Hi all,
I am finally getting around to start my next kit -- an Accurate Miniatures SBD-5 Dauntless. I have a question on the paint scheme. I really like the standard 'two blue' scheme of the Navy aircraft but I am thinking of doing something different.
Here is part of a pic I found of a squad of sbd5's off the Virgin Islands during 1944.
The main colors are obviously light gray and army/navy green.
My question is about the tops of the wings. From the picture the leading edges of the wings are gray but the very little bit of the tops of the wings appears to be the green.
My question is ---- does anyone know if the tops of the wings would be solid green? Would they be mottled gray and green?
I appreciate any info I can get from everyone.

Below is the pic and thanks everyone,
Wayne

Hi Wayne,

No green present. The colors for the Atlantic ASW scheme simply used Dark Gull Gray and Non-Specular White. The photo has a bit of green shift to it, and that coupled with sky reflection off the upper wing surface gives a green appearance.

If you're interested, we have both those colors accurately matched and available in our Colourcoats enamels.

Due to the age of the photo and green shift I think the colors you are looking for are actually like this

I Know it's the wrong aircraft but the only one at the show that had ASW color scheme, sorry. This photo may have a slight blue cast.

The tops of the wing are Dark Gull Gray overall except for the Leading Edges which are white.

Thanks John and Chuck,
I really would have been way off base if I had gone ahead and painted the scheme the way I originally called it

John....I havn't had the opportunity to try out the Colourcoat enamels yet. I havn't yet checked to see if I still have any of the correct colors I need for this scheme. If I do need any, I will definately check these out.

Also .... I just thought of something. On a lot of the sbd's the interior surfaces of the swiss cheese flaps were red. Do you think these would still be red with this scheme? Plus with the tops of the wings gray and the leading edges white. Would that be a sharp straight edge between the colors? Or would it be more of a softer hand done edge to it like on the body of the plane?

Thanks
Wayne

Hi Wayne,

I don't know about how soft or sharp the demarcation line would have been, but the interior of the dive brakes would have remained red. That was a safety feature for flight deck handling crews. It would not have been a camouflage issue as it would have been invisible in normal flight, only becoming visible in a dive when the brakes were deployed (and at that point, they weren't particularly concerned about visibility from behind!).

Thanks again John,
I appreciate any and all info I can get

Tomorrow it's time to start putting the base coat on all the interior parts. Won't seem like much at first but at least it's a start.

Good modeling,
Wayne