USN Yellow Wing Wildcat

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hi everyone,

I have embarked upon my next multi-build project, a group of Wildcats from different manufacters. One will be finished out as a pre-war “yellow wing” US Navy bird belonging to VF-41 on the USS Ranger. The painting instructions have the fuselage and lower wings painted aluminum.

Was this actually a paint coat of aluminum or was this just a natural metal (unpainted) surface?

So regarding painting, I have a few choices for the aluminum. Model Master Metalizer aluminum, or I could go with a few of shades out of the Alclad II line, white aluminum, dark aluminum or dull aluminum. Typically when I do an Alclad finish, I put down a coat of decanted Krylon gloss black first. To this point I have only used dark gray Stynylrez as a primer coat. If I go with Alclad, presuming that is a suitable paint for this build, is the Stynylrez a sufficient undercoat for the Alclad? The Stynylrez is a water-based acrylic polyurethane.

On to the yellow, the instructions are calling it “Orange-Yellow”. I have been unable to find any paint bearing that name. Of all the photos I have seen, I don’t see any hint of orange in this paint. Looks like straight yellow. So if that is indeed the case, I have Tamiya flat yellow, Model Master Acrylic deep yellow and Model Master bright yellow. I am thinking the bright yellow but if anyone thinks otherwise, please let me know. And I suppose if there is some orange in this color, I could put down the yellow followed by a light coat of the Tamiya clear orange? Probably want to do some test-bed painting on that.

2

Did it specify the yellow along with an FS # ? With so many variations and shades of yellows out there, it can be anything. I know Model Master RAF Trainer Yellow is the same as Chrome Yellow (FS13538). However, there is a bit of orange tint in Trainer Yellow compared to Chrome Yellow. Hope this helps. Good luck.

3

I did a 72nd scale yellow wing years ago. I believe I used MM chrome yellow for the wings

4

The painting instructions come with the Yellow Wings decal set I have for this kit, but there is no FS# indicated. Looks like I should make a trip to the LHS for some paint now that I have some suggestions. Thanks!

5

That is what I am going for, although the tail on mine will be willow green. Do you recall what paint you used for the aluminum fuselage? Good looking Cat.

6

Yesterday, I came across some Gunze paints at a LHS. Gunze/Mr. Color carry yellow-orange you’re looking for.

7

Those planes were painted with aluminum paint. Saltwater corrosion was too severe to allow Navy to maintain bare metal areas.

8

When I’ve wanted an orange-ish yellow on a couple planes, adding some red to the yellow a drop at a time and stirring to check color 'til it’s right has worked well for me.

9

I used straight MM aluminum. The fuselage was an aluminum paint not bare metal.