Fairey gannet

[chrismac60]

Can anyone confirm the colours of the Gannet AEW's oleo legs and undercarriage bays please.

thanks

Chris

[Britman]

Have you checked the walk round section Chris?

 

Keith

[chrismac60]

Yes Keith, but experience tells me never to trust Museum aircraft. In this case Julian's great photo's show grey or sky Oleo's with white or sky wheel bays.

 

Chris

[71chally]

Fairey specified Sky for the u/c legs and mainwheel bays.

Out of stores the legs/components usually came painted in Sky (the airframe underside colour), however there were examples in light grey finish.

I've never heard of the bays being white, but again a light grey finish does seem to have been used.

I think some of the variations come about from the periods in service, and the methods of the time

 

This leg came from an ex stock crate,

Fairey Gannet AEW.3 nose undercarriage by James Thomas, on Flickr

 

A good example of the variable colours used, the grey does feel like a primer and I wonder if some of the components didn't receive a top coat before fitting.

All parts were new old stock, apart from the bay which has been stripped & treated.

 

Fairey Gannet AEW.3 main undercarriage by James Thomas, on Flickr

 

In short, Sky and the light grey would be acceptable.

Edited April 24, 2019 by 71chally

[chrismac60]

Wow thanks James, just what I was after.