Modelers, I have a question concerning the internal colors of the F4F-4 Wildcat. References say that the internal structure is what is called “Grummen Grey” and I have found photos that show this color in the landing gear bay and engine bay. However, on the same aircraft, the wing fold area will be green. Why is this and what color green would this be? Would this be the same interior green used in the cockpit?
I’m not sure what the FS match is for your Grumman Gray, because it’s pre-FS, but Navy painting regs during the war period until the jets took over called for certain parts in the forward, inside parts of the airplane to be a shade of gray about equal to light gull gray. Firewalls and the insides of cowlings were included in the painting regs. And I believe the area behind the forward bulkhead (firewall) of the Wildcat where the oil coolers are situated, just forward of the landing gear, is gray, but the area behind, where you can see the gear mechanism, is painted green. I know this is complicated without a painting diagram. One source I know that quotes this is Squadron Signals Navy Colors, Vols. 1 and 2. The Monogram Guide to Painting Navy Aircraft, Vol. 2 also has this information.
BTW: That Corsair you’re about to build should also have a gray cowling on the inside surfaces. And a later addendum to the same order says all tactical Navy planes should have wheels painted that same shade of gray, but I’ll bet no one has ever seen gray wheels. Remember, in the Pacific, operational units tended to use stateside painting orders for toilet paper. They had more urgent worries than what color their wheels should be.
Not sure about the wing folds but the cockpit above the floor should be bronze green fs 34058. Inside of cowl and wheel well area should be light gray.