Yet Another F4U-1D Corsair (Tamiya 1/32)

[Phil Smith]

As I enter the painting phase of one scale model, I prep for the next. This, of course, means I generally have a couple to three models being built at once. I also have a stash that frankly needs to be addressed.

 

In this case, my 1/32 Bf-109 G-14 is in priming and painting stage. That itself will take weeks to realize, but in the meantime I've cracked open Tamiya's 1/32 F4U-1D Corsair. First order of business in this regard is the engine (my favorite thing to work on). Though Tamiya's engine is great straight out of the box, I selected Eduard's Brassin kit for this assembly, mainly because I hate seams on complex parts like the cooling fins on piston casings. 

 

The parts go together very well and require little cleanup. After priming, I painted the engine casing XF-53 (Neutral Gray) which seemed a good approximation. I added a dry brush treatment of Testors Chrome Silver over Zinc Chromate for some wear and tear. After a gloss coat, I added a serial number plate decal and Tamiya's black panel liner. The other engine parts were primed with Alclad II gloss black, as I wanted to use metallics for these. The pistons required a bit of assembly (spark plugs and some exhaust pipes); these were painted Alclad II Chrome and the exhaust pipes Testors Metallizer Burnt Iron. The piston casings should be a dull aluminum color, but I new the chrome would be toned down after a flat clear coat while still retaining a bit of depth. After a gloss coat, the piston covers were painted XF-1 (Flat Black). After assembly, I used lead wire for spark plug leads, intercylinder drain hoses, and various other greeblies. These were painted XF-78 (Wooden Deck Tan) with details in various random earth tones for variety. Some weathering using powdered graphite finishes this off. Everything was united with a dusting of XF-86 Flat Clear, touching up the push rods with X-22 Clear Gloss.

 

More engine work remains, of course, and this is the objective of the coming weekend in between Bf-109 painting sessions  

 

 

Edited November 7, 2024 by Phil Smith

[TimW]

Awesome work!

 

Tim W.

[Sturmbock]

Wonderful details, I especially like the ignition cables, the whole engine is awesome!

 

Lutz

[MikeMaben]

Good start, have fun Phil.

[Phil88]

Great engine. 

[John1]

Engine looks great.   Enjoy the kit, I built this one a few years ago, I think it may be one of the best plastic models ever released. It’s really that good of a kit.    If you haven’t done so already, check out Fundekals Corsair sheet, it’s fantastic.  

[Dpgsbody55]

An excellent start.  If the rest of the model is as well done as the engine, this will be magnificent.

 

 

Cheers,

Michael

[Phil Smith]

On 11/10/2024 at 11:45 PM, John1 said:

Engine looks great.   Enjoy the kit, I built this one a few years ago, I think it may be one of the best plastic models ever released. It’s really that good of a kit.    If you haven’t done so already, check out Fundekals Corsair sheet, it’s fantastic.  

Thank you - and I took your advice and that of others on this decal sheet. Very much appreciated  

[Phil Smith]

More progress on the engine. I decided to do a dumb-ish thing, which is to connect exhaust pipes with simulated rubber hose sections tightened with hose clamps. I didn't like the way the plastic exhaust pipes connected to the resin engine (rather, they didn't), so I decided to bridge the gap using the smallest diameter heat shrink tubing and Anyz's hose clamp decals, which are excellent. Needless to say, this involved a bunch of hoses and hose clamps, but it worked out well. Why is this dumb-ish? Because one wouldn't bridge hot exhaust tubing with rubber hoses! Meh - I liked the effect and it adds interest. Next up - the cockpit!

 

Be well, folks  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 22, 2024 by Phil Smith

[SwissFighters]

Looks great Phil! Terrific weathering - I really like the colour of the weathering which appears dirty but not "rusty."
Thanks for sharing!
Tony

[JeepsGunsTanks]

That's an amazing-looking R-2800! Well done!

[LSP_Kevin]

That looks great, Phil!

 

Kev

[nmayhew]

that engine deserves to be exposed

if it's covered up, you deserve to be committed! 😃

 

are those Anyz strips just thick decals? 

i was thinking of them for landing gear oleos but having to guestimate the length required would be as tedious as their application I am thinking?

 

I'm looking forward to an airframe as weathered as its engine!

[Shoggz]

Gorgeous engine work and detailing!

[Phil Smith]

On 11/23/2024 at 5:59 AM, nmayhew said:

that engine deserves to be exposed

if it's covered up, you deserve to be committed! 😃

 

are those Anyz strips just thick decals? 

i was thinking of them for landing gear oleos but having to guestimate the length required would be as tedious as their application I am thinking?

 

I'm looking forward to an airframe as weathered as its engine!

 

Thanks - the Anyz strips are thin (good idea that these could be made as 3D decals to represent hose clamps that use a rubber backing. They probably wouldn't work for oleos, especially since the silver is shiny but not chrome.