How accurate are these WWII era paint jobs?

[the330thbg]

Is this one for real?


Thanks,

Smiz

[k5083]

That's regarded as one of the most excessively garish Hellcat schemes in terms of the camouflage colors. Some other details such as US insignia size and placement are not too bad.

August

[the330thbg]

Agreed. Please no one take me this thread the wrong way. I am a FULL believer in "MY AIRCRAFT.., MY PAINT JOB". My question was just about the 'blue' in this particular case. Was this bright-a$$ blue ever really used?

Cheers

Last edited by the330thbg on Wed Jan 26, 2011 4:36 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[k5083]

Nope. It would be a fun Photoshop project to darken the blues and block out the rear windows to make that bird look a little more real. I've seen some photographers try it just by desaturating and underexposing pics of this plane, but they don't quite get there. I've shot a few pics of it, maybe I'll give it a try.

August

[whistlingdeath77]

MAYBE, a trainer was painted this way at some station? All i ever saw was dark sea blue. Possibly a commanders plane? I really dont want to say it's wrong because i really don't know that blue that well. But my guess is this hellcat would have stuck out like a sore thumb in combat

[Russ Matthews]

It looks odd to me too. Interestingly, a quick scan through the Registry turned up at least one other bright blue Hellcat. They had to get the idea from somewhere ...

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f6fregistry/f6f-94473.html

[Mgawa]

Blue on the Hellcat above is not as used in WW2 as I know.

[Tim Landers]

I would like to see it repainted in late war markings

Last edited by Tim Landers on Fri Jan 28, 2011 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Steve S]

At least they don't have a polished aluminum prop on it anymore.

[the330thbg]

At least they don't have a polished aluminum prop on it anymore.

Eeeeeeegaaaad!!!!! Yikes. But again, "your warbirds, your choice". There have been many discussions as to 'correct' way to paint em on this forum..., and they always turn ugly.

I was just curious about this particular bird and her blue because I noticed it on more than one F6F.

Cheers,

[k5083]

This one and Palm Springs stand out as the most "off" of the current Hellcat paint jobs, and both are older schemes. POF's plane wore several too-bright schemes for many years, but the final scheme it wore before its crash was pretty good. Friedkin's was a bit lurid in the Champlin days, then it changed to British colors and lately a very nice USN scheme.

To my knowledge Lone Star has never tried to pass these colors off as accurate. Someone thought these colors looked nice, so that is fine.

Apart from these outliers, most Hellcats preserved in 3-tone paint have quite accurate shades. If you were to line up (and I hope you'd invite me!) the NASM, TFC, San Diego, Friedkin, Yanks, Pensacola, Yorktown, and Evergreen Hellcats, you'd see minor variation in the colors, especially the Intermediate Blue, but they'd be pretty consistent.

August

[the330thbg]

August!

That would be a dream come true.,. agreed!!!!

Thanks for your input!

Cheers,

Smiz

[bdk]

It looks odd to me too. Interestingly, a quick scan through the Registry turned up at least one other bright blue Hellcat. They had to get the idea from somewhere ...

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/f6fregistry/f6f-94473.html

Notice the colors in the painting behind the Hellcat... Any guess who came up with that color scheme?

[Dan Newcomb]

If you want accurate colors there is plenty of info available. All military colors have Federal Standard numbers. Sea Blue, Intermediate Blue and Insignia White.

http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=25042

http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=35164

http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=37880

Getting the colors right is not a problem.


Dan

[K5DH]

At least it doesn't have invasion stripes!

(sorry, couldn't help myself)



Dean the perpetually silly