21st Century Corsairs
Two 21st Century Corsairs, one modified with the Montex conversion set as an F4U-1 “birdcage” Corsair, one done as Ike Kepford’s F4U-1A. Both used Eduard photoetch for the cockpits and SAC metal gear legs.
One major problem with the kit is that the outer wings do not have sufficient dihedral, something I discovered too late to fix. This could be easily fixed with Evergreen strip inserted between inner and outer wings on the underside, then some putty, sanding and rescribing. (Fortunately no one who looks at the models out at Chino is aware of this failing)
The Birdcage is done per photos as an early airplane that arrived in the Solomons in dark blue-grey/light grey with the circle-star insignia in six locations, later overpainted with Non-Specular Sea Blue and the insignias updated to the red-surround with the earlier opposite wing insignia remaining. – I’ll probably do my coming Tamiya Corsair is some “off-beat” scheme like this, with even more Solomons weathering, per the 1/48 Tamiya kit I did, with the “salmon” primer I used to not believe existed till I saw the airplane pulled out of Lake Michigan.
The Kepford airplane is done with an Aeromaster sheet for F4U-1As. To be accurate, it should have a Hellcat prop by this stage of its existence, but I didn’t have one in 1/32.
19 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Ray B. Hall said on May 22, 2013
Tom ,, as usual a breath-taking model .. on thing I notice some modelers do not do is weather the prop …YOU, my friend, are a real master of every detail … “we” amateurs learn a lot from your models you post .. THANKS !!
Craig Abrahamson said on May 22, 2013
Appears to be a pretty good weathering and paint job from what I can discern. Too bad the photos aren’t clearer/sharper. I wonder if it’s the camera or the lighting…?
Drew Tarter said on May 22, 2013
Another stunning build, Tom.
Erich Goldbach said on May 23, 2013
Tom, It’s a beauty all right. Forget about the carmera or lighting…I want to know where you find the time to build so much cool stuff!?
Tom Cleaver said on May 23, 2013
Self (un)employment. 🙂
Stephen W Towle said on May 23, 2013
That weathering has got to be some of your best work TC. The prop (even if it isn’t a Hellcat prop) is well done. Two thumbs up.
Rob Colvin said on May 24, 2013
Havnig built one myself……I can say very nice job on your corsairs.
Tom Cleaver said on May 24, 2013
Yeah, they’re definitely a PITA, filling in the holes and all, but they don’t cost $120 like the new Tamiya will. And money spent on the Eduard stuff and SAC gear and even decals still keeps them inexpensive.
John Healy said on May 24, 2013
Nice work, great weathering! I don’t do much 1/32 but have one in the stash that I picked up for $10. Yours make me want to dig out finally.