Stephen Grey Bearcat – Daft Question!

Thanks everyone!

Hi Guys;

Thanks for all the replies, and to Bentwingbomber especially for the really specific information regarding the cockpit colours as it was. Thanks ever so much.

As for the external colour scheme..I thought that would be easy as there is no shortage of photographs, but of course, with varying light conditions etc, no two photos look the same!

This is why I love forums such as this. I post a fairly vague question, and get such a detailed response in next to no time. How long would it have taken me to find all of this information out pre-internet!

As for the reason for the request, I’ll post up the answer in a few weeks!

Thanks again!
Regards;
Steve

Think you’ll find the ex TFC Tigercat went to Rod Lewis(?) and the one with Sessions is the ex-Plane Sailing machine also previously based at DX. As for that Bearcat colour I’m pretty sure it’s the same colour as the TFC Corsair used to be. Perhaps they were painted at the same location when in the States? I seem to remember the first TFC Wildcat was in a pretty fair deep blue US Navy scheme and then got painted in a hideous “Confederate” style glossy “early” scheme. Bizarre… :confused:

Tigercat went to Joe Clark

Bearcat 121714 was painted long before the Corsair was,colours were different.

The first wildcat ended up with Bob Pond after a trade for P-40M G-KITT

The interior colour at that time was black all over.

The seat had a horrible tan brown leather back pad .

The floor had stainless kick boards.

The instrument panel was non standard and had a lot of electrical nav aids.

These were all removed in 2004/2005 and the cockpit totally stripped back to bare metal.

The panel was replaced to stock 1950s US Navy.

It was repainted in the correct 1950s US Navy scheme of Interior green seat,floor,stick and pedals and the side walls up as far as the side consoles.

From the consoles up to the canopy rails was Black as was the instrument panel and armour plate.

I used standard FS paint numbers and the F8F maintenance manual for reference, along with period photos.

Bearcat #100

If I remember, when I first saw the Bearcat at Geneva, she was parked outside the round hangar in an Oxford blue scheme.

In the eighties, I saw her again at Liège airport in the same colour scheme.

If you want photographs, I would be pleased to scan some.

Regards

Willy

Think you’ll find the ex TFC Tigercat went to Rod Lewis(?) and the one with Sessions is the ex-Plane Sailing machine also previously based at DX. As for that Bearcat colour I’m pretty sure it’s the same colour as the TFC Corsair used to be. Perhaps they were painted at the same location when in the States? I seem to remember the first TFC Wildcat was in a pretty fair deep blue US Navy scheme and then got painted in a hideous “Confederate” style glossy “early” scheme. Bizarre… :confused:

Can’t help with the paint shade but I have probably got some photos (but not cockpit) if you haven’t got some already.

Hi jbs!

Ah! So it is the same aircraft. I’m quite pleased to hear that.

Even though it wasn’t exactly accurate, there was something about that early VF 11 scheme that I quite liked. Having seen pictures of her pre 1983 in the states, that obviously where it got it’s paint job! Looks spot on these days though! So…what on earth was that colour? 🙂

Regards;
Steve

The Bearcat in the TFC fleet is indeed the one that first came to the UK in 1984 (I think!!) and she wore the “Red Rippers” scheme.

The other Bearcat came from the Warbirds of Great Britain stable and was operated for a while then went back across the pond, if I am correct she is now part of the John Session’s collection on Washington state along with the ex.Plane Sailing F7F Tigercat and B-25D “Grumpy”

which of his Bearcats? The one from the 80s was in a lt royal blue and he no longer owns (I saw Stefan K do an amazing display at Mildenhall)

Thanks for the reply..

That would be the one to which I refer! 🙂 White 100 in the VF 11 markings. It certainly wasn’t painted in US Navy dark sea blue!

Didn’t realise that it had since moved on. I always just assumed that the current TFC Bearcat was the same airframe with new paint!

Regards;
Stev

which of his Bearcats? The one from the 80s was in a lt royal blue and he no longer owns (I saw Stefan K do an amazing display at Mildenhall)