tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post1991596414529919000..comments2024-03-08T16:42:41.614-08:00Comments on Tailhook Topics: A Brief, F4U Corsair-oriented History of Navy Color Schemes and MarkingsTailspinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17837863895661437038noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post-73466989426207408382011-12-08T07:52:01.001-08:002011-12-08T07:52:01.001-08:00There's another thing I've noticed about t...There's another thing I've noticed about the national insignia when it is rendered by an artist or illustrator. They (many) have a hard time with it. A few; size of the side blocks, location of blocks in relation to the points on the star, position of the star in the circle (roundel), width of the blue outline, and others.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post-83232042183730505672011-06-22T12:48:14.791-07:002011-06-22T12:48:14.791-07:00For some reason, the rudder was to be grey when th...For some reason, the rudder was to be grey when the light gull gray and white scheme was directed in February 1955. My guess is that it was believed that only the horizontal control surfaces (which were generally thinner material than the wing skins) needed to be protected from the thermal effects and a white rudder would reduce the camouflage benefit. However, rudders began to be painted white even before the officially change to white issued in June 1960.Tailspinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17837863895661437038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post-75329240852122392372011-06-22T11:49:49.619-07:002011-06-22T11:49:49.619-07:00Regarding the light gray-over-white Corsair, one t...Regarding the light gray-over-white Corsair, one thing may not be readily apparent from the included photo. Take a close look at the flaps, ailerons and elevators. The Feb 55 change from overall Glossy Sea Blue to non-specular [flat] gray over glossy Insignia White mandated that the upper sides of all "airfoil" surfaces, such as the wing and horizontal stabilizers would be gray but all lower surfaces of the airfoil devices, and both the top and bottom of "control surfaces," such as the flaps, ailerons and elevators would be gloss white.<br /><br />In the mid 1950s, US military aircraft now had to worry about survivability in the nuclear arena. B-52 bombers had their bellies painted white to reflect nuclear flash from their own ordnance. The A-3 and A-4 were the Navy's first dedicated nuclear strike aircraft. Not only were their horizontal surfaces painted white, but their rudders, as well. Heat from the flash of a nuclear explosion could easily warp and buckle sheet metal. Although many aircraft of the era were not nuclear strike aircraft or even fast enough to escape a nearby nuke strike, the standard for white control surfaces seems to have been applied primarily as an anti-flash mechanism. On the bottom surfaces of aircraft, the gloss also helped to prevent heavy stains and weathering from oil and hydraulic fluids. Landing gear bays during this period were also painted gloss white, principally so that hydraulic leaks could be more easily spotted.<br /><br />R. LewisR. Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post-71945702334830535302011-06-22T11:27:20.437-07:002011-06-22T11:27:20.437-07:00Regarding Grumman's deletion of Insignia Blue ...Regarding Grumman's deletion of Insignia Blue as the background color for its "star-and-bar" insignia, it's a very interesting story. Grumman was the first to do this but Ryan Aircraft (FR-1 Fireball, for example) was the only other company to do this--and get away with what was technically unauthorized. Grumman did it on their F6F Hellcats. The FM-2 Wildcats and TBMs were, by then, being made by General Motors, and had the full Insignia Blue backing. The story goes that a Navy inspector noticed the deviation and objected but, when he was told that Grumman was able to crank out an additional six desperately-needed Hellcats per week just by saving the time masking and painting the nearly-invisible blue, the inspector backed off and allowed the deviation. It continued through the rest of the war, until officially approved, as noted in the article above, in 1946. <br /><br />R. LewisR. Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post-8398052225138828592011-06-22T11:15:55.012-07:002011-06-22T11:15:55.012-07:00Re F4U BuNo 17640,'Big Hog, three things of no...Re F4U BuNo 17640,'Big Hog, three things of note: 1) the national insignia is supposed to have a 2"-wide band of (first) Insignia Red, later changed to Insignia Blue. The band was supposed to completely surround the circle with the star and the flanking rectangular "bars." In this case, the white points of the star go right to the very edge of the blue background. Because there is no tonal difference between the border on the flanking bars and the blue background, it would APPEAR that the marking is all blue, which appeared after Sep 43. This is just one more example of the non-standard application found throughout the operational theaters of that time, while the markings were in flux.<br />2) Note the white "markings" around the panel on the top of the nose. They are not markings but tape used to seal the edges of the panel covering the engine oil tank and fuselage fuel tank, to prevent fluids from smearing the windscreen. The tape is often applied so cleanly that it appears to be a painted-on marking but it is actually tape. Surgical tape was often used to repair fabric on planes of this era and the pure white color seems to match that of surgical tape, rather than duct tape. <br />3) Also note several photos where the gun barrels on the wings of the Corsair are covered. This was done to prevent both humidity-laden tropical air--on board ships and on land bases--as well as corrosive coral dust from land bases--from getting into the guns. The moisture would condense with colder temps at higher altitudes and freeze, jamming the guns. The coral dust, mixed with the moisture, was both highly abrasive and corrosive.<br /><br />R. LewisR. Lewisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848437078181345610.post-9910364787115984182011-06-21T12:31:23.212-07:002011-06-21T12:31:23.212-07:00If interested in corrections, additional details, ...If interested in corrections, additional details, enhanced info on colors, will provide.<br /><br />Examples: red and white rudder stripes (13 total) added in Jan 1942, to help distinguish US from Japanese aircraft but, by May 1942, realized to be revealing at sea. F4Fs on USS ENTERPRISE, escorting Hornet for Doolittle raid are seen with dark "sock" over rudder to hide them from view at distance.<br /><br />Star-and-bar changes in 1943 created because round insignia were difficult to distinguish at distance, no matter the color or design. Dates for addition and deletion of red and then Insignia Blue surrounds do officially take effect on the dates of various memos but, in practical application, the changes often took weeks, or even months, to be incorporated on aircraft operating "in the field." The red surround was rescinded in September 1943 but could be seen on some Pacific-theater aircraft as late as Feb-Mar 1944, even though pilots in that area of operations were most vehement in their objection to ANY red in the national markings. As for markings on top and bottom of wings, and proper sizes, there were a lot of non0standard variations.<br /><br />The key thing to remember, for modelers, is NEVER to assume that just because a regulation is published, that the orders within that reg are carried out strictly and immediately. <br /><br />R. LewisR. LEWISnoreply@blogger.com