SOC-3 Seagull

[James A Pratt III]

I am building a 1/72 Hasegawa kit of a SOC-3 Seagull. I would like to build it as one would appear during the June 1942-fall 1943 period in the Pacific. I know about the blue grey over light grey camo scheme but, what about the positions of the stars minus bars and red dots? Can anyone help me? Any other markings info would also be welcome. Thanks in advance.

[fsbofk]

Here are some SOCs from Pacific cruisers c. 1942-43 (photos from "U.S. Navy Floatplanes of World War II in Action" (Adcock/Squadron Signal); "A Glorious Page In Our History" (Cressman et al/Pictorial Histories); and "Battleship and Cruiser Aircraft of the United States Navy 1910-1949" (Larkins/Schiffer). Photo quality varies due to source.

[Buckeye30]

Hi James the red was removed from the insigniae (stars and rudders) from May 15 1942 ( ALNAV Dispatch 062230); at Midway in June the wings had 4-position insigniae and no rudder stripes.
From Feb. 1 1943 the insignia was deleted from upper right and lower left wings ( Spec. SR.2c 5.1.43); and standardised March 1 ( A-N Spec.AN-1-9). It also specified a mix of white and Light Gray for the upper insignia star.

If you want to do the later 1943 style, the bars were added June 29 ( A-N Spec.AN-1-9a); at first with red outlines , replaced by insignia blue Aug. 14 (on aircraft in production) (A-N Spec.AN-1-9b) .
On aircraft in service Sept. 14 (ALNAV Dispatch 164). Still to have light gray in upper wing insigniae.

On Sept. 28 1943 , ANA Bulletin 157 co-ordinated colours for the USN-USMC-AAF and British requirements as regards Lend-Lease ( including many naval aircraft).
Identification on these observation planes was usually plain black numbers without role designation as in these photos.
The 4-colour scheme ( Non-Specular Sea Blue, Semi-Gloss Sea Blue, NS Intermediate Blue and NS Insignia White) was introduced Jan. 5 1943 ( effective Feb. 1 ) ( Spec. SR-2c). No doubt the Blue-Gray/ Light Gray scheme continued for some time especially on catapult aircraft.

Regards Nick