Fleet Air Arm Corsair Mk.I References/paint questions.

[ade rowlands]

Tapping in to the collective brain here as mine has come away more confused and unsure than when I started. I have the Tamiya 1/32 Birdcage Corsair kit as next up on the chopping board. References seem to be scant. Google brings up the same few images over and over. Only decals readily available are the HGW ones so I’ll be doing a scheme from them. I’d have preferred one of the Eagle Editions sets but they are long out of print and I am very late to the party on that one. Either Brunswick or Quonset Point Aircraft that remained Stateside for training so rounded wingtips are fine. So far this is what I’ve come to conclusion wise. Feel free to chip in and correct me.

 

Headrests/cushions don't seem to be on any of the early Corsairs of the FAA that I can see.

Being an American Aircraft built and painted in America it would have used the accepted closest matches to British colours which pulled from various threads scattered across the internet and has confused me more than anything about these planes it would be ANA603 which looks close to Gunship Grey replacing Extra Dark Sea Grey, ANA610 Sky replacing RAF Sky and ANA613 Olive Drab replacing Slate Grey. From this conclusion I’ve come closest matches with MRP Paints to MRP-040 Dark Grey FS36118 (ANA603) MRP138 Olive Drab and MRP-371 Pale Green FS34424 (ANA610). 

Also, being painted in America and having served their time there I’m guessing full factory stencils would have been in place.

Looks to be Sutton Harnesses in place as is usual with American Produced aircraft operated by RAF/FAA. 

[LSP_Ron]

Too be honest, when I did mine I used the RAF colours courtesy of Model Master enamels as per the Eagle Editions instruction sheet.  Right or wrong I think it looks the part?

 

Lovely kit....

 

https://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=1926

 

 

[ade rowlands]

29 minutes ago, LSP_Ron said:

Too be honest, when I did mine I used the RAF colours curiosity of Model Master enamels as per the Eagle Editions instruction sheet.  Right or wrong I think it looks the part?

 

Lovely kit....

 

https://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=1926

 

 

 

To be honest Ron I’m of a similar mind. It’s only going to be me that see’s it for the most part anyway. I have the AK paints at hand which is also swaying me to just using the British colours. Money saved on buying new paints is money to spend elsewhere. Your build looks great. Wish I’d thought about doing one of these when those decals were available. 

[ade rowlands]

Looks like I might have sourced the decals. One of the stores I buy from occasionally sells a lot of used/second hand kits and bits. Oddly they didn’t show earlier when I was browsing (I browse fairly frequently for OOP stuff as they buy a lot of collections so stuff turns up quite often). So I’m hoping they actually have them and this isn’t some archived listing for long gone stuff as I ve had happen a few times with several sellers. Order placed anyway.

[LSP_Mike]

Still using enamels, Ade?

[Shoggz]

3 hours ago, ade rowlands said:

Looks like I might have sourced the decals. One of the stores I buy from occasionally sells a lot of used/second hand kits and bits. Oddly they didn’t show earlier when I was browsing (I browse fairly frequently for OOP stuff as they buy a lot of collections so stuff turns up quite often). So I’m hoping they actually have them and this isn’t some archived listing for long gone stuff as I ve had happen a few times with several sellers. Order placed anyway.

 

If you still need the decals, I’m sure I have an unused set somewhere.. 

[ade rowlands]

7 hours ago, LSP_Mike said:

Still using enamels, Ade?

 

No, I use AK, Gunze or Tamiya Laquers types. Though planning to go back to MRP paints as I miss how thin they go on once I exhaust current supplies of my other paints.

[ade rowlands]

7 hours ago, Shoggz said:

 

If you still need the decals, I’m sure I have an unused set somewhere.. 

 

I’m hoping I’ve secured a set but I’ll bear your offer in mind if mine are a no show.

[Christa]

Hi Ade

 

If you haven't already seen it, take a peep at Rare Birdcage Corsair Restoration 4th April 2025 on Youtube. Vulture Row are restoring several Corsairs to fly, one of which is a Mk 1 with its unusual primer paint.

[ade rowlands]

Next conundrum would be the interior colour of the Canopy and Windscreen frames, Black, Silver or Dull Dark Green? 

[ade rowlands]

Well the Eaglecals Decals from Kingkit just arrived so onwards I go. 

[CRAZY IVAN5]

On 11/5/2025 at 4:49 AM, ade rowlands said:

Next conundrum would be the interior colour of the Canopy and Windscreen frames, Black, Silver or Dull Dark Green? 

I'm thinking DDG would be the safe bet though I don't have any reliable references. Hell, that's what I'd use and dare anyone to say I'm wrong[without some kind of proof]. The reason I'm thinking DDG is these planes came right off the Chance -Vought assembly lines then they were painted in F.A.A. colors [external] and with war time production rates being what they were ,it would seem doubtful that extra effort would be used to change up the interior [cockpit colors]. Of course I could be COMPLETELY wrong, it's been known to happen from time to time.

[LSP_Ron]

3 hours ago, ade rowlands said:

Well the Eaglecals Decals from Kingkit just arrived so onwards I go. 

 

They are great decals to use. Mine reacted very well to MicroSol and Set.

[crobinsonh]

This is a great reference for Corsairs and intricate details for FAA versions etc It is not a modellers book but it does answer quite a few questions specifically about FAA varients.

 

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/corsair-kd431-book-david-morris-9780750943055?sku=GOR009892837&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17416831122&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIDNA2WenI8-Y-bvNxFSE6efC&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7HIBhDoARIsAOATDxCUTcXhh0_5L6pe10cRWfyLgxlQCwPlNfmrMYbmfs5_upiWvRCC9o4aAkw2EALw_wcB

[ade rowlands]

1 hour ago, crobinsonh said:

This is a great reference for Corsairs and intricate details for FAA versions etc It is not a modellers book but it does answer quite a few questions specifically about FAA varients.

 

https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/corsair-kd431-book-david-morris-9780750943055?sku=GOR009892837&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17416831122&gbraid=0AAAAADZzAIDNA2WenI8-Y-bvNxFSE6efC&gclid=Cj0KCQiAq7HIBhDoARIsAOATDxCUTcXhh0_5L6pe10cRWfyLgxlQCwPlNfmrMYbmfs5_upiWvRCC9o4aAkw2EALw_wcB

 

Forgot I had that book in the Library along with a couple by Dana Bell, sadly not the one on Corsair interiors though, Internationals Shipping is quite costly and none of the UK Sources have it.