WW2 USN tow tractors

[mikeew]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me please.

I have the 1/32 Trumpeter Hellcat underway and included in the kit is a lovely little model of a deck tow tractor. However, they give absolutely no info as to what colour it should be.

I would hazard a guess at yellow or orange for hi-viz on a deck. I can't seem to find any photos online either colour or B&W.

Any ideas ??

[Scooby]

Wartime and on carriers they were painted the same blue-grey as US Naval aircraft were early in the war.

Yellow would make a could target.

[LotusArenco]

There’s a picture of a restored Mototug here http://home.att.net/~jmsmith45/optlmn.htm

Can’t comment on the accuracy of the colour, but I would say Scooby’s right about the blue-gray.

Mart

[LDSModeller]

Hi Mike

This picture shows deck tractors circa 1942. They appear to be a dark color (possible Bluegrey/Olive Drab?)

This is an image of a couple of tractors on the US Enterprise (CV-6), The pictures tend to show a light color (yellow?)

I would venture to say that the colours must have changed as Carrier operations became more intense for saftey reasons.

Edit: another photo of a USN R5D-1 Skymaster circa 1943 note the two tractors, you can just discern

the two colour tones (one light (yellow?) one dark Bluegrey/OD?))

I guess the choice is governed by the time period/ mark of your F6F Hellcat

Hope this helps

Alan

Edited September 13, 2008 by LDSModeller

[mikeew]

Thanks guys. I'm building the Hellcat in colours for VF-27 c.1944 so nearing the second half of WW2. I guess either blue/grey or light grey or possibly yellow all could be contenders.

Scooby I take your point about yellow being a target colour e esily seen from the air.

Mart, thanks for the link , that piccy appears to be an intermediate blue tractor as described by Scooby, like you say though, its restored so the colours could be far from authentic.

Alan, the piccies you supply just further confuse the matter. I guess I could go with either blue/grey or yellow, who knows which is correct really

I guess I would prefer to go with yellow as the Hellcat is in blue over blue over white scheme so a blue/grey tractor might just look a bit to much blue on one model. Either way I'll weather it to add interest and dirty it up.

Thanks again,

Mike