1/48th Hasegawa F4U-5N
This is my second build in conjunction with Louis Gardner's Korean War group build. It's a F4U-5N Night Fighter in the markings of VC-3. The Hasegawa kit was nicely engineered with the exception of the engine cowling mating to the forward fuselage. That took some #11 work and a bit of sheet styrene to resolve. Other than that issue is was a smooth build. The cockpit interior was a mixture of kit parts and the True Details cockpit set. The dark sea blue finish was airbrushed MM enamel and the decals were from Victory Productions. The next to the last photo shows the F4U-5N with my recently completed F9F-5 Panther. The final photo shows the F4U-5N shot I used as the basis for the model markings. Next up on the build list is the AMT/ESCI 1/48th AD-4W which I've already started. It too will be a part of the Korean War group build.
8 additional images. Click to enlarge.
gary sausmikat said on August 7, 2020
Great build, Jim! I like the lowered flaps and the pic with the Panther. Good representation for the Korea GB. 👍👍
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Gary.
Tom Cleaver said on August 7, 2020
I'll bet my friend, Admiral Don Shelton, would like to see this, since 15-NP was what he flew off the Princeton during the Chosin campaign. (And yes, he's still around)
Very nice work on this and a super result.
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Tom and thanks for the info on Admiral Shelton. A hand salute to him and all the brave folks who have served in our military. God bless them all.
Robert Royes said on August 7, 2020
Nice! Great build
.Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Robert.
Clark Cook said on August 7, 2020
Excellent build of one of my favorite aircraft. Your models are an inspiration for all of us Corsair fans. Paint work is top notch as usual and the flat anti-glare panel sets off the scheme. The store look good. Thanks for sharing with us.
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thanks Clark, glad you liked that Corsair. I look forward to seeing the Skyraider you're currently working on.
John Healy said on August 7, 2020
Nice job.
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you John.
Louis Gardner said on August 8, 2020
Jim, @bentwing
Thanks for participating again in our Korean War Group Build. I don't know if you know this or not, but the Corsair has been my favorite airplane since I was a little kid. Back in the late 1970's I push mowed lawns as a teenager to make a little money. I also collected glass bottles that had a deposit on them, as this was something that a lot of kids would do back then. I saved up money I made from collecting bottles and mowing yards, and purchased your very first Squadron Signal "F4U In Action" book one day on a trip into town to the local hobby store. I still have that very same book to this day, along with most of your other written works on US Naval Aviation subjects...but the models I bought that day are long gone...
This Korean War group build has had some wonderful models built so far and I hope that more will follow. I have seen the Collings Foundation's F4U-5NL as it was being restored, (twice, but that's another story), and they went through a lot of trouble getting it as authentic as they could.
Here's a picture I took of it several years ago, when it was in the shop for it's annual. I have many more of it that I took during the restoration(s). What really caught my attention was how the ailerons were made of wood, and how the top of the ammunition boxes actually formed part of the upper wing.
Your plane looks like a miniature version of the real deal.
Thanks again my friend. It looks great parked next to your Panther Jet. I'll bet your Skyraider will be another "looker".
Stay safe...
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thanks Louis and I'm happy to be able to contribute to the Korean War GB. Thanks also for the fine F4U-5NL photo you shared. Happy to hear you found that first F4U Corsair In Action book of interest. That was my first venture into writing for Squadron/Signal.
Spiros Pendedekas said on August 8, 2020
Hi Jim @bentwing!
This is a great model of the Korean Corsair Night Fighter.
Excellent all around!
As for the cowling fit, the rumour that every Hasegawa kit has a grey area, lives on!
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Spiros. I think most every kit manufacturer produces 'grey area' challenges to builders. Hasegawa produces some fine kits overall as do a number of other model aircraft companies. One thing for sure is that I'll be far more careful the next time I build a Hasegawa Corsair.
John vd Biggelaar said on August 8, 2020
Very nice build, Jim. @bentwing
For my understanding, and likely lack of recent modelling experience, what do you mean by this #11work?
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Hello John, glad you enjoyed that Corsair build. As for #11 work I was referring to a sharp #11 blade for an Exacto knife or a scalpel. I had to do some trim/cutting work to make the notches line up for a smooth engine cowling fit to the front of the fuselage. I used sheet styrene to fill in areas where needed after the trim work was done.
Tom Bebout said on August 8, 2020
Well done as usual Jim, I bet you could build Corsairs in your sleep. Really like the pic with the panther as well. Have the same kit in my stash, may have to open it up and start building.
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Tom and yes, I'm a Corsairaholic and lost count of the number of them I've built over the years. Glad you enjoyed the pic with the Corsair and Panther. It seemed appropriate to post them together since both aircraft types fought in the Korean War.
Don Weixl said on August 8, 2020
Thanks for sharing your Corsair expertise with us Jim. A beautiful model.
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Don.
dale travis said on August 8, 2020
Great work on this Jim!
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Dale.
Morne Meyer said on August 8, 2020
Jim this is yet another fine build of arguably my favourite Corsair together with the AU-1. You did an amazing job on this one. Well done!
Jim Sullivan said on August 8, 2020
Thank you Morne and it's good to hear from you.
DE4EVER said on August 9, 2020
🙂 ... Greetings ... 🙂 :
An eye grabber for sure Jim.
Your slight touch of weathering and the main color are all well applied here, it is pretty much museum quality.
Jim Sullivan said on August 9, 2020
Thank you DE4EVER.
Terry Schuler said on August 9, 2020
Jim, Very nice -5. I really like the paint scheme and your paint work looks really good.
I've got a couple of these kits in my stash. I've been advised about the over mold seem on the cowl. I haven't really checked it out to closely yet, but I'll be sure to get ahold of you when I get going on them.
Jim Sullivan said on August 9, 2020
Thanks Terry, I look forward to hearing from you and seeing more of your fine model work.
Greg Kittinger said on August 10, 2020
Very nice! I just spied a -5 in my stash last week, and am debating whether to build a Corsair or a Skyraider for the Korean War build...
Jim Sullivan said on August 10, 2020
Thanks Greg...Corsair or Skyraider, you can't go far wrong with either but I must admit I'm a bit partial to the F4U. Either way I look forward to seeing whichever model you choose to build.
Brian Scott said on August 10, 2020
Jim another beautiful looking Corsair. Excellent finsih buddy 🙂
Jim Sullivan said on August 10, 2020
Thank you Brian.