Kingfisher livery?

[Out2gtcha]

1 hour ago, LSP_Ron said:

One of the few planes that just doesn't look right on wheels. 

 

 

100% right

[Finn]

A few, b&w, pics here:

 

http://voughtworks.blogspot.com/search/label/OS2U?max-results=100

 

Jari

[Dana Bell]

A few notes on OS2U colors that have come up since I wrote my Kingfisher book eleven years ago.

 

First, about floats: All OS2U-1s were delivered with Vought floats.  OS2U-2s bound for battleships and cruisers were delivered with Vought floats, while those delivered to training units and inshore patrol squadrons were delivered with Edo floats.  All OS2U-3s were delivered with Edo floats.  In service, the Vought floats did poorly in heavy seas and were eventually replaced by Edo floats.

 

There were many changes to post-delivery color schemes, and only photos can indicate what we should be applying to our models.  However, there are some extensive factory records that indicate how most of the Kingfishers appeared when delivered.

 

All OS2U-1s were delivered with aluminum finish and Orange Yellow wing upper surfaces.  Nearly all were delivered with complete unit markings and insignia.  Note that the Orange Yellow wing color wrapped around the leading edge for 5% of the chord.

 

The first eleven OS2U-2s (BuNos 2189 thru 2199) were delivered in similar highly visible colors (aluminum lacquer with Orange-Yellow wings), marked for inshore patrol squadrons, NAS Norfolk, or USS Concord.  

 

On 2 January 1941 Vought-Sikorsky issued Engineering Instruction 5194 to implement new painting instructions from BuAer dated 26 December 1940.  Pending the Navy’s final decision on aircraft camouflage, the EI directed that beginning with BuNo 2200 OS2Us were to be delivered in overall aluminum color (eliminating the yellow on the wings) and eliminating all insignia and markings except for the four wing national insignia, the tail serial number and model designation, and (on the noses of 2190-2195, 2206-2210, and 2237-2238) Neutrality Patrol stars.  The Navy reasoned that this simplified scheme would cost less and be more readily overpainted once an operational camouflage scheme was selected.

 

Factory drawings were revised on 21 March, directing Vought painters to refer to drawing CV-58901 for new camouflage instructions.  The new drawing did not include painting instructions for the next 97 OS2U-2s (serials 2200-2288 and 3073-3080) so our only evidence of how they left the factory comes from photos and a single Vought-Sikorsky letter.  Here’s what I’ve found so far:

 

2222 – #30 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2224 – #32 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2227 – #35 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2230 – #38 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2233 – #41 – aluminum w/yellow wings

2239 – Vought-Sikorsky letter of 1 February 1941 notes that this aircraft will be the first factory-painted in the camouflage specified by BuAer on 26 December 1940 [Light Gray].  The scheme was expected to be painted on all subsequent aircraft.
2265 – #37 – Blue Gray camo w/yellow wings (colors modified after delivery?)
2278 – #62 – overall gray

 

Drawing CV-58901 begins with OS2U-2 serial 3081, then omits several ranges of aircraft.  The drawing presents two schemes: the “Type A” scheme depicted Blue Gray over Light Gray camouflage with four wing insignia, a national insignia on either side of the aft fuselage, and one-inch-high black serial number, designation, and “NAVY” on the vertical tail.  (In practice the 1-inch tail markings were applied in white on Light Gray combat aircraft.)

 

The “Type B” scheme was clearly intended for non-combat Kingfishers, though the overall color was Light Gray camouflage lacquer (no Orange Yellow wings).  The four wing insignia were still there, but no fuselage insignia.  The tail markings were now black, three inches high, with the aircraft serial and designation only.  “U. S. NAVY” was on the aft fuselage in 6-inch-high black letters.

 

(Besides noting the type of float provided, modelers should be aware that combat OS2U-2s and -3s carried extra fuel tanks, while training aircraft carried only the original single tank.  The combat aircraft had the three teardrop bullet-proof fairings – one over the right wing, two over the left wing – while the trainers had a single fairing over the left wing.)

 

Of the listed serials for the remaining OS2U-2 production, all were to be the “Type B” training scheme:

3081-3082  (2)  Type B
3083-3090  (8)  Not listed
3091-3106  (16)  Type B
3107-3109  (3)  Not listed
3110-3127  (18)  Type B
3128-3139  (12)  Not listed

 

Surprisingly, slightly more than half of the OS2U-3s (343 versus 338) were delivered in Light Gray camouflage lacquer.  The markings show that 106 of these were intended for combat duties, with the remaining 237 carrying trainer markings.  Additionally, many of the Blue Gray camouflaged aircraft were sent to training units.  Since there’s no evidence that any of these aircraft received Orange Yellow wings at the factory, the highly visible wing colors must have been added at depots or in the field.  Note the last 24 aircraft delivered in Light Gray; as all served in combat units, their camouflage schemes must have been modified after leaving the factory.

5284-5365  (82)  Type A markings, but overall Light Gray
5366-5602  (237)  Type B
5603-5940 (338)  Type A
5941-5964  (24)  Type A markings, but overall Light Gray
5965        Not listed
5966-5989    Netherlands East Indies

 

Although the factory drawings showed six national insignia on the Type A aircraft, photos show those markings were often modified to delete the insignia from above the right wing and from below the left wing.  An 8 May 1941 photo of Vought’s service apron shows Light Gray Kingfishers with the two wing insignia and two fuselage insignia; all carry the three teardrop fuel tank cap covers of combat aircraft.  The drawings never added fuselage insignia to trainers; a 28 October 1941 photo of Vought’s engine test hardstand shows Light Gray OS2U-3s (including BuNo 5446) with the four wing insignia, no fuselage insignia, 3-inch tail markings, and 6-inch U. S. NAVY aft fuselage markings.  Watch your photos to determine which insignia combination is appropriate for your model.

Finally, the Navy experimented with several grades of aluminum powders and pastes, each of which gave a different finish.  Painters also varied the amount of aluminum added to paint, in one case adding 4 ounces instead of 6 ounces to improve the appearance of the finished product.

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Dana

[ivanmoe]

5 hours ago, Dana Bell said:

A few notes on OS2U colors that have come up since I wrote my Kingfisher book eleven years ago.

 

First, about floats: All OS2U-1s were delivered with Vought floats.  OS2U-2s bound for battleships and cruisers were delivered with Vought floats, while those delivered to training units and inshore patrol squadrons were delivered with Edo floats.  All OS2U-3s were delivered with Edo floats.  In service, the Vought floats did poorly in heavy seas and were eventually replaced by Edo floats.

 

There were many changes to post-delivery color schemes, and only photos can indicate what we should be applying to our models.  However, there are some extensive factory records that indicate how most of the Kingfishers appeared when delivered.

 

All OS2U-1s were delivered with aluminum finish and Orange Yellow wing upper surfaces.  Nearly all were delivered with complete unit markings and insignia.  Note that the Orange Yellow wing color wrapped around the leading edge for 5% of the chord.

 

The first eleven OS2U-2s (BuNos 2189 thru 2199) were delivered in similar highly visible colors (aluminum lacquer with Orange-Yellow wings), marked for inshore patrol squadrons, NAS Norfolk, or USS Concord.  

 

On 2 January 1941 Vought-Sikorsky issued Engineering Instruction 5194 to implement new painting instructions from BuAer dated 26 December 1940.  Pending the Navy’s final decision on aircraft camouflage, the EI directed that beginning with BuNo 2200 OS2Us were to be delivered in overall aluminum color (eliminating the yellow on the wings) and eliminating all insignia and markings except for the four wing national insignia, the tail serial number and model designation, and (on the noses of 2190-2195, 2206-2210, and 2237-2238) Neutrality Patrol stars.  The Navy reasoned that this simplified scheme would cost less and be more readily overpainted once an operational camouflage scheme was selected.

 

Factory drawings were revised on 21 March, directing Vought painters to refer to drawing CV-58901 for new camouflage instructions.  The new drawing did not include painting instructions for the next 97 OS2U-2s (serials 2200-2288 and 3073-3080) so our only evidence of how they left the factory comes from photos and a single Vought-Sikorsky letter.  Here’s what I’ve found so far:

 

2222 – #30 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2224 – #32 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2227 – #35 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2230 – #38 – aluminum w/yellow wings
2233 – #41 – aluminum w/yellow wings

2239 – Vought-Sikorsky letter of 1 February 1941 notes that this aircraft will be the first factory-painted in the camouflage specified by BuAer on 26 December 1940 [Light Gray].  The scheme was expected to be painted on all subsequent aircraft.
2265 – #37 – Blue Gray camo w/yellow wings (colors modified after delivery?)
2278 – #62 – overall gray

 

Drawing CV-58901 begins with OS2U-2 serial 3081, then omits several ranges of aircraft.  The drawing presents two schemes: the “Type A” scheme depicted Blue Gray over Light Gray camouflage with four wing insignia, a national insignia on either side of the aft fuselage, and one-inch-high black serial number, designation, and “NAVY” on the vertical tail.  (In practice the 1-inch tail markings were applied in white on Light Gray combat aircraft.)

 

The “Type B” scheme was clearly intended for non-combat Kingfishers, though the overall color was Light Gray camouflage lacquer (no Orange Yellow wings).  The four wing insignia were still there, but no fuselage insignia.  The tail markings were now black, three inches high, with the aircraft serial and designation only.  “U. S. NAVY” was on the aft fuselage in 6-inch-high black letters.

 

(Besides noting the type of float provided, modelers should be aware that combat OS2U-2s and -3s carried extra fuel tanks, while training aircraft carried only the original single tank.  The combat aircraft had the three teardrop bullet-proof fairings – one over the right wing, two over the left wing – while the trainers had a single fairing over the left wing.)

 

Of the listed serials for the remaining OS2U-2 production, all were to be the “Type B” training scheme:

3081-3082  (2)  Type B
3083-3090  (8)  Not listed
3091-3106  (16)  Type B
3107-3109  (3)  Not listed
3110-3127  (18)  Type B
3128-3139  (12)  Not listed

 

Surprisingly, slightly more than half of the OS2U-3s (343 versus 338) were delivered in Light Gray camouflage lacquer.  The markings show that 106 of these were intended for combat duties, with the remaining 237 carrying trainer markings.  Additionally, many of the Blue Gray camouflaged aircraft were sent to training units.  Since there’s no evidence that any of these aircraft received Orange Yellow wings at the factory, the highly visible wing colors must have been added at depots or in the field.  Note the last 24 aircraft delivered in Light Gray; as all served in combat units, their camouflage schemes must have been modified after leaving the factory.

5284-5365  (82)  Type A markings, but overall Light Gray
5366-5602  (237)  Type B
5603-5940 (338)  Type A
5941-5964  (24)  Type A markings, but overall Light Gray
5965        Not listed
5966-5989    Netherlands East Indies

 

Although the factory drawings showed six national insignia on the Type A aircraft, photos show those markings were often modified to delete the insignia from above the right wing and from below the left wing.  An 8 May 1941 photo of Vought’s service apron shows Light Gray Kingfishers with the two wing insignia and two fuselage insignia; all carry the three teardrop fuel tank cap covers of combat aircraft.  The drawings never added fuselage insignia to trainers; a 28 October 1941 photo of Vought’s engine test hardstand shows Light Gray OS2U-3s (including BuNo 5446) with the four wing insignia, no fuselage insignia, 3-inch tail markings, and 6-inch U. S. NAVY aft fuselage markings.  Watch your photos to determine which insignia combination is appropriate for your model.

Finally, the Navy experimented with several grades of aluminum powders and pastes, each of which gave a different finish.  Painters also varied the amount of aluminum added to paint, in one case adding 4 ounces instead of 6 ounces to improve the appearance of the finished product.

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Dana

Dana,

 

Thank you so much for your research and scholarly insights.

 

Question for you...

 

Any thoughts as to why new production of training types (N2S, N3N, SNJ) weren’t painted light gray during the same period in which the color was being applied to Kingfishers destined for training squadrons?

[ivanmoe]

19 hours ago, Finn said:

A few, b&w, pics here:

 

http://voughtworks.blogspot.com/search/label/OS2U?max-results=100

 

Jari

 

Awesome collection of pictures that you've assembled, Jari!

 

Thank you,

 

-Moe

[Dana Bell]

Hi Moe,

 

I've never found a good explanation as to why so many Kingfisher trainers were delivered in camouflage.  Perhaps the Navy was hedging its bets, hoping to be ready if the trainers were suddenly necessary for combat patrols.  I'm sure there's a memo somewhere...

 

I know other trainers, particularly SNJs, were camouflaged by the Navy, but all of them seem to have been painted by field units rather than their respective factories.

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Dana