1/48 Tamiya F4U-1A Corsair (Finished).....

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
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Hello all, I suppose every aviation modeler has that one plane they just don’t asthetically like for one reason or another. To me, thats the Vought F4U Corsair, which to me has to be the ugliest fighter to ever grace the skies. The birdcage version especially…yuck! That said, the “whistling death” design worked and it was a nasty surprise for the Japanese, who had no real answer for it. This turkey, along with the Hellcat, essentially made the Zero aerial scrap metal. So why do I want to build one? Well…I have a particular fondness for its most famous driver…Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. When I read about his exploits, he reminds me of one of my old bosses who liked to come back from lunch hour drunk calling everyone names, but we all liked him. Anyways, my inspiration is this picture below, Boyington laying out the mission for the day.

So here goes my homage to VF-214, the “Black Sheep”. I will attempt to loosely recreate this with the Tamiya Navy Pilot set, but obviously I’ll throw Pappy’s “915” Corsair in the background, which was his last mount before being shot down, by means of the Tamiya kit…hey! a diorama!.

Off we go. I started with the cockpit which is beautful straight from the box. No need for resin here. I followed the article “Corsair 101” on the Modeling Madness website regarding Corsair cockpit colors (they’re certainly more knowledgeable than me). Its a mixed bag of Gunze Interior Green and Tamiya XF-3 Yellow Green for the Zinc Chromate areas. I used the decal with Micro Sol for Instrument bezels and added 5 minute expoxy for glass. The decal apparently shifted a little during application but its not too bad. I’m usually fairly good at getting them where they need to be. It looks ok but I should have found an Eduard zoom IP. I added Eduard seatbelts too.

The assembly fit like a glove into the fuselage.

I buttoned up the fuselage and glued the wing root assembly together. I used a silver Sharpie to check the seams and all look good. I like the way the wings tuck into the fuselage which ellimated any gap problems. No issues so far. This kit is supposed to be awesome and I have no reason to think otherwise yet. Here’s where I left off before I ran out of time (this is only two consecutive nights of work). I’ll be riggin’ that ole Pratt and Whitney in no time…

I’m already starting to “un-hate” the Corsair a bit…

Joe

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Joe I have somewhat of the same feelings. I never thought the Corsair was ugly but always found others to be better. John.

Nice work so far

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Wow, that looks awesome so far. The corsair has always been one of my favorite planes mostly for being so odd/ugly looking. I hope one day to be able to do one justice.

I will be following this build closely. I wish there was a better way to subscribe to the thread. I don’t want to miss an update. Keep up the great work.

Gordy

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Sweet build!! I do agree about one thing, the Corsair is a distinctive plane and you’ll either love it or hate it. I doubt there’s much room in between for most.

But don’t you just LOVE how this Tamiya kit goes together!! I had so much fun doing it. I’m always looking forward to the next one. I’ll be watching… =]

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Looking good so far, Joe. Keep building and posting!

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Oh my Gawd! As a total newby, that cockpit is a museum piece! I wish I could build like that! The cockpit seems like the hardest part for me to build and paint. And then it seems to hide almost out of site under a finger printed, paint smudged canopy. I know, keep practicing. Build skills.

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It’s always a treat seeing your cockpit builds! I’m a Corsair lover myself, there wasn’t anything prettier than her in the sky!

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Looking really nice. Can’t wait to see the rest.

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Joe, looking good! Are you doing this in the tri-color paint scheme or just blue/grey? Can’t wait to see more!

Steve

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Really nice work in the cockpit! Excellent wash to bring out the details! You builders always astonish this collector; not only because you build, but your results are an inspiration.

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Awesome work! I have been watching all your builds and have just purchased some of that Alclad Klear Kote.

Sorry to hi jack your thread but with that gloss clear, what do you use to clean your airbrush after use?

Keep up the awesome builds!

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Another super job there! Wish I’d seen this before I started my Salvadoran Corsair for Stikpusher’s Latin America GB, I could have picked up a bunch of tips.

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Joe,

For someone who doesn’t like the Corsair, you’re sure doing her proud! Can’t wait to see the finished version. [:D]

And just for inspiration…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FAKN7ufwPQ

Gary

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Sweet start, I’ll be watching.

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Unlike you, I absolutely love the F4U :wink: To me, it’s the very epitome of a WWII fighter, especially in the PTO… Big, Mean, Burly, and ready to kick rear and forget about taking names! I think you saw my rookie attempt at Pappy’s 817, and I’m glad your having a better go at it than I did with the Revell version. I’m actually looking at picking up another pretty soon, maybe the Hagasawa. I’ll watch your build with a great deal of anticipation. Raymond

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Great start with a fantastic kit. I have that one in my stash so I will be watching your progress. That cockpit looks like the real thing! [Y]

Speaking of bosses, my first real job while in college was selling shoes at Jordan Marsh and the boss I had was a P-38 pilot in the Pacific during the war. Old Harry had tons of war stories to tell me, he was a real nice guy. His buddy was a Marine BAR gunner and worked in the other shoe dept. in the store. They both had some very interesting tales.

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Johnny, I’m glad someone agrees with me. Its all in jest of course and I hope not to offend anyone. Just a personal feeling.

Gordy, truthfully I have no idea how to “subscribe” to a thread, but thanks for the compliments.

Bvallot, Its nice so far. I did however put the wings on last night and struggled a bit. I’m not crazy about the design and I think Tamiya could have been more create (more on this later).

Devil Dawg, Thanks bud…

Beeryboats, "museum piece? LOL, don’t know about that…but thanks. I have a tutorial thread in here somewhere on how I paint them. If I can find it I’ll post the link.

Mississippi, thanks for the kind words. Like I said, its in the eyes of the beholder.

Panzerpilot, Thanks a lot. Glad to have you aboard.

Steve, thanks. I believe Pappy’s Corsair was tri-scheme. I just ordered Sky Models decals off E-bay which has Pappy’s “740” and “883” on it. I’m hoping I can piece “915” together with the options on this sheet. It has like 20 planes. If not, I’ll do “740” probably.

Lonski, thanks a lot. I’m glad I can help.

Luft, no apology needed. That’s what its here for…and you will love that stuff. You can toss your Future…LOL. I run Lacquer thinner through the AB a few times after use.

Gamera, thanks. I just started this the other day so it’s likely your way ahead of me. Nice to have you aboard.

Gary, that and double thanks for posting that video! This is one of the reasons I do threads…participation!

Reasoned and Raymond, thanks for the kind words. Raymond, I did see your build, as well as Bvallot’s version, which both had inspired me to drag out the Tamiya kit. If you do build the Hasegawa version, how about a thread?

Plastic, Thanks for the words. I don’t know about the real thing but I have a system I’m happy with. I would have loved to hear those stories. Its too bad were losing more an more of these warriors everyday.

Joe

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Joe. I went looking for a few pics some time after you first posted the start of his white 915 just to see what it looked like. Here’s one thing I found.

decals.kitreview.com/…/ced48226decalreviewrk_1.htm

I doubt the accuracy of the actual lines of paint laid down here in the pics. I nearly always do actually. Even the dates of when the red border around the insignia for some of these I believe are off, but it isn’t like you couldn’t pick and choose what you wanted. This reviewer may have some facts crossed too. Eh…

Try it out. =]

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Lawdog114, you’re correct, 915 was the tri-scheme variant.

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And, no problem on doing a thread once I do start the build… I’m sure I will, I just don’t know when, I’m in the process of starting two P 51Cs modeled after the “Gruesome Twosome,” that I’ll end up putting a diorama together for my wife. She’s a history teacher and she shows “The Tuskegee Airman” every year.