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Bare metal finish WWII US Navy aircraft

Now that I've got your attention...

I want to build an F4F Wildcat coming off the assembly line just before it was to be painted. Bare metal. Maybe just getting a coat of primer on some areas.

#1. Were the aircraft complete builds at this point or missing canopies, guns, etc? #2. Dioramawise, would they be sprayed inside the factory in a booth or outside in the open air? #3. Would the surfaces to be painted zinc oxide already be painted before the exterior paint scheme was applied? #4. If I go with a two-tone Navy scheme and wanted to focus my diorama after one coat had been applied, which coat went on first? Light to dark? #5. What color primer would be correct? #6. Would any panels be removed and the exposed area masked off?

Not looking for answers only from retired Grumman workers here ;-), anyone that wants to hazard a guess, suggest an idea or just throw something out there will be welcomed too. See where I'm going with this? Anything on how to setup a WWII paintjob dio would be more than I have now... which is nada.

This and the F4U-5 Corsair are my next two builds to keep me busy this winter.

WmB

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Reply to
WmB
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What you need are some photos of the assembly lines. My guess is that the subassemblies might have been preprimed, or even completely painted. I suggest this for two reasons--it might be a lot more efficient way to paint at least the primer, and I have seen photos of a Dauntless assembly line where the unmated wings already have full paint and insignias. Grumman's practice might of course have been different.

Mark Schynert

Reply to
Mark Schynert

For #3, the primer definitely goes on before the paint.

Reply to
famvburg

you might see if you can find this book, "Forge of Freedom". I have it and it has lots of production line pics....

Craig

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Reply to
Craig

20 some years ago, when I was stationed with HC-16 at NAS Pensacola, I would spend some of my weekends helping out the "wrinkle necks" at MNA. (Museum of Naval Aviation). I.e. I cleaned corrosion, anyway, I remember one of the geezers telling me that the reason that why corrosion is such a problem on these was that when they were built, corrosion inhibitors and primers were not used alot, because chances are it would only be in service for a few months or maybe a few years at most. J
Reply to
Longtailedlizard

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Hey thanks for tha heads up. I'm on it.

WmB

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Reply to
WmB

OK... I meant places like the green landing gear wells and surfaces that are hidden like the areas where the folding wings join. Spray those first or after the exterior is painted? During sub assy?

WmB

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Reply to
WmB

hidden like the

It seems far more logical to do those before everything is assembled. Otherwise there will be places unreachable. Just my 2¢.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Reply to
Bill Banaszak

hidden like the

Reply to
Ron

Yeah I know. I clarified my original post just in case somebody was being a wiseguy (prime before paint).

WmB

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Reply to
WmB

wiseguy (prime

Reply to
Ron

I have worked with aerospace parts for years. Almost all machined castings are coated prior to assembly. In fact it may be 100% of the parts. I can not think of a single airplane part that has bare metal exposed when assembled. Most have that yellowish-green flat coating on them.

Jeff

outside in the open

the exterior paint

after one coat had

welcomed too. See

would be more than I

Reply to
Jeff

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