Wheel color for F4U-1A #883? - Aircraft of World War II

Northwest48 · 04-30-2009, 11:09 PM

I've found a few contemporary photos of F4U's of VMF-214. I think the stock wheel color should have been flat white or possibly light gray, and the wheels on those land-based planes might have been fairly dirty. But, the photos seem to show a really dark shade, maybe even non-specular blue. I'll be trying to do an F4U #883 that is alleged to have been flown by Greg Boyington in late 1943. I don't have a photo of that actual plane showing the wheels, so of course I have no idea what color the wheels should be. What would be a reasonable guess?

antoni · 05-01-2009, 05:11 AM

Start here:

Camouflage & Markings: Interior Colours of US Aircraft, 1941-45 (Part I)

lesofprimus · 05-01-2009, 05:53 AM

Funny u should ask this as I am getting ready to build #873, a F4U-1A that my Grandfather flew with the Blacksheep.... I too have run across this question and was one of the things I needed to research...

Here is a pic of 873, and in it u can see the wheel rims are dark.... From what I can gather at this early stage, the rims were Sky Gray and got filthy as time went on....

Catch22 · 05-01-2009, 01:08 PM

I know for -1Ds, they just painted the landing gear DSB for ease of production, but all of the -1As that I've seen have had white landing gear. (British ones anyway). I think it would be safe to assume that they'd start off white/light gray. Now, being on a dirty island in the Pacific might change things...

lesofprimus · 05-01-2009, 01:19 PM

From what Ive been able to research Cory, the -1A's gear were either Light Gray or Silver....

Landing gear: Light Gray or Aluminum Lacquer... This was true well into the F4U-4 production.... Some a/c may have had Insignia white landing gear after overhaul or repaint...

Micdrow · 05-01-2009, 06:25 PM

Ive seen some corsiar F4u-4 with could be either black rims or a dark blue rim. With your picture above Dan I think I would go with the Grey personally. If you look at the dust on the tire it matches the color of the rim so the true color of the rim in your picture could be either. We know the tires are black so the dust and dirt really makes identifying it hard.

Northwest48 · 05-01-2009, 06:33 PM

By the way, if you mean Long Island, NY, I am also a displaced western Long Island (Queens) native for many years living in Boyington's stomping grounds. He was born in Coeur d'Alene, ID and raised in Tacoma, WA. I live in eastern Washington where another WW II ace trained pilots - Eugene Valencia - at NAS Pasco, WA.

lesofprimus · 05-01-2009, 08:00 PM

There is only one Long Island man....

Northwest48 · 05-01-2009, 10:44 PM

Since VMF-214 was land-based, would they have had diamond tread tires? It's just about impossible to tell from the contemporary photos I have seen.

lesofprimus · 05-02-2009, 08:22 AM

Everything I have found concerning the tires leads to me to believe they had diamond tread...

Micdrow · 05-02-2009, 11:45 AM

Here are couple of pictures of rims of later model corsiars.

Enjoy!!!

Northwest48 · 05-02-2009, 05:56 PM

n/t

Northwest48 · 05-02-2009, 05:57 PM

And the pictures

lesofprimus · 05-02-2009, 07:34 PM

Oh, and btw, Boyington DID fly 883, getting a couple kills in it.... Dunno if uve seen these pics, but here ya go...

Northwest48 · 05-03-2009, 01:28 PM

Thanks, I found that first pic of Boyington waving from 883's cockpit, but haven't seen the other one. Sorry to be a pest but what color do you think that headrest was? The Tamiya kit says flat black, but it doesn't look flat black to me. Should it be leather color? Or, maybe it is black. Don't know.

04-30-2009, 11:09 PM	#1
Northwest48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 28	Wheel color for F4U-1A #883? I've found a few contemporary photos of F4U's of VMF-214. I think the stock wheel color should have been flat white or possibly light gray, and the wheels on those land-based planes might have been fairly dirty. But, the photos seem to show a really dark shade, maybe even non-specular blue. I'll be trying to do an F4U #883 that is alleged to have been flown by Greg Boyington in late 1943. I don't have a photo of that actual plane showing the wheels, so of course I have no idea what color the wheels should be. What would be a reasonable guess?

05-01-2009, 01:08 PM	#4
Catch22 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,293	I know for -1Ds, they just painted the landing gear DSB for ease of production, but all of the -1As that I've seen have had white landing gear. (British ones anyway). I think it would be safe to assume that they'd start off white/light gray. Now, being on a dirty island in the Pacific might change things... __________________

05-01-2009, 01:19 PM	#5
lesofprimus Minister of Whoopass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi Posts: 17,490	From what Ive been able to research Cory, the -1A's gear were either Light Gray or Silver.... Landing gear: Light Gray or Aluminum Lacquer... This was true well into the F4U-4 production.... Some a/c may have had Insignia white landing gear after overhaul or repaint... __________________ My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk

05-01-2009, 06:25 PM	#6
Micdrow “Archive” Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,852	Ive seen some corsiar F4u-4 with could be either black rims or a dark blue rim. With your picture above Dan I think I would go with the Grey personally. If you look at the dust on the tire it matches the color of the rim so the true color of the rim in your picture could be either. We know the tires are black so the dust and dirt really makes identifying it hard. __________________ "Valor does not mean Hero."

05-01-2009, 06:33 PM	#7
Northwest48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 28	Thank you Sir - Light grey + crud it will be By the way, if you mean Long Island, NY, I am also a displaced western Long Island (Queens) native for many years living in Boyington's stomping grounds. He was born in Coeur d'Alene, ID and raised in Tacoma, WA. I live in eastern Washington where another WW II ace trained pilots - Eugene Valencia - at NAS Pasco, WA.

05-01-2009, 05:11 AM	#2
antoni Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 227	Start here: Camouflage & Markings: Interior Colours of US Aircraft, 1941-45 (Part I)

05-01-2009, 08:00 PM	#8
lesofprimus Minister of Whoopass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi Posts: 17,490	There is only one Long Island man.... __________________ My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk

05-01-2009, 10:44 PM	#9
Northwest48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 28	One more question - Tire treads? Since VMF-214 was land-based, would they have had diamond tread tires? It's just about impossible to tell from the contemporary photos I have seen.

05-02-2009, 08:22 AM	#10
lesofprimus Minister of Whoopass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi Posts: 17,490	Everything I have found concerning the tires leads to me to believe they had diamond tread... __________________ My IL2 Video Tribute to My Grandfather: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtzN5RuNNJk

05-02-2009, 05:56 PM	#12
Northwest48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 28	Thank you gentlemen - I appreciate the help n/t n/t

05-02-2009, 05:57 PM	#13
Northwest48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 28	And the pictures

05-03-2009, 01:28 PM	#15
Northwest48 Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Pasco, WA Posts: 28	Thanks, I found that first pic of Boyington waving from 883's cockpit, but haven't seen the other one. Sorry to be a pest but what color do you think that headrest was? The Tamiya kit says flat black, but it doesn't look flat black to me. Should it be leather color? Or, maybe it is black. Don't know.

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