So according to the Yellow Wings sheet, the eleven Wildcats of 211 had their topsides repainted on December 3rd onboard the Enterprise, en route to Wake. Speculation is that they needed to mask the prop, engine, etc, so quite possibly just said screw it and masked off the whole cowl rim.
Ironic, isn't it, that lazy masking 70 years ago is going to make for more complicated masking to represent said lazy masking?