RAF BSA's

[jabberwok]

This is slightly off the beaten track but this forum is a wealth of such knowledge and the question defeats me.

Brian Moore is restoring a 1942 RAF BSA M20 motorbike to working condition and would like to paint it as it would have been in RAF service. The inevitable question is whether there was a standard pattern for MT equipment at that time.

Specifically, Brian is asking if the bike would have had a roundel on the fuel tank and any other markings with this. If so can anyone suggest the size of the roundel and which pattern it may have been - Type A/B or did transport have its own roundel pattern?

JB

[BikerMark]

One useful link for this query might be
http://www.british-forces-motobikes.fsnet.co.uk/index.html

I found a photo of an M20 in Egypt at:
http://www.commanet.org/Media/large/014r00f60as5.jpg
"R.A.F. Abyad, Egypt, Billet D5. Motorbike is a single cylinder B.S.A. M20 500cc side valve Ex War Dep "

Mark.

[jabberwok]

Thank you Mark - I will pass those links on to Brian..

JB

[bolmas]

the bikes didnt have a roundel on the tank, but had the vehicle identification number stencilled in white on the side of the tank.

the models used in desert conditions had a rubber connector between the carb inlet and a vokes air filter on top of the tank, but they are rare as rocking horse muck!

[jabberwok]

Thanks BOLMAS.

I've found a few photo's since and they seem to confirm your report - not a roundel in sight..

JB

[BikerMark]

Some photos of an Ariel in RAF livery taken at the Kempton Park Classic Bike show

http://www.fielder-rowe.freeserve.co.uk/Webpics/RAF-Ariel-1.jpg
http://www.fielder-rowe.freeserve.co.uk/Webpics/RAF-Ariel-2.jpg
http://www.fielder-rowe.freeserve.co.uk/Webpics/RAF-Ariel-3.jpg
http://www.fielder-rowe.freeserve.co.uk/Webpics/RAF-Ariel-4.jpg
http://www.fielder-rowe.freeserve.co.uk/Webpics/RAF-Ariel-5.jpg

As suspected, no roundel, just stencilling on the tank and white blackout markings on the muguard tips.

Timing cover and chaincase are finished in RAF blue.

Hope this helps. Sorry about the pictures, lighting was poor.

Mark.