Model Forum / General / Models / April 2004

I'm very close to painting my William's Brother's Lockheed Electra in the
colors of Amelia Earhart's aircraft.  It took a looooong time to get this kit
done.

Anyhow, it is difficult for me to discern the correct color for the orange or
red markings on the tailplane and the leading edges of the wings.  Williams
Brother's provides dark red decals for these parts, my Time-Life book shows a
cut-away drawing with faded orange for these areas.  Everything else I can find
is in black and white.

The actual aircraft had very few hours on the airframe prior to the first
flight to Hawaii, and then was shipped back to California in crates.  It spent
almost all of it's time in hangars.  However, it was also exposed to the
Pacific sun.  Would this paint had faded that quickly?  And is the correct
color orange, or red?  

Finally, I'm experimenting by using Alclad for the first time.  If I have to
paint rather than use the decals, can anyone give me information on how well
the Alclad holds up to masking?

Thanks for all your help.

Alan