Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

Good afternoon,

I am sure my question will apply to many other birds out there.
I am and have always had difficulty seeing my plane on final approach. Particularly my Hellcat, once it !QUOT!profiles!QUOT! it literally disappears. I am forced to dip the wings to keep the plane in sight.

The main reason I have this problem is the background of mountains at my field that really give no contrast.

My question is: what can I put on the leading edge that would still look scale?

I realize that with the Army Air corps and German and British planes often had a yellow leading edge but I am not aware of any pacific theater planes with any distinct colors on the leading edge.

the hellcat has no paint-able spinner so that wont work.

Any ideas are appreciated.

ps... I tried some blinking lights on the wing tips from RAM and it made absolutely no difference.

Help me please.

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

Some Hellcats had a Yellow cowl.. to take a look go here

http://www.tedwilliamsaviationart.co...670b2995e8649e

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

This is very good news Bob,

Thank you!!!

between painting the prop end yellow and the leading edge of the cowl it should make a big difference.

Mike,

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

how about adding some landing or nav lights?

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

I am very open to trying some landing lights or Nav. lights if there is a system that is strong enough. The blinking Nav. lights that run on watch batt. are not strong enough to see unless your flying at night and well with my problems seeing this thing during the day. Night fly is out of the question,

Tell me more if you know of a strong light system, I am open to the ideas.

Thank you,

Mike,

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

If your plane is not really as "scale" representation why not paint the wing tips yellow to match cowl? That is not unheard of by on other aircraft and might give you the visual that you are looking for. I don't think you'll be criticized for the yellow tips.. Just my .02.

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

You could go with a completely different more visable color and still be scale. After WW2 Hellcats were modified to fly by radio control as guided bombs (drones). Most were painted Insignia Red with a colored tail to designate radio frequency. Yellow, Orange, Purple and blues were used for the tail. The Princeton had cat mouths painted on the nose which would break up the blue and give you some reference. Go to page 12 in the H9 Hellcat thread and you can see mine which has a cat mouth. The yellow cowl is scale and would do the same. Some (very rarely) were left in the natural Aluminum finish and coule have had a black cowl. Some were grey or various forms of camo when land based (also very rare). I have even seen pictures of captured Hellcats done in white with Jap markings on them! The British used somewhere around 500 Hellcats and they were painted in camo or various greys.

RE: Hellcat leading edge, paint/visibility
 

Thank you guys for the help.

I decided to go with the yellow cowl and yellow prop tips and I think I will also paint some Nav. lights on the wing tips and just make them a bit bigger than normal.

I flew the hellcat on Sat. with the yellow cowl and it has already made a big difference.

I really wonder how I have flown this plane for 4 years now, I guess my eye sight is getting worse.

Thanks again guys!!!

Mike,