Problems on chipping

[Skywalker Jin]

hello there.
This is Skywalker,a guy who keens on USN naval aviation during WWII.
Now I have some problems on chipping these birds. According to my research, there were 3 layers:metal,anti-corrosion layer（usually zinc chromate yellow）,topcoat
I had saw several masterpieces and they all chipped to bare metal，but someone argued that US ground group wouldn't allow bare metal layer exposed,I was quite confused.
Take some examples:

This wildcat is made by Mr Jiang，academy kit，VF-3 Jimmy Thach

This corsair is made by Herrick He，tamiya kit（32nd），VF-17 kepford
Both of them had the chipping that exposed bare metal. To be historical, should it happen?
I will appreciate it very much if you could help me solve this confusion
Hopefully Mr Leonard could join in

 

[Wurger]

To answer your question ... certainaly keeping the aircraft of a good appearence was one of the main goals of the maintence crew. But it doesn't mean that they run with a bucket of paint everytime they found a scratch or a piece of peelled off coat. Also not always the paint could be available. The analysis of many images of the planes suggests that these used from land airfields were more prone to the kind of damages of the coat than those ones used from aircraft cariers. But it wasn't the rule. IMHO the main reason for that was the coral dust/sand of the airfields on the islands that was everywhere. Contrary to that those from carriers used the runway ( flying deck ) that was very clean in fact. So these looked much better. But as I said it wasn't the rule. The kind of damages is absolutely correct historically. Just a note ... the scratching and chipping/peeling off of the camo uniform varied for the different plane types. All depended on the time of service, place and areas where the maintence crews were stepping mostly while working on a plane etc... Here a couple of examples. Can you see?

The Wildcat ...

The Corsair ...

the pic souce: the net.

 

[Wurger]

To continue my post above ...

Here the F4U-1A Corsair "White 29" VF-17 ... as you may notice the modeller made an excellent effort to replicate the kind of damages to the painted metal surface. So it is really well done.

the pic source: the net.

 

[SaparotRob]

Slightly off topic but those models are beautiful.

 

[Skywalker Jin]

Thanks for all of you！

 

[Wurger]

And the next example of the peeling off of the camouflage. Please make a focus on the Corsair seen in the foreground and the leading edge of the fin, horizontal stabilizer and wing. Also please note the different level of the kind of damages for other F4Us of the of the VF-12 flight.

 

[Skywalker Jin]

And the next example of the peeling off of the camouflage. Please make a focus on the Corsair seen in the foreground and the leading edge of the fin, horizontal stabilizer and wing. Also please note the different level of the kind of damages for other F4Us of the of the VF-12 flight.

View attachment 854129

well，this photo may provide more info than you note
The typical oil leak（F27），which also appears on the -1A models
This two-tone camouflage reminds me that early birdcage -1s may seal the machine gun holes？
On the other hand，it seems that these birds are so fresh that the exhaust stains hadn't exist
thx

 

[Wurger]

This two-tone camouflage reminds me that early birdcage -1s may seal the machine gun holes？
On the other hand，it seems that these birds are so fresh that the exhaust stains hadn't exist

The protecting of the MG outlets may be found on many planes not only on the early birdcage F4U. Just it was used if needed. And again most known images of the Corsair with the sealed MG barrels show these used from the land airfields. But those used from the aircraft carriers also could have the protection stuck. See the images.

Regarding the exhaust stains ... their presence depended on the Corsair variant. The F4U-1, 1A, 1C and 1D had the three-pipe outlets of the exhaust located at the bottom of the fuselage. So no wonder the exhaust stains weren't noticed on the fusleage sides because these were presented at the bottom of the fusealge. With the F4U-4 the new exhaust configuration was introduced. The three exhaust pipes were splitted up. One pipe was left at the bottom while the two others were relocated to the fuselage side and moved up the wing leading adge at the wing root. For that there was added a kind of chute in the fuselage. And that's the reason for appearing of the exhaust stains at the fuselage sides.

the pic source: the net.

 

[Skywalker Jin]

The protecting of the MG outlets may be found on many planes not only on the early birdcage F4U. Just it was used if needed. And again most known images of the Corsair with the sealed MG barrels show these used from the land airfields. But those used from the aircraft carriers also could have the protection stuck. See the images.

View attachment 854144
View attachment 854140
View attachment 854141
View attachment 854143

Regarding the exhaust stains ... their presence depended on the Corsair variant. The F4U-1, 1A, 1C and 1D had the three-pipe outlets of the exhaust located at the bottom of the fuselage. So no wonder the exhaust stains weren't noticed on the fusleage sides because these were presented at the bottom of the fusealge. With the F4U-4 the new exhaust configuration was introduced. The three exhaust pipes were splitted up. One pipe was left at the bottom while the two others were relocated to the fuselage side and moved up the wing leading adge at the wing root. For that there was added a kind of chute in the fuselage. And that's the reason for appearing of the exhaust stains at the fuselage sides.

View attachment 854142
View attachment 854146
the pic source: the net.

So, if the outlet is located at the side of the fuselage,the stains mainly exists on the sides(Like Hellcats）

 

[Wurger]

So, if the outlet is located at the side of the fuselage,the stains mainly exists on the sides(Like Hellcats）

Exactly yes ....

the Corsair with no stains ... no chute in the fuselage for the exhaust pipes ...

the Corsair with stains ... the chute in the fuselage for the exhaust pipes can be noticed ...

and the Wildcat ...

and the Hellcat ...