Couple of queries spurred by fondling the plasic of the new Airfix F4F-4 Wildcat (preliminary verdict: probably one of Airfix's best so far, if it hadn't been ruined by that horrible canopy):
1. When the USN go over from lap belts to full harnesses? ISTR that lap straps were still appropriate for the Midway Buffalo I was considering a while back.
2. I have a treatise lifted from Hyperscale on USN interior colours by William Reece in which he opines that Bronze Green rather than Interior Green is the appropriate interior colour for F4F-3s and F4F-4s as follows:
"F4F-3 / F4F-4, Wildcat. Cockpit: FS 34058 Bronze Green. Some may have been painted FS 34151. Bronze Green is the first choice. The only area that was Bronze Green was the pilot’s portion of the cockpit above and below the 'Floor'. The fuel tank under the cockpit was light gray. The inside of the engine cowling and main gear bay were Light Gray, as was the interior of the fuselage all the way back to the tail. Tri-color aircraft would have had Insignia White wheel bays (cutout for the tire). Tom Cheek who fought the Japanese at Midway says that he painted his cockpit red to keep him alert! Anything is possible."
Is this still the latest state of research on the subject?
If it helps I can considering doing my F4F-4 as a TORCH example.
Thanks in advance for your contributions.