Graphics for vintage Canadian military aircraft.
Produced using a wide-format 60-inch Latex printer on premium quality 3M Cast self-adhesive vinyl. After printing, the vinyl is given an optically clear UV protective overlaminate and then each element is contour cut to its finished shape. Rated at 12+ years outdoors.
Ideally suited for multi-colour elements such as Roundels and intricate designs such as Red Ensigns or heraldic crests.
PHOTO: Canadair Sabre 5, pedestal-mounted in Peterborough with Digitally-printed Red Ensigns, pre-1965 roundels and 430 Sqn Tail Band.
Premium 2-mil high performance Cast vinyl film with a permanent acrylic adhesive imported from the UK in a wide range of colours. Its excellent conformability enhances adhesion on textured, corrugated, and irregular surfaces with seams or rivets. Rated 12+ years outdoor durability.
Typically used for single-colour graphics, but simple multi-colour designs are created by layering one colour on top of another, using registration guides to aid in the placement of each layer for extremely accurate alignment.
PHOTO: Canadair CT-133 Silver Star from Waterloo Warbirds with all markings supplied using solid colour Cast vinyl.
A Calendered vinyl for applications requiring a painted finish. An ideal method for the many small Service and Maintenance stencils found on military aircraft.
Once the vinyl mask is applied to the surface and burnished down, the Transfer Tape is removed and the paint is applied, either by spraying or by daubing with a foam pouncer or sponge applicator. When finished with the paint application, the mask is simply peeled off due to its removeable acrylic adhesive and discarded.
PHOTO: Service stencils on Canadair CF-104 Starfighter wing-tip fuel tank at the Canadian Starfighter Museum.
Take a few moments to scroll through a small selection of projects completed by CanMilAir Decals. If you would like to learn more about these and many other CanMilAir projects, use the link to view the full portfolio.
Centerpiece of Canada's Centennial Heritage Flight in 2009 celebrating the 100th anniversary of powered flight in Canada. CanMilAir donated the full-size vector artwork of the Golden Hawks motif to the refinishing team at CFB Cold Lake.
Silver Star 133573 finished as a "Red Knight" owned and operated by the Jet Aircraft Muesum in London, Ontario.
Beautifully restored by Cam Harrod of Dundas, Ontario, this Fleet Model 16B "Finch II" was built in 1940 at Fort Erie and wears its wartime BCATP markings from #4 EFTS.
Taken on strength by the RCAF in 1952, this Expeditor is ex-RCAF s/n 2300. Now based in Stockton, California, it once again wears RCAF markings, complete with digitally printed nose art.
Painstakingly restored by the Canadian Starfighter Museum, located at the St. Andrew's Airport, Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Northrop Freedom Fighter based in Rockford, Illinois, finished in USAF Tactical Air Command markings, circa 1965-66. Markings are a combination of digitally printed and cut Cast vinyl.
Shown at the annual Tiger Boys Open House at the Guelph Airpark in Guelph, Ontario. To ensure the accuracy of the La Academia General del Aire markings, CanMilAir contacted the curator at the official Museum of the Spanish Air Force in Madrid.
Based in Waukesha, Wisconsin, this T-Bird once again proudly wears the exact paint scheme it was given by No.439 Squadron in honour of the Silver Star Retirement from CF service in 2001.
Once again in Canadian Army livery, 16721 wears the yellow training band of the Light Aircraft School at the CJATC in Rivers, Manitoba in 1958. Except for the Red Ensigns and school crests, all other markings were applied with Paintmask vinyl.
Located in the Riverview Park Zoo in Peterborough, Ontario, this Sabre has been finished in the markings of No.430 "Silver Falcon" Squadron using digitally-printed and cut Cast vinyl.
Located at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Finished as JB226 from 405(P) Sqn, a 60-mission aircraft lost with all hands during a nighttime bombing raid on 17/18th November, 1943.
Based out of Waukesha, Wisconsin, this Sabre is part of MiG Alley Airshows and is finished as 435th Fighter Bomber Sqn, 479th Fighter Bomber Wing. USAF. All markings provided as paintmask vinyl, except for two squadron crests.
A general sampling of the type of graphics CanMilAir typically produces - by no means is this meant to be an all-inclusive list!
CanMilAir Decals is a home-based business formed in 2005 in London, Ontario, to produce after-market waterslide decals for scale models of Canadian military aircraft.The full-size vinyl projects started in 2007. Between 2005 and 2018, when the waterslide decal production ceased, CanMilAir filled over 4,000 orders containing more than 11,000 decal sets to over 2,000 customers in 40 countries. The catalogue of Canadian decals reached 675 items covering 137 types and were available in over 50 different scales.
On April 1, 2017, my first book was published titled "Canadian Cold Warriors", examining the unique unit and squadron-level markings applied to the Avro CF-100 Canuck throughout its service life. The first printing sold out in 20 months! Having established a reputation as a specialist in the national insignia used on Canadian military aircraft and with over 50 vintage aircraft refinished, I was invited to assume an Associate Historian position with the Office of RCAF History and Heritage.
CanMilAir Decals has always been dedicated to the memory of my father - a combat veteran of the Great War, serving with the 46th Battalion at Arras, Lens, Hill 70 and Passchendaele. He transferred into the Royal Flying Corps in February 1918 and would learn to fly the Sopwith Camel. During the Second World War he served as a civilian instructor for the Link Trainer and taught Ground School courses at #20 EFTS Oshawa, from June 1940 until November 1944, logging 4,234.25 hours of Link instruction. FYI, the small Poppy you see on most of my printed material is in his memory. Lest We Forget.
Wm. (Bill) Burns, Proprietor
A little tour of the CanMilAir Decals workspace - a classic example of good things coming out of small spaces!
The "Nerve Centre" of CanMilAir. A high-end computer in a triple-monitor setup, mechanical keyboard & a pair of Epson inkjet printers.
At CanMilAir the vinyl designs are sent to a Summa D75 cutter/plotter. Above the cutter are racks containing as many as 24 rolls of vinyl.
The excess material is removed here before the Transfer Tape is applied. Above the table is various types and widths of Transfer Tape.
Glass-topped drafting table, with illumination from below, provides a more ergonomic setup for long hours of weeding Paintmask stencils.
Completed orders are placed into suitably sized cartons or mailing tubes and shipped via Canada Post's expedited services.