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Author Topic: Quesion on AC painting.  (Read 820 times)

Offline oakranger

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Quesion on AC painting.
« on: November 19, 2009, 10:21:50 AM »
It has occur to me last night and maybe somebody can educate me on it.  By 43-44, we start practicing less paint on our bombers and fighters.  I understand they did this because it cost less to build, less drag, decreased weight and less time from the factory to the front line.  Mostly all ACs in the European theater has done this and some in the Pacific.  However, our Navy AC they never did this.  WHY?  Was it for blending to the sea if there are cons above them?
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Oaktree

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Offline Soulyss

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2009, 10:50:53 AM »
I can't say for certain but I would think that it was probably to seal the metal from the salt water atmosphere as much as anything else. 
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Offline oakranger

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2009, 11:32:49 AM »
Quote from: Soulyss on November 19, 2009, 10:50:53 AM
I can't say for certain but I would think that it was probably to seal the metal from the salt water atmosphere as much as anything else. 

Never thought of that and you could be right about that.  But what about the other AC that fly in the same environment?
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Oaktree

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Offline Soulyss

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2009, 01:31:27 PM »
That's why it's pretty much as guess.  As far as I've seen all the planes in the fleet were all painted, yet some of the aircraft stationed on islands in the pacific featured the bare metal.  I don't know how much it would effect it would have otherwise.  For all I know it could have no practical reason at all other than simple camouflage to keep the planes painted.
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Offline Simaril

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2009, 02:28:06 PM »
Was a corrosion issue, at least eventually. After the war, in the early 50s, they tried making bare metal standard - -but experiment only lasted a brief time before it became obvious that corrosion was a major issue, and more than outweighed any benefits.

During the war, not sure. The USN was far more strict about markings and colors than the USAAF, which is why the nose art is so muted on  naval plaens. Might be that they were just so conservative that they never considered the change. In the USAAF, the change was made for weight and speed reasons.
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Offline SKJohn

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2009, 03:16:52 PM »
In AHII, do the all metal P-51's (for example) go faster and higher than the painted ones?
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Offline Plazus

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2009, 03:30:59 PM »
No. All of the skins have no impact on flight performance. The skins serve only for appearance and historical immersion.
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Plazus
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Offline Westy

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2009, 03:32:36 PM »
""the change was made for weight and speed reasons"

It's also a lot less maintenance. Weathered planes look like crap and need a lot
of man hours and material to keep up.

Also, silver planes screamed out "Hey! Here I am" cause by 44 the Allies wanted the
LW to find them and to fight so they could clear the air over the invasion beaches
and also gain air superiority over Western Europe.
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Offline Shuffler

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2009, 03:49:48 PM »
Quote from: Plazus on November 19, 2009, 03:30:59 PM
No. All of the skins have no impact on flight performance. The skins serve only for appearance and historical immersion.

Just as it makes no difference what size our pilots are  :neener:
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Offline Plazus

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2009, 03:54:34 PM »
Quote from: Shuffler on November 19, 2009, 03:49:48 PM
Just as it makes no difference what size our pilots are  :neener:

My pilot can beat you in a pie eating contest...  :bolt:
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Offline oakranger

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2009, 12:57:10 AM »
Quote from: Plazus on November 19, 2009, 03:54:34 PM
My pilot can beat you in a pie eating contest...  :bolt:
\
lol


As far as USSAF wanted bare skin, was there a member on the "Black Sheep" sqad that had his FU4 bare skin.  So the Japs can find him?
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Oaktree

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Offline JB88

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2009, 02:37:45 AM »
so the which?

 ;)
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Offline cpxxx

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2009, 02:45:20 AM »
Most likely the corrosion issue and the innate conservatism of the Navy. Even now on modern US Navy aircraft seem to be a patchwork of greys at times. Particularly around removable panels. To me it looks like every time a chip appears out comes a can of paint and it's covered up. The old F14 could look very scruffy after a cruise.
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Offline Westy

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2009, 10:55:19 AM »
"a member on the "Black Sheep" sqad ..."

The Black Sheep squadron were a land base Marines outfit which was famous for doing
things thier own way. Hey. Maybe that's why they have that name for the squadron? :)


"that had his FU4 bare skin.  So the Japs can find him?"

Which pilot was that? Would really like to look into the scheme for skinning?
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Offline oakranger

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Re: Quesion on AC painting.
« Reply #14 on: November 20, 2009, 11:21:28 AM »
Quote from: Westy on November 20, 2009, 10:55:19 AM
"a member on the "Black Sheep" sqad ..."

The Black Sheep squadron were a land base Marines outfit which was famous for doing
things thier own way. Hey. Maybe that's why they have that name for the squadron? :)


"that had his FU4 bare skin.  So the Japs can find him?"

Which pilot was that? Would really like to look into the scheme for skinning?

I really dont know who the pilot was.  I remember hearing it on on Oliver North show.
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Oaktree

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