tompot Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 During my researches into the Hunter FGA9 I have come across some photos which show the nosewheel leg coloured gold. See here. Does anyone know anything about this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 It could be the yellow primer, similar to that on Jaguars. When I photographed Duxford's Javelin, back in the 70s, it had one yellow, one green, and one red u/c leg. The yellow leg wasn't a bright colour, so, in bright sunlight, it could have looked like gold. Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary West Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 When I photographed Duxford's Javelin, back in the 70s, it had one yellow, one green, and one red u/c leg. A little known secret, this a/c was due to be transferred to the Jamacian air force............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 it does look quite goldie lookin' doesn't it? Suspect it's primer tho. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffclark7 Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 it had one yellow, one green, and one red u/c leg. Edgar I seem to remember a rather saucy song along those lines whilst in the RAF Cheers Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffclark7 Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 During my researches into the Hunter FGA9 I have come across some photos which show the nosewheel leg coloured gold. See here. Does anyone know anything about this? Many thanks Tompot for the head-up to that site. Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 I wonder if it was some sort of protective coating - WD40 style Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
entlim Posted October 11, 2007 Share Posted October 11, 2007 Look carefully-it's probably been retouched, something odd about the coluration of the ground starter unit behind........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edgar Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 Sorry, folks, clean forgot this, and it might have a bearing. If you wipe gold foil, with white spirit, you'll often find that it's, quite simply, silver foil, which has been overpainted with a thin coat of yellow. I discovered this, after foiling a surface, then cleaning it, and my gold turned to silver. Yellow primer doesn't have much body, like all yellow paints. Edgar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousA667 Posted October 12, 2007 Share Posted October 12, 2007 (edited) In more neutral lighting it looks like yellow/green primer: peebeep Edited October 12, 2007 by peebeep Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompot Posted October 12, 2007 Author Share Posted October 12, 2007 Look carefully-it's probably been retouched, something odd about the coluration of the ground starter unit behind........... I don't think so, there are several other photos on the site showing the same thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tompot Posted October 13, 2007 Author Share Posted October 13, 2007 I wonder if it was some sort of protective coating - WD40 style I think you were closest, Dave. Here is the answer I got from someone who was there:- With regards to gold painted legs and oleos, as far as I can recall, and I stand to be corrected, they were not actually painted gold but the preservative coating that was applied by the manufacturer (Dowty?) tended to turn a golden colour after a longish period in storage. This was also the case for the insides of undercarriage doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonymousAA72 Posted October 13, 2007 Share Posted October 13, 2007 It seems some Lightnings also had gold undercarriage units ....there's a great picture of XN793/"A" King Cobra of 92 Sqn in Dick Ward's "Lightning squadrons of the RAF" (pp 56-7), with the caption...."The photograph illustrates the new gold finish to the undercarriage legs and doors"......Theres also a picture on the previous page of T4 XM995/"T" also of 92 Sqn..."the insides if the main undercarriage doors and top of the nosewheel leg have been given a gold-coloured protective finish". Its only apparent on these two aircraft and both are painted in the later scheme of Dark Green over natural metal........the gold finish is very pale - very similar to those shown on the Hunters (and what a great site that is- particularly with the 8 Sqn FGA9's being armed with RP's.......) (AND a camouflaged Meteor FR9 ....Dave!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Fleming Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 (AND a camouflaged Meteor FR9 ....Dave!) Notice the underside colour! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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