Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass undercarriage

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hi, guys,

I’m researching the Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass in natural metal finish. One area I’m stuck on is the undercarriage. The limited resources I can find (the Fujimi 1/72 kit instructions and a few pictures on the web) suggest that the u/c wels, doors and legs were natural metal, not the usual USN white, while those finished in Light Gull Grey/ white appear to have the normal white u/c wells, doors and legs, with red edges to the doors.

Can anyone confirm that the NMF Cutlasses also had NMF u/c wells, doors, and legs, or not as the case may be?

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,

Chris.

2

Chris,

I have a book at home by Bert Kinzey covering many of the 1st and 2nd generation Navy jets and he covers the ol’ Cutlass. I’m at work now (taking a little break, heh-heh-heh) and if my memory is correct, the NMF Cutlasses had NMF landing gear. I’m not sure and nor does he address if the wheel wells or door interiors were NMF as well but I would almost assume so. I could be wrong so don’t take my word as gospel. But I’m pretty darned sure the NMF birds had NMF gear. I’ll see what else I can find when I get home.

Best wishes,

Eric

3

On the NMF Cutlass the gear wells were paint with a silver lacquer to help prevent corrosion. Some had the struts also painted and some did not. On the Gull over White Cutlass, the inside of the gear wells were gloss white, with landing gear doors trimmed in red. The struts were also gloss white.

4

Thanks guys; I’ll be going with silver laquer, and gloss chrome silver oleos, all washed with Tamiya Smoke, then.

Chris