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F4F-4 Wildcat wheel bay color question

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  • Member since
    February 2013
F4F-4 Wildcat wheel bay color question
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Monday, September 26, 2016 5:29 PM

I've just started on a Tamiya 1/48 F4F-4. It's going to be a Marine bird on Guadalcanal in 1942. I've goggled photos of restored A/C that have the wheel bay area painted white as well as reading several build reviews on the net on which they were painted white. Is this accurate for the early war time period? It's a beautiful kit of an important airplane and I'd like to get it right.

Thanks in Advance

Tom

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: 29° 58' N 95° 21' W
Posted by seasick on Monday, September 26, 2016 5:46 PM

The aircraft wheel bays were usually painted with zinc chromate primer, which is a yellow color.  They may have been painted white in the field, if they ran low on paint. Many times the paint was mixed at the air field. The paint was white and pigment bags mixed in to reproduce the color needed. If they didn't time or pigments they might have painted with straight paint. So unless you can find an account it will be difficult. Also avation gasoline, motor gasoline, and diesel fuel were used as paint thinner they can alter the color also.

Chasing the ultimate build.

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • From: Barrie, Ontario
Posted by Cdn Colin on Monday, September 26, 2016 5:52 PM

I build 1/48 scale WW2 fighters.

Have fun.

  • Member since
    February 2013
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Monday, September 26, 2016 7:13 PM

Thank you both very much. I appreciate the information. I've saved the IPMS Stockholm articles because I'm sure I'll refering to them again and again.

Tom

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by Aggieman on Monday, September 26, 2016 9:59 PM

I am currently building this same kit. I am using the Squadron In-Action and Walk-Around books, plus Bert Kizney's Detail and Scale book on the Wildcat. These books suggest a light grey wheel well for the early war period, which is how I have painted mine.

  • Member since
    February 2013
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 7:55 AM

Thanks, all, for the information. I'm glad I asked. Otherwise I'd probably have sprayed it with zinc chromate primer with an interior green cockpit. Now to find a good match for bronze green.

Thanks again,

Tom

  • Member since
    January 2015
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by Aggieman on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 7:57 PM

Humbrol makes bronze green. I got it from Squadron.

  • Member since
    February 2013
Posted by tomwatkins45 on Wednesday, September 28, 2016 11:45 AM

Sorry for the delay in responding, but thanks, I'll check that out.

Tom

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