Interior Color for Blue Angels landing gear doors (A-4)

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I am building an A-4 Skyhawk in Blue Angels colors, and my research isn’t turning up any difinitive color for the interior gear color. Some photos appear to show white, and some appear to be blue, and some appear to show both. I am wondering if this is due to shadow. Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

2

White

3

White… A very clean white. those aircraft were immaculate at all times.

Check out this video for the some great views as well (and some Kick A$$ VH)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwi8m4SIejE

4

Thanks, this very photo is causing some of my confusion. The landing gear is white, and the wells are white, but the actual door interiors do not appear to be white.

5

You’re right… [:O] look at what I found here… blue interior on the main gear door…

6

There are more great shots here!

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/AWA1/001-100/walk026_A-4M/part4/walk026d.htm

7

The main doors of both the mains and the nose gear were blue inside. The small door that covered the retraction strut of the nose gear was white.

Mark

8

Also note: The BA’s Skyhawks were F models (Foxtrot) and the BA birds were “Super Foxtrots”. They had up- rated engines giving the aircraft a thrust to weight ratio of almost 1:1. The enlarged intakes are available from one of the aftermarket parts suppliers cast in resin. The name of the supplier escapes me at the moment. Anyone? Testors Model Masters paints supply the BA blue FS # 15050 (IIR) and the BA yellow (the FS # just will not come to me at the moment [senior moment]). The white is GLOSS “insignia white”. The 20MM cannons were removed and the ports faired over.

9

Thanks, that is a big help.

10

Thanks, you’ve been a big help. That picture shows the blue more clearly.

11

Personally, I think the Blues were a better show with the Scooters than with the Bugs… 'Course, the Hornet is all-around a better, more powerful aircraft, but those little Douglas birds, with just the single engine, really could turn, burn, yank & bank… Most Richard-hardening…

I was lucky enough to have followed them through the last three aircraft they flew, F-4s, A-4s, and the current F-18s… I know I also committed a mortal sin when, being an Air Force Brat, wanted to see the Blues more often than the Thunderbirds, lol… One show, back in the mid- 70’s, I hitchhiked over 200 miles to see the Blues perform… Never woulda done that for the T-birds… (Sorry Dad, lol)

I did like to see both teams fly when they were both in Phantoms though…

12

Food for thought;

The F-4s began production in 1959 and ended while the A-4 (Scooter) began production in 1954 and are still in service in several places in the world. A few years ago Brazil bought 70 A-4 Ms and a few TA 4 Js. The Hornet began production a few years ago and has already been replaced by the Super Hornet, which is a different airplane. Scooter pilots have told me that it has an amazing roll rate that will bang your head against the canopy. Think about it. The A4 is used to be the oponent against our modern fighters at “Top Gun” school, and with a good pilot it’s hard to beat. What’s not to love?