Hi chaps
I would like to add some aircraft recognition panels to my Shermans. NWE 1944-45. I have searched various sites but not found a complete answer. Also most pics of peoples models have gone past their sell by date, i.e deleted.
I think they used three colours and changed them each day. Could be wrong though.
I need to know size and colour. I remember reading that they had eyelets for fitting. Is that correct?
Any help much appreciated.

Tony

Hi Tony,

I have not got it to hand but if you visit the Archers Fine Transfers site, they produce some recognition flags. I believe that you are supposed to transfer their prduct to wine bottle cap alloy. However you can see the colours there.

Sorry I cannot be more solid at this moment as to the web address, but it has gone walkabout in my bookmarks.

John

Tony,
Here's some info that I have gather through posts on other sites. The recognition panels were 12 feet by 2 1/2 feet. They had a 1inch border of khaki or tan color with grommets along the edge (have not found out how many or exactly where). The panels were either a vivid red (I think it's called chartreuse [sp?]) or yellow on one side and white on the other. The panel color in use were changed each day. Sometimes two panels would used half red and half white. The panels were suppose to be in a bag attached to one end but I have no photo referenced to confirm that, just what I've read.
Hope this helps,
Eric

Thank you gentlemen.
I have been looking for this info for a while now. Should have asked here in the first place.
Cheers

Tony

Chartreuse is actually a bright yellow/green. The red color was "cerise".

I believe there were several variants. The type described by Eric is the type I model (I just use typing paper, by the way, paint each side, spray with future, do the borders, etc....I've never been good with wine bottle labels, and they look fine to me), and I believe at some point they were shortened to 6 ft in length. As for the bag attached to one end, I've always thought/felt that that was a different size/style of panel that was used by infantry/airborne to mark their positions, and was smaller and attached to the pouch to make carrying easier. But I can't be sure.

Rob

Hi Rob,
I cut a piece the 12' size and it does drape over the sides somewhat.
Thanks for the colour ref.

Tony

Tony,
Yes the 12' does drape over the sides of a Sherman. What I've seen in photos is that most of the time the panels were folded over. Saw one kit that the modeler had rolled up the end so it didn't drape over the hull. I've asked what others have used when making panels and the two most common seem to be either the tissue paper that comes with new shirts (or in packages) or typing paper (hard to find that stuff anymore). Robert, thanks for clarifying the name of the color. Couldn't locate my reference when I posted.
Eric

Eric,

Not a problem. We're only supposed to know color names like khaki and olive drab, and leave the more exotic names to interior designers!

By the way, as the 12' ones are so long, I tend to fold them over as well, often in an uneven manner to show off the white other side just slightly, and then position it so it hangs over the back of the tank a bit. At least on the few I've done so far.

Rob