Picture of the day. (7 Viewers)

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Nothing demonstrates the power and size and game-changing nature of the B-29 Superfortress than this image of female factory workers hand-painting zinc-cromate primer into the interior of a B-29 wing... or rather the trailing half of the wing. What I see here is an abundant supply of workers, aluminum and energy. Zinc Chromate was used as an anti-corrosive barrier primer; it could be described as a sort of painted-on galvanizing. It had been developed by Ford Motor Company by the late 1920s, subsequently adopted in commercial aviation and later by the US Military. Official USAAC notes mention successful application of Zinc Chromate primer starting from 1933, but it had not been adopted as standard until 1936.

 
Yip, looks like it...
Click to expand...

That's taken at Rukuhia, the site of modern day Hamilton Airport in New Zealand. They are RNZAF Corsairs. Beaut picture, Lucky; I've seen a lot of the same, there used to be Venturas, Hudsons and P-40s there too. The picture was taken post war, probably not until the late 50s early 60s when Rukuhia was at its biggest before the big melt down took place. Sadly only a handful of aircraft survived; out of some 425 Corsairs operated by the RNZAF, only two survive in complete condition today. One of them is flying in New Zealand, so that's a bonus.

Official USAAC notes mention successful application of Zinc Chromate primer starting from 1933, but it had not been adopted as standard until 1936.
Click to expand...

Evocative pic alright, Syscom. Zinc chromate is no longer being used in the airline industry because of it is considered too hazardous, not that modern aviation paint isn't, but, like a lot of things, like MEK for example, its being ruled out owing to modern alternatives and the nature of the chemicals used in the industry.
 
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