US roundel blue

Funny you should mention Montex, as I just ordered a few different sets of masks from them last night. I also orderd a mask for some numbers and letters from Maketar.  I am excited to give them a shot. Thanks for the tip! I've only done a few kits now, but I feel like each one has been progressively better than the last. 

Thank you for that. That Wildcat looks awesome! I will be going for something similar, as I am looking to recreate the F4F-4 of Jim Swett on Guadalcanal, who, as it turns out, is kind of a local legend around these parts.

In any case, that looks really nice. Thanks again for the tips!

Hey Jim

You're already sold, but another $0.02... For me, painting large markings is just so much better than decals. As GMorrison alludes, it's not without challenges, but—to me—those trade offs are just so worth it.

I used masks for the first time for insignia and identification numbers on an F4F-4. When weathering, the markings weather right along with the rest of the airframe in a natural way. 

good luck!

-J

I will keep that in mind, thanks! I am loving all the research involved in each project. 

that Looks amazing by the way!

i am still pretty new to all of this but am loving it, and learning a lot.

We're glad to help.

The better term would be "National Insignia" or "National Markings".

The F4F-4 would be a great project for this approach. The earliest deployments I know of were onboard in early 1942, the Hornet had them for the Doolittle Raid. Those were painted with really big national Insigs, with the red dot and with tail stripes. 

But at Midway, they were without tail stripes or dots.

And the fuselage numbers changed too.

Here's a muddle of parts I did a while back, all hand painted copy and Hinomarus.

Awesome! Thank you both so much, that was way easier than anticipated. I have been looking at masks online such as Montex. I actually ordered some for a F4F-4 I have on deck (or in the hole). This is only my 4th kit thus far, but with each one I want to try out some kind of new technique to experiment  and see what I like the most. My last kit, a KI-84, I tried the hairspray technique to get the chipped paint effect. This kit involved some preshading, and I figure I’ll give some masked roundels a whirl. Thanks again!

First of all, welcome. Painting markings is a true step towards a more attractive model, but it has it's limitations. The color is "Insignia Blue". Who knows if it was ever really just the one color, but it's available. Testors or Vallejo for starters.

Look into masks- there's quite a few good ones available.

That is US Insignia Blue, FS 35044, of which M-M carries as well as other brands, for the US 23rd FG insignia, after the Flying Tigers dissolved, July 4, 1942. The white is US Insignia White.