alot of units back in the day..Richard is correct,they did use a stencil brush as he described..i was told by the old boy to let the paint stand a while b4 applying.this allows it to thicken up,less chance of it running and less layers to apply.

Christian.
52 m38CDN
53 M100
43 WLC

A shaving brush does a very similar job

Try a Michaels or other big box arts and crafts store. They have a full on stencil department. Of course it is mostly for interior decorating, but you can get a wide range of letters in fonts and sizes, and clear sheets to make your own stencils.

Also I would suggest signpainter's paint. It dries quickly and with less runs, and is meant for this kind of work. Here at the museum we use this brand: http://www.1shot.com/One-Shot/index.aspx

In the early 1980's we used large sponges very successfully during the "paint the Squadron 's light armour over the weekend chaps" events.

100-odd soldiers and we'd be done in a day. Three Troops of Lynx. With the Queen Mary's,ARV, Amb and Assault Troop's M113s, we'd paint around 30 vehicles ourselves. Coveralls, issue gloves and handkerchiefs were our protection. paper masks if we were lucky!!

A production line of soldiers doing hand and air hose external cleaning, applying grease over lights, episcopes, AMU contacts etc (tape was a luxury), drive along to black, dark and light green official army-issue paint stations (cheap messy paint guns and crappy compressors) then out for drying and marking. Call signs, tac signs, CFRs, bridge class and national flag were all done by stencil.

Light dabbing in layers with a chance to dry a bit each time provide less chances of runs. Best job of the lot too. Smart Troopers ended up there.

Good times!! :D

regards
Darrell

Squadron Paint day
 

Don't forget the super accurate chalked on lines denoting the cam pattern. All exactly to the official issued documentation. And stencils so carefully measured to ensure markings were exactly centered and perpendicular to the planet. Markings were dappled on with sponges using paint from the can and touched up later with a brush if required. Runs were just wiped off with a rag.

Tools, straps and anything you could remove was removed but periscopes, lenses on lights and just the contact surface of the amu's were covered in axle grease without too much care.

Super neat stencils were only applied during a rebuild at workshop level and these were only general ones that would apply army-wide. On the 113 series that would be the drain plug reminder on the reverse of the trim vane and the CFR. Repaints would cover all that with our creative artwork.

Hi Jim

Ahhh yes, the chalk lines!! Boxes of school chalk from the SQ. One year the chalk just slid across the paint. There was no way to chalk. Whether it was the chalk or the paint, I never knew. :confused

My faithful 42B went away to the fabled 3rd line and came back all shiny and new. Downside was all the personal touches of the crew were gone. Upside was that I'll bet she had the best heater in the Lynx Fleet right to the end.... and we just added our personal touches.

Still need a clear image of the winged fist from the Airborne Armoured Recce Lynxes. Chaloux, yours was crap. :D

regards
Darrell

Agreed. The old painter's advice applies - brush it on, brush it in and brush it out.

And for a cleaner edge, make your stencil from correct stencil paper and use some stencil adhesive to help it stay flat. Both available at places like Michaels...

Would white diffs (for diff lights) be painted in a similar manner?

Rather amazingly the diff was white on the Morris Tilly, and I'm planning to recreate this feature.

I didn't know they had skate-boarding mice in HM Forces, as i'm not sure who else would see it :D