Both done +++ Two Continental F4F Wildcats: France & Belgium

[Dizzyfugu]

While beauty pics for the Go 146 have been taken, the dull German TV program is bridged with creative work. Since these Wildcat twins are Hobby Boss kits, building them is not the true description of this process...

A pair of continental 1:72 Grumman G-36As, a.k.a. F4F Wildcat/Martlet (Whif/Hobby Boss kit conversion) - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The French one (#7), with a dark grey interior:

A pair of 1:72 Grumman G-36As, a.k.a. F4F Wildcat/Martlet by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The Belgian one (#8), with a US style zinc chromate look; note the filled seams of the missing wing folding mechanism on this one, as well as added bumps for engine-mounted machine guns:

A pair of 1:72 Grumman G-36As, a.k.a. F4F Wildcat/Martlet by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

The twins from below. Funny thing is that there is a clear part for the landing windows, but there's nothing inside, so I painted anything black... The exhausts are also missing completely.
Again, note the deleted outer machine guns on the front Wildcat and the different pitot (the Belgian one):

A pair of 1:72 Grumman G-36As, a.k.a. F4F Wildcat/Martlet by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Captain Canada]

Nice work so far ! I like the exhaust stubs !

[Librarian]

I am also puzzled about the colors - but NEVER EVER trust print colors or their representation on a monitor screen.
Actually, the RAF version hangs in a UK museum, restored in 2013 to what is supposed to be the original colors:

This Martlet/Wildcat was part of a French order that was taken over by the British. They ended up with my Dad's Uncle's squadron (804 Sqn). The colours were French ordered so that's the direction of research. They had some problems because the throttles were reversed as the French are wont to do...bit like the roads .

[Spey_Phantom]

looking forward to it, iirc both France and Belgium ordered the landbased version of the Wildcat before the war (Grumman G36).
ive partialy started an academy wildcat some time ago, but never got arround to finishing it.

good luck with this project 

[Dizzyfugu]

Well, with the simple Hobby Boss kits, things move fast towards painting. The French one will receive a Blue-grey/Light grey livery, typical for naval machines of the era, and the Belgian one will be close to the museum piece. Its colors are still puzzling (I assume it's Extra Dark Sea Green and Extra Dark Sea Grey), but I will use the museum pics as benchmarks and mix the tones. I am really curious how this turns out together with the colorful Belgian roundels!?

[Spey_Phantom]

Well, with the simple Hobby Boss kits, things move fast towards painting. The French one will receive a Blue-grey/Light grey livery, typical for naval machines of the era, and the Belgian one will be close to the museum piece. Its colors are still puzzling (I assume it's Extra Dark Sea Green and Extra Dark Sea Grey), but I will use the museum pics as benchmarks and mix the tones. I am really curious how this turns out together with the colorful Belgian roundels!?

you can always go for the brown/green camo that Belgium used on the Hurricane Mk1, Fairey Battle and Brewster Buffalo's 

[Dizzyfugu]

That's what I actually want to avoid - I already had two build for the GB in Dark Earth/Dark Green, and the naval delivery scheme is a nice excuse - and it has some surreal appeal! 

[Spey_Phantom]

i see, ive googled up the Martlet Mk.1, and found these instructions from the AZ models box.
ive also seen that the paint on the aircraft is more of a matt finish, the restored martlets paint is incorrect.
if it was me painting a Belgian martlet, i would go with the first scheme

[Librarian]

Not sure about the gloss or matt situation but I do know the arguments raged for years about which colours were accurate. When they began the restoration they discovered the original paint still on under later layers which finally settled the debate...they're supposed to be about as close to the originals as you can get.

[Captain Canada]

Thanks for the profile Nils ! Looks good in all three schemes.

[Dizzyfugu]

The French one first; the paint scheme is inspired by typical Aéronautique Navale schemes - bluish gray uppers, and pale grey undersides. The color recommendations are pretty contradictive, though, ranging from light blue to Gunship Grey! I settled for FS35614 (Humbrol 144), because I wanted a rather pale grey, with a cold, blue touch. The lower sides become FS36375, also because of the bluish hue.

Because the roundels (later) come from a vintage Airfix Blenheim (must be 30 years old...), I paint the Tricolores on vertical and horizontal stabilizers with matchin paint tones, just the white stripe in the middle will be a decal.

A pair of 1:72 Grumman G-36As, a.k.a. F4F Wildcat/Martlet - a French one first... by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A pair of 1:72 Grumman G-36As, a.k.a. F4F Wildcat/Martlet - a French one first... by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Captain Canada]

Very nice ! She's going to look great in that scheme.

[Dizzyfugu]

Well, it's close to the USN scheme, but I think the "colder" colors and the French roundels and tail colors will change the look enough. The Belgian one will be more spectacular, I think. 

[KiwiZac]

Nice idea to match the flash to the aged decals! That will definitely change the look like you say.

[Dizzyfugu]

It's improvisation, and the blue on the old Blenheim roundels is rather dark (the sheet can be seen in the upper left corner of the first pic in the last post of mine). And instead of using pure decals with a color mismatch (the blue should IMHO be much lighter) I think this way will result in a better overall look - and the stronger colors stand better out from the grey aircraft. The colorful tail looks nice, BTW!