FAA Museum Grumman Martlet AL246 ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7825

Got a few questions for the experts. (of which I know there's several here)
Discussion and source photos here: http://www.fightercontrol.co.uk/forum/v ... 8&p=565401

This is a photo of AL246 back in the 60's I believe. Looks to be GSB. Questions: Is this the original scheme it once had during it's Royal Navy service?

AL246 at the FAA Museum with the GSB scheme from the 60's photo above.

Latest scheme? I understand this scheme is the original scheme for this Martlet? Which scheme is the correct scheme? Both?

Is this/was a conservation at work on the wings?

New paint on the fuselage?

And this is the French scheme correct? Is that a Navy Blue in there or just the photo making it look Navy Blue?

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7825

Sorry false alarm folks, I believe I answered my own questions upon further study. (not much studying actually as it seems a bit obvious) The GSB was applied over the 'original' camo scheme and the photos I posted show the process of conservation to bring her back to it's original state. Although the GSB does look weathered and worn as if this Martlet had that scheme originally. That's not the case.

M

Mike · **Joined:** Tue May 04, 2004 8:54 am **Posts:** 3331

The wings and tailplane have been very carefully taken back to the original Grumman factory-applied camouflage. The fuselage had been paintstripped at some stage, so has been repainted as part of the restoration process, into the same Grumman factory scheme.

rwdfresno · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2015 12:39 pm

A really beautiful restoration that I haven't seen before. It musth ave been painstaking work to get those wings down to the original paint. They did a great job.

Sasquatch · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2015 3:20 pm

rwdfresno wrote:

A really beautiful restoration that I haven't seen before. It musth ave been painstaking work to get those wings down to the original paint. They did a great job.

...like they did with their Corsair, too, I believe. I just have to see these planes someday!

-Tom

Warbirdnerd · **Joined:** Fri Apr 30, 2004 7:34 pm **Posts:** 2923

Sasquatch wrote:

rwdfresno wrote:

A really beautiful restoration that I haven't seen before. It musth ave been painstaking work to get those wings down to the original paint. They did a great job.

...like they did with their Corsair, too, I believe. I just have to see these planes someday!

-Tom

They did and put out a fantastic book about the process:
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-KD431-Tim ... 075094305X

Sasquatch · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2015 3:50 pm

Warbirdnerd wrote:

Sasquatch wrote:

rwdfresno wrote:

A really beautiful restoration that I haven't seen before. It musth ave been painstaking work to get those wings down to the original paint. They did a great job.

...like they did with their Corsair, too, I believe. I just have to see these planes someday!

-Tom

They did and put out a fantastic book about the process:
http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-KD431-Tim ... 075094305X

Very cool!

-Tom

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7825

Beautiful machine ...

CH2Tdriver · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2015 7:24 pm

The FAA upper camo scheme had the colors of Extra Dark Sea Gray and Dark Slate Gray (a solid gray with a slightly greenish hue). I wonder if the green we see is actually Grumman's attempt to match the paint chips with locally available Dupont paint? Or was this green color actually specified by the French seeing as this ship was originally earmarked for them. IIRC none of the Marlet's reached France before they fell, and the order went to the FAA. Anyone know for sure?

I'm also wondering if the FAA GSB scheme was specifically applied to aircraft in the Pacific theater, so as to avoid any confusion by US Navy pilots noticing a camouflaged aircraft?

Love that vintage pic of the Martlet at Grumman Bethpage!

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FAA Museum Grumman Martlet AL246 ...

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