Grumman J2F4 1/33 "scratch"

[Don Boose]

Glen –

Outstanding work on revising your build. The model really looks great at this stage.

I hope you will forgive me this long post, but I have been re-reading this thread and that led me to do some hasty research that I summarize here.

The airplane you are modeling is one of those rare birds that has been restored to its actual original appearance. Grumman J2F-4 Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo) 1649 (1-J-18), Civil Registration N63850, was operating with Utility Squadron 1 (VJ-1) at Ford Island Naval Air Station, Pearl Harbor, Hawai’i at the time of the Japanese attack of 7 December 1941. At that time, it would most likely have appeared in the same markings as it does today inits restored form

Here is what Jim Baugher says: “Grumman J2F-4 Duck Model G-15. Delivered between Sep 1939 and Jun 1940. Utility version, could be used for target towing and smoke laying. 1649 (MSN 536) delivered to US Navy Dec 1939. SOC 1947. To civil registry as N63850. Crashed 1955 landing at Lake Killarney, Nassau, Bahamas; sank and abandoned. Salvaged 1991 and restored at Wichita, KS. First flight May 27, 2005, current.”

This site contains an excellent image and tells briefly the story of the aircraft: http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled/Grumman-J2F-4-Duck-G-15/1247123/L

One of the comments at that site seems to indicate that the black waterline painted on the float is inauthentic. I do not have a 1941 image of 1649, but the two attached images (1 and 2) show that it was not unusual for a pre-war J2F to have a black waterline painted on its floats.

In Post #28 above, you suggested that the willow green tail on 1649 was because the aircraft was attached to USS Ranger. In fact, willow green was the tail color assigned to VJ-1 on 11 October 1941 by the Commander, Aircraft, Battle Force (Elliott, Vol. 1, p. 126).

Utility Squadron 1 (VJ-1B “B” because in 1925 the squadron was assigned to the Battle Fleet, later Battle Force, of the U.S. Fleet) was established at San Diego Naval Air Station (NAS) in 1925. In September 1939, a detachment of VJ-1, as the unit was then designated, was deployed to Ford Island NAS, followed in June 1941 by the rest of the squadron. In November 1946, the squadron was re-designated as VU-1, disestablished in 1949, re-established in 1951, re-designated Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1) in 1956 and disestablished in 1992. You can read about the history of VJ-1 and a lot of related material here: http://utron1.itgo.com/

Sometime between 1939 and 1941, the squadron emblem changed from the couchant lion and star insignia (Image 3 – Source: Elliott, p.157) to the mail bag-bearing pelican depicted on 1649 today (Image 4 – Source: National Air and Space Museum).

You may have already mentioned some of this information in this thread or elsewhere, but I thought I would put together what I could find out. I hope that you or others with more knowledge will weigh in with additions and corrections.

Sources:

Airliners, “Aviation Photo #1247123 Grumman J2F-4 Duck (G-15),” available at http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled/Grumman-J2F-4-Duck-G-15/1247123/L

Joe Baugher, US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Second Series (0001 to 5029), available at http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/secondseries1.html

Thomas E. Doll, Berkley R. Jackson, and William A. Riley, Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1 1911-1945, Carrollton, TX: Squadron/Signal, 1983.

John M. Elliott, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 1, 1911-1939, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1987.

---, The Official Monogram US Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol. 2, 1940-1949, Boylston, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1989.

William T. Larkins, U.S. Navy Aircraft 1921-1941, Concord, CA: Aviation History Publications, 1961.

National Air and Space Museum, Pelican Insignia of VJ-1, available at https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/insignia-unit-utility-squadron-1-united-states-navy

Utility Squadron One Home Page, available at http://utron1.itgo.com/

Keep 'em flying!

Don

PS: I can't help mentioning that as I type this, I am looking out the sun room window at a view you have seen. At this moment, the platform feeder is thronged with house finches, one gloriously brilliant yellow goldfinch, one red cardinal, a mourning dove, a white-breasted nuthatch, a sapsucker, a tufted titmouse, and a mourning dove.

[birder]

Wow Don your research is awesome. That is nice info to know not only is this plane currently marked this way, but represents also the appearance of the aircraft when in service. The hull line I was thinking of adding with a strip of black thin paper later as it covers several parts that I didn't think I could align well...still some parts to work out but I had worked a bit on the f3f prior and found significant similarities to the Duck wing. I was unsure about the origin of the tail color as the utility squadron pictures do not often show similar markings as the fighter squadrons. I have seen drawings showing yellow tail markings I thought might be the Lexington, but pictures did not appear to support the color.
You have cleared some muddy water about that. I don't know why amphibious aircraft have so much appeal to me, especially Sikorsky or Grumman...but lots others too. Martin, Kawanishi, Dornier, Short......long list of cool aircraft.
I'm happy to hear about the Pennsylvania bird life I can about imagine the sound of that group....

[Don Boose]

I'm glad you found my long post worth while, Glen!

VJ-2 had lemon yellow tails per the 1934 ComAirBatFor report. Doll shows VJ-3 as either white or silver/aluminum, and VJ-4 as insignia red. I'll have to do some digging as to when those colors came into effect, and to verify the VJ-3 color.

Don

[birder]

Well some slow progress, had to redraw the lower wing completely, but based it on the upper wing which I had done already. The duck unlike the f3f has similar dimension wings, only the lower with any dihedral. The amount of structure may appear scant but is quite sturdy, and the gear are off the fuse so the wings don't have to support the gear, however it is looking like it will be a pretty big model...

[birder]

This historical photo is of a duck hoisted aboard the Lexington is a cool one to see how the aircraft was managed on arrival although they were also equipped with a tail hook.

[Mike1158]

Very nicely done Glen, thanks for keeping us up to date.

[Rata]

Brilliant photo Glen.

[birder]

Thanks for stopping in Mike, Garry I though that was cool, does show some hints of colors /markings, but no longer has the yellow wing even though still has the red dot in the center of the star. (early 1942?)

Progress for the weekend, lower wings on but a bit more work on them yet. Drawing up the tail feathers...stabs, ect. Next update would likely not be real quick due to plans the next 3 weekends.. hope to get a little bit done anyway we'll see ..

[Gene K]

Masterpiece in progress.

Gene K

[YOAVHOZMI]

Beautiful work on an interesting and special model.

YOAV