B-52H Camoflage Schemes

[John Eagan]

I am building a B-52 model for a friend who was a BUFF pilot. I have
the Revell H model from the 'Airpower combo' in 144th scale. I would
like to do the model in the 3 greens over white scheme. My friend
flew H's (89-93 time frame) in one of the groups at Fairchild AFB just
before he retired. Is that an accurate scheme for the planes
stationed there or where they all gunship gray in that era. Is the
Revell H going to be reasonably accurate for a model representing a
plane he may have flown? (It's a surprise gift so I can't get many
details from him.) I personally like to do camo schemes instead of
one-color jobs, but if it won't be accurate for the time and place
I'll do a 'gunship gray' finish. The kit decals are for a gray model.
If I can do a green over white finish, what color should the 'stars
and bars' be? When did they start using black vice RWB? If anyone
has any knowledge of what tail codes, numbers, etc that would be
appropriate to a late camo BUFF, I'd be most appreciative.
TIA
John

[Edwin Ross Quantrall]

John Eagan wrote:

From what I've been able to tell in my own research, BUFF camo was
transitioning from the '80s SIOP scheme that you describe to the overall
Gunship Gray scheme in current use. To make things even more confusing;
not all BUFFs had the Gloss White undersides, but were being painted in
a Green/Gray Wraparound scheme. (Apparently to distinguish them from
SIOP birds -- this scheme seemed to be prevalent on BUFFs used in Desert
Storm.) You'll just have to do some research in order to determine what
kind of camo/markings any given BUFF wore at any given time.

--
Edwin

(Remove "DIESPAMDIE!")

"Don't do speed. Speed turns you into your parents."- Frank Zappa

[TomGAJ]

There were three B-52 camo patterns in use during the 1989-1992 timeframe.
In 1989 the standard pattern was "Strategic" - 36081, 36118, and 34086 in a
wraparound pattern. There may have been a few "SIOP" - your three greens
(34079, 34159, 34201) over gloss white, but that's pretty unlikely, because
that was about the time the decision was implemented to swtich to a single gray
color. For a brief time, that color was 36081 and Fairchild had some of those
B-52Hs (61-0031, "Destiny Unknown was one). This first monotone gray color was
replaced rather quickly by the current overall gunship gray (36118) color in
use today.
Markings on "Strat" birds were either 36081 on 34086 and 36118 surfaces, 34086
on 36081 upper surfaces or 36118 on 36081 lower surfaces. Tail numbers and
USAF were black.
On overall 36081 BUFs markings were 36118, again except for the tail # and
USAF, which were again, black.
On 36118 BUFs markings were black.
On SIOP aircraft national insignia were full color. The wing star & bar was
50" and the USAF on the upper right wing was 60" high in INSIGNIA BLUE (15044).
Fuselage national insignia were 20". Tail # and "USAF were black.

[William H. Shuey]

Tom:

Nice post, nice to see something like this after all the political dog
crap posted above.

Bill Shuey

[Nick Pedley]

"John Eagan" <eaga...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:95a0054.03021...@posting.google.com...

> I am building a B-52 model for a friend who was a BUFF pilot. I have
> the Revell H model from the 'Airpower combo' in 144th scale. I would
> like to do the model in the 3 greens over white scheme. My friend
> flew H's (89-93 time frame) in one of the groups at Fairchild AFB just
> before he retired. Is that an accurate scheme for the planes
> stationed there or where they all gunship gray in that era.

This webpage may be of help to you.
http://www.strategic-air-command.com/aircraft/B-52/b52-profiles.htm

Nick

[Edwin Ross Quantrall]

Nick Pedley wrote:

Not necessarily. I noticed factual errors in the captions of the
profiles. (i.e. Aircraft 58-0239 is identified as a "G" when the engine
pods clearly show it to be an "H".

[Ken Gross]

John,

The December 2002 issue of Finescale Modeler focused on the B-52, including
a two-page spread on the various paint schemes applied over the years.
While the "H" models illustrated in that and the other articles were overall
FS36118 "Gunship Grey", a couple of "G" models from the late 80's/early 90's
were painted in a camoflague pattern; one of which is the"3-green over
white" that you mention. I don't know if that's how the Fairchild Buffs
were painted, but it would be correct for the period.

-Ken Gross

"Nick Pedley" <nichola...@npedley.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:b33aa3$dtc$1...@newsg2.svr.pol.co.uk...