Hello everyone
Thanks very much for these replies, and particularly the photos showing the red bands. My Italian friend was just about to pick up a yellow paint pot. Now he is busy revisiting his research. It seems that the RAF are quite strict in their criteria for the granting of approvals to carry an ex-military scheme: the colourscheme must be accurate, and it must reflect the service history of the aircraft.
Anyway, he is extremely grateful, and very surprised by the level of interest shown in his project.
HB