Grumman Martlet Mk IV Primer

[Grey Beema]

Very quick question.  

 

I am currently converting the Tamiya 1/48 F4F-4 to a Martlet IV.  Most of the build is done and I am just about to dosh some paint

 

BUT what colour Primer were they painted with in the factory?  Was it Grumman Grey or Zinc Oxide all over?

 

[Work In Progress]

Mostly Grumman Gray

https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/pages/us-navy-usmc-aircraft-colours-around-ww2

[85sqn]

Hey Phil,

 

have you seen this page by Bruce Archer: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm

 

 

[Grey Beema]

11 minutes ago, Work In Progress said:

Mostly Grumman Gray

https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/pages/us-navy-usmc-aircraft-colours-around-ww2

Thanks WIP, it's interesting to note that there are lots of references to the internal colours but few to what colour Primer that outside was.  I think I will assume they were primed Grumman Gray under the TSS as I want to get some paint on it the next couple of days.

[Grey Beema]

14 minutes ago, 85sqn said:

Hey Phil,

 

have you seen this page by Bruce Archer: http://www.clubhyper.com/reference/wildcatfaaba_1.htm

 

 

Thanks Nick, yes have this one bookmarked again it gives the internal colours but not necessarily the external Primer coat.  As a Mk IV it was built by Grumman and they had good colour matches to TSS, I think I am going to assume Grumman Grey Primer then the lash the pre-shading and TSS over this..

[Dana Bell]

Hi Gents,

 

The oft-cited "Grumman Gray" was nothing more than leftover Light Gray camouflage lacquer used as a finish coat.  When used on the interior, it was generally applied over two coats of primer - the first yellow and the second green.  It was only used on the exterior as part of the camouflage - the Blue Gray over Light Gray scheme or the later Dark Blue over Light Gray scheme.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dana

[Grey Beema]

1 hour ago, Dana Bell said:

Hi Gents,

 

The oft-cited "Grumman Gray" was nothing more than leftover Light Gray camouflage lacquer used as a finish coat.  When used on the interior, it was generally applied over two coats of primer - the first yellow and the second green.  It was only used on the exterior as part of the camouflage - the Blue Gray over Light Gray scheme or the later Dark Blue over Light Gray scheme.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dana

Thanks Dana,

 

I'm probably being thick here but what was used for a primer on British camouflaged aircraft under the TSS, the Yellow & Green Primer coats?

Edited March 31, 2019 by Grey Beema

[Dana Bell]

Sorry Grey,

 

I've never found a record of the primers used for UK-bound Wildcats.  I would expect that to coats of zinc chromate would be standard, but I don't know.  On other aircraft the British Purchasing Commission seemed more concerned about corrosion than the Americans were, so I'd guess Light Gray.

 

The FAA museum is restoring an early Martlet - there might be some evidence there.  But pre-1942 aircraft often used different standards than post-1941 aircraft, so I couldn't guarantee that a later aircraft would use the same interior colors.

 

Cheers,

 

 

Dana

[Navy Bird]

Does this help?

 

 

Although it's hard to tell, maybe the lightest colour is the earliest layer (perhaps primer)? The dark blue was the last scheme, and the light blue (seen at the trailing edge) would appear to be from the factory as shown here:

 

 

Cheers,

Bill