Kiwi Corsair - Finished

[mgbooyv8]

Hi guys,

 

A F4U Corsair is a perfect candidate for this group build.

I have a big box full of unbuild 1/32 kits in plastic bags, without their own box and mainly Revell.

Soo, I dug out my Revell Corsair.

 

For years this was the only game in town if you wanted a F4U Corsair and many masterpieces were build from it with lots of effort.

Just look around on the LSP website.

This was until the Trumpeter kit came along and more recently the superb Tamiya one.

 

The kit is big but very basic as most of us know.

And I'm going to build it AOOB for a relaxing build!

Just box in the wheelbays to avoid interesting see-through effect, that's the plan.

The pilot will occupy the cockpit. He will hide the floor which in reality is not there and also the lack of detail.

He is also the excuse to keep the flaps raised, because he is already in. 

 

What are we talking about?

 

The light blue-grey sprues:

 

 

 

 

The moulds look very well used, there is a lot of flash.

Not surprising, according to Scalemates this kit was first released in 1970!

 

The instructions:

 

And the decals of my version:

 

From which I'm going to use the stencils only, because I will use these:

HGW 1/32 wet decals for RNZAF F4U-1A / F4U-1D

They are already ordered from my local model shop, the Aviation Megastore.

 

The reason? For the Jurassic Plastic group build of a couple of years ago, I dug out a Matchbox Dauntless (this one) from the same big box.

It got the same treatment as planned for now and is finished in the RNZAF scheme with the original kit decals.

I think the Kiwi Corsair will be a perfect companion to my Kiwi Dauntless!

 

I forgot to picture the clear sprue:

 

To start the build, the JLC razor saw got a good workout this evening:

 

To be continued.

 

Cheers,

 

Peter

 

 

[Leaning_Dog]

I love these old Revell kits. Building what comes in the box is low stress, and great fun.  

 

Cheers!

John.

[Alex]

Nice!  I wish Aviation Megastore was my local hobby shop...   Hopefully someday post-COVID I will get to visit Amsterdam again and I can talk my wife into giving me an afternoon off to go see the place.

[mgbooyv8]

3 minutes ago, Alex said:

Nice!  I wish Aviation Megastore was my local hobby shop...   Hopefully someday post-COVID I will get to visit Amsterdam again and I can talk my wife into giving me an afternoon off to go see the place.

Oh yes, you will need the the whole afternoon if you have never been there and your credit card will have serious burn marks afterwards!

 

9 minutes ago, Leaning_Dog said:

I love these old Revell kits. Building what comes in the box is low stress, and great fun.  

 

Cheers!

John.

Oh yes, I agree completely!

 

Cheers,

 

Peter.

 

[LSP_Kevin]

Awesome! I have one of these floating around and awaiting its turn, too.

 

Kev

[denders]

Nice! That is 3 of 6 corsairs that are in my closet. I do have various resin updates to go along with at least 2 of them for something in the future.

[KiwiZac]

I'm excited to follow along with this build but I'm confused - is a model eligible for this GB just because the subject was designed for naval use? I only ask because our Corsairs were air force and never operated from carriers.

Edited March 2, 2021 by KiwiZac

[Out2gtcha]

Looks like a challenge for sure! 

 

18 hours ago, KiwiZac said:

I'm excited to follow along with this build but I'm confused - is a model eligible for this GB just because the subject was designed for naval use? I only ask because our Corsairs were air force and never operated from carriers.

 

 

Its all about Naval aviation overall, and the planes that were basically made for Naval Ops. They could be from ship or land based squadrons.

[mgbooyv8]

Thanks for the clarification for Zac, Brian! 

That's how I interpreted the rules as well.

 

Interestingly, according to several references, initially it was not allowed to execute shipborne operations with the Corsair.

Apparently, near/at stall speed it could drop a wing without warning, not a desirable trait for a carrier aircraft.

Bouncing landing gear and limited field of view over the long nose during the approach didn't help either.

So it started its career from land bases.

After the most severe problems were sufficiently solved, shipborne operations with the Corsair were allowed.

 

Cheers,

 

Peter

[KiwiZac]

23 minutes ago, mgbooyv8 said:

After the most severe problems were sufficiently solved, shipborne operations with the Corsair were allowed.

As I understand - another Kiwi link - New Zealand FAA pilot the late Don Nairn was a key figure in ironing out those issues.

 

I love seeing Kiwi Corsairs so I'm excited to follow along with your progress, Peter!

[LDSmodeller]

On 3/2/2021 at 9:49 AM, mgbooyv8 said:

I think the Kiwi Corsair will be a perfect companion to my Kiwi Dauntless

Hi Peter,

 

Nice Choice

Have you decided on which of the RNZAF Corsairs you will do off the

decal sheet?

 

I have two of these Revell kits, one of them being built (also on your decal sheet)

as NZ5485 Kohimarama IX using though Ventura Decals.

 

Just as an FYI, RNZAF Corsairs had their arrestor hooks removed by the RNZAF Servicing

Units who owned them, and "Loaned" them to the Operational Squadrons

Photo of a 23 "Ghost" Squadron Corsair (also on your decal sheet)

(RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions)

On 3/2/2021 at 9:49 AM, mgbooyv8 said:

He is also the excuse to keep the flaps raised, because he is already in. 

I wouldn't worry about the flaps being down anyway, as RNZAF Corsairs generally kept theirs

in the up postilion when not in use anyway

(RNZAF Official - RNZAF Museum - Used with Permissions)

 

Look forward to your build

 

Regards

 

Alan

[Chris Wimmer]

Fantastic! This was my first build when I returned to modelling in my early 20s. Looking forward to seeing yours come together 

Cheers

Chris 

[mgbooyv8]

Thanks Chris, I hope I can meet expectations.

 

Thanks Alan!

It will be one of the F4U-1A's in three colour scheme with the duck on the side.

I haven't decided yet which one.

My Dauntless also has the three colour scheme, so they will make a nice pair.

 

Great pictures, thanks!

Nice to see that the flaps were up on parked RNZAF aircraft.

Also good to know that the arrestor hook was removed.

It can go into the spares box.

 

Many parts were cleaned up. A lot of flash and mould lines had to be removed.

But that is to be expected with such an old kit with high mileage.

Then, wing and fuselage parts fit as intended.

 

The cockpit consists of a whopping 4 parts plus two for the pilot.

Here they have their first coat of paint:

 

The paint of the rudder pedals is still wet.

When the paint is dry I can start detail painting, for what detail there is.

The seams of the pilot needs to be cleaned up.

The figure is relatively detailed, and probably will pop once painted.

I removed the antenna on the belly of the fuselage, I don't expect it will survive the handling.

 

Work has also started on the engine:

 

These are all the parts that make up the big R2800.

Both rows of cylinders each consist of two parts.

I expect neatening of the seams will be required.

 

To be continued.

 

Cheers,

 

Peter

[LDSmodeller]

12 hours ago, mgbooyv8 said:

The cockpit consists of a whopping 4 parts plus two for the pilot.

Hi Peter,

 

I really Applaud you're keeping this build simple

When I started mine (sometime ago) I decide to go AMS

and ended up with this which since then has stalled........

 

Your build is coming a long nicely

 

Keep up the great work

 

Regards

 

Alan

[mgbooyv8]

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your pictures, that is so familiar. 

You had a great start with your Corsair.

 

I also have several LSP's stalled due to AMS.

That's why I want to keep this build simple, although I plan to close off the wheelbays to avoid interesting see-through effects.

I must say it is hard to resist AMS on this one, there are so many things which scream "improve!". 

 

Cheers,

 

Peter