F6F-5 Tri Scheme

[B29WereWolf]

I saw this photo of an F6F, at first I thought it was a -3 because of the tri-scheme, but looking closer and not seeing an aft cockpit window, it seems like it's a -5. Did -5s have the try-scheme or were they all the gloss blue?

I'd like to build a model of this, so before I use one of my -3 kits, I want to make sure that I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing.

 

[Wurger]

I saw this photo of an F6F, at first I thought it was a -3 because of the tri-scheme, but looking closer and not seeing an aft cockpit window, it seems like it's a -5. Did -5s have the try-scheme or were they all the gloss blue?

I'd like to build a model of this, so before I use one of my -3 kits, I want to make sure that I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing. View attachment 822837

IMHO that's is the F6F-3 but not the F6F-5. The front windshield with the upper framing is typical for the F-3 variant. The latest F-3s had the framing removed and the flat bulletproof glass was almost extended to the top of the windshield like the F-5 had. What is more the F-5 had the front dorsal white recognition light removed while we may notice the two lights ( yellow arrows ) at the fuselage top behind the cockpit hood. A close up look at the cockpit reveals the light oval area at the port side of the fuselage where the armoured plate had the round cut for getting a better side-back view. IMHO there is the window unless it is a light trick because of the thickess of the armour plate and the bulkhead behind it. At the starboard the lighter edge of the armour plate also indicates the window there rather. The main reason the window at the starborad can't be noticed is the angle the pic was taken with and the slided back cockpit hood hiding it with the light trick/reflection. Additinally the engine cowling also looks like the one used the F-3 version. So the three-tone camo that was used from 1943 to 1944 seems to be correct. Certainly I may be wrong.

 

[Greg Boeser]

I saw this photo of an F6F, at first I thought it was a -3 because of the tri-scheme, but looking closer and not seeing an aft cockpit window, it seems like it's a -5. Did -5s have the try-scheme or were they all the gloss blue?

I'd like to build a model of this, so before I use one of my -3 kits, I want to make sure that I'm seeing what I think I'm seeing. View attachment 822837

Cat got thirsty.

 

[Jim MacDonald]

I'm also seeing a -3 due to the cutouts in the armor plate.

Mac

 

[GrumpyOldCrewChief]

How reliable would the variation at the engine exhaust stubs be? I remember a slight difference in the port and area leading the outlet.