WWII Cartridges

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I’m building a Trumpeter 1/32 F4U-1D (Okinawa circa. 1945) and it can be built with the access panels for the wing guns open or closed. The cartridge belts have tiny little bullets molded at the ends of the cartridges and I’m thinking about (notice I said “Thinking About”; they are pretty tiny!) trying to paint the bullet tips the proper colors for the ammunition type. Not sure of the mix though.

If I remember right, please correct me if I’m wrong, tracers were about 1 round in 5. But what about the other cartridges? Were they AP, incendiary, ball, or what? It may have varied at the whim or the armorer/pilot/CO, I just don’t know.

Here is a link to the different types of ammo for the “Ma Deuce”:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/50.htm
but they don’t say anything about the mix.

2

Personally, I think you would be safe with ball for the 4 rounds. I think you would go blind trying to paint a 1/2" stripe of color at the bullet tip.

That was a great link ,BTW

3

I suspect you are right. They are TINY, even under a magnifier lamp, about 1/32" triangles. I might be able to give them a “Little Dab Of Color” but that’s about the best I could pull off. No way I could paint a scale 1/2" band.

4

your are right the tracers were 1 in five at least on the B29s and B26 in the Korean war

5

Thanks, James. That’s the ratio I think I’ll use. If someone wants t count them, I hope they have a good magnifying glass!

Thanks for the help.

6

By the way, you could go all ball if you wanted to. I’ve read a couple of places that various individuals (and some squadrons) loaded ball only because tracers gave too much warning to the aircraft being attacked. (or as Murphy says - tracers work in both directions)

7

Good point, Quincy. Thanks.

I trimmed the belts out Friday night and looked at those tiny little bullets. I painted the belts Saturday and looked at those tiny little bullets again. I painted the cartridges Sunday and looked at those tiny little bullets again. Today I decided I didn’t like it so I stripped it down and started over. I figure if I keep stalling I’ll never have to paint them [:D]