I am working on a 1/72 Hasegawa F4F 4 Wildcat.
Although the illustration of the tricolor paint scheme is clear in the instructions, I would like to verify one aspect. I have not found a clear enough picutre anywhere thus far to answer the question.
That is, does the border line of the underside color come up to meet the wing root under the wings, or rather does it continue straight. Or maybe it was done both ways.
Anyone know?
Thanks.
Here is one picture of wildcats in flight . The paint jobs are all a little different. The white runs straight across the bottom, but they have different amounts of shadow shading under the wings.
The principle of countershading would have the borderline come up to meet the wing leading and trailing edge. However, on many two-color F4Fs the dark color was continued across under the wing contrary to that principle. The few pictures I’ve seen of the tri-color scheme on the F4F, with the notable exception of the #1 posted above, seem to be properly countershaded. So it depends on the specific aircraft that the Hasegawa markings represent. Good luck with finding a picture of it, but there must be some source they used that isn’t too rare…
Here’s a couple of sites for you. Hope they help
Tank
http://www.warbirdalley.com/f4f.htm
This site here has nice color profiles which show your F4F with white undershading which continues up to meet the wing under the wings.
Here’s a picture showing it going under:
http://www.acepilots.com/planes/f4f_profile.jpg
And here’s one that shows it not going all the way under:
http://www.pumaslog.addr.com/images/f4f-03.gif
It seems as though it was up to whoever was the crew chief at the time and place the plane was painted.
Take your pick
Tom [C):-)]
For a good source, I suggest this title :
Wildcat Aces of the Pacific
by Barrett Tillman
You can get this one from booksamillion.com for less then the cost of a model kit.
Tom[C):-)]
Thank you everyone for the help. Wow, those replies came fast!