Resuming a project I began thirty years ago…all the aircraft flown by the Blues in 1/72. Though I have a bunch of books the paint used inside landing gear covers is undiscernable. In reviewing all the images I can google up it looks like on both scale models and on a few current Bearcats painted in a Blues scheme the inside of the landing gear covers are blue.
In 1990 I corresponded with Captain Ray Hawkins who flew Bearcat 0, Bearcat 3, Panther 3 and Panther 1. In response to my question he writes: “All the exposed surfaces of the Bearcat were painted blue. Wheel-wells, struts, etc. were of the standard color from the factory”. I would assume that to be chromate green. So would the interior side of the gear covers be considered exterior and painted blue, or interior and painted chromate green as I assume was the case with production F8s. And what color were the struts on production F8s painted? For according to Hawkins that’s the color they would be and not blue.
At the time, Navy aircraft came from the factory with everything painted blue. This would include the gear bays, gear, inner doors and possibly the wheels. I found a site the has a couple of period color pics of the Bearcats in blue and several of Beetle Bomb in yellow. As far as I can tell, the gear and inner doors are blue and yellow respectively with aluminum wheels. I did my Bearcat in all blue. If I remember correctly, the Hellcats and Bearcats were painted in a color close to Glossy Sea Blue rather than Dark Sea Blue. Here’s the link to the pics.
Many thanks. If that is the case I am wondering why Hawkins differentiated between the exterior color blue, and “standard color from the factory” for the wheel-wells and struts etc. Two different blues?
You probably know that there is some controversy over the original blue on the Hellcat. According to Butch Voris, the Blues first boss, the blue he chose was Insignia Blue. With the Bearcat I just read the new Blue Angel’s blue was applied by Grumman
I totally missed your response. I apologise for not responding sooner. I’m aware of the controversy surrounding the paint on the Hellcats. When I was researching the blue for the Blues I came across this article, hope it helps.
Whenever I’ve gotten to talk to a pilot, colors have been the last thing they or I wanted to talk about so I can’t comment on Hawkins’ recollections. If you get a chance, post some pics of your builds. We’d like to see them.