Tamiya 1/48 F4U-1A "Birdcage" Corsair
Having only ever built mostly revell, and one academy, Corsairs, I never realized the quality I was missing out on with the kits from Tamiya. So when my chance at christmas came to get one as a gift, I was more than happy to build it. And so I did. I spent hours painting the cockpit, assembling the parts, and then making it all ready for paint. And I nearly had it done a couple months ago before the modelling Gods decided to smite me.
Disaster struck when I spilled paint on one wing and the engine cowling, destroying two decals, and the paintwork. I did not realize until the following day this had happened, or I'd have corrected the mistake. The paint was dry, and I had no way to save it, as I did not have a spare decal, and the light blue paint had all been used. So off to the shelf it went, wings detached, fuselage waiting for my guiding hand to once more work on the project.
That finally came this week. In a blur of sudden modelling energy, off the shelf she came. I sanded down the entire plane, so that the surface would be smooth once again, and went to work. I mixed a new light blue, which actually ended up being nearly identical (yay!), and painted it for the second time. Luckily, I had a spare set of decals arrive when my good buddy Jay Mitchell sent over a large collection of old decals he was never going to touch again. But it looked the same as before, and I didnt really like that.
Inspiration struck when looking as another buddy's build on Discord, and if I'm not mistaken, a build by someone here not too long ago. Discord is an app lots of guys my age use for gaming, and also many other hobbies such as photography, art, and modelling. Its pretty fun, I know of LPJ Models, Model Minutes, and a few other guys who have a discord server, which you can find on their YouTube channels.
Anyway, he had built a Bf 109, which had a wing replaced in a different color, and seeing as I had seen two of them in quick succession, I took that as a sign. So, I mixed up a Navy blue, and painted the engine cowling and wing that I had damaged in that color. New decals, and everything was varnished. Then, tamiya panel liner, and oils would be used to weather the craft, including gun smoke, panel fading, and fuel stains.
This is not a conventional corsair by any stretch of the imagination, but its unique. And for that, I love it.
Thank you so much for reading. Without further adieu, I present my 1/48 F4U-1A "Birdcage" Corsair from Tamiya.
Great job, Jordyn! Very nice paint and weathering job, not over done at all. Love the dark wing look. Your builds are progressing with leaps and bounds. Keep 'em coming.
Thanks, Gary. I'm hoping I get around to the backlogs of other stuff i have. Theres a 1/32 corsair that needs my attention, and I have loads if stuff waiting for paint that I never got around to because I was unsure of my abilities at the time. So hopefully you see more soon!
Yeah, that looks great Jordyn! I like that "replacement wing" a lot! 🙂
Thanks Gary! It was spur of the moment, but I'm not at all unhappy with it.
Great build, Jordyn.
Really something different.
Well done.
Thank you John. I was hoping it wouldnt be just another corsair, so I'm glad I saw those 109s.
Jordyn,
Your "Disaster struck" is a common universal euphemism that all modelers face. However, mistakes can be good and disaster is the mother of invention. Which was all too true during WWII. Aircraft parts where constantly being recycled in bone yards all the time. As they are today. Good catch on the cowling and the wing.
Two thumbs up.
Thank you Stephen! It may be a euphemism, but it's how I felt when it happened. Nearly went off the balcony, haha! Not really, I wouldn't do that. But yea, I've seen pics of planes of all kinds with replacement parts. So maybe it's not too far off...
Well done, Jordyn!
Thanks John!
Great build, Jordyn!
Getting better and better build after build!
Thank you very much Spiros! That Yak you recently did is really nice as well.
Cool scheme and a great save!
Thank you Thiago!
As the painter Bob Ross would say, you had a "happy little accident" that turned into an opportunity for creativity. Beautiful Corsair! I have this kit in the stash and, like you, have only built the Monogram/Revell kits. I see now what I've been missing out on!
Just wait until you start putting it together. This, and their P-47, are some of the best kits I've ever had the pleasure of building. And I'll take a happy little accident over "Oh c**p, I melted the wing" any day.
Nice save! Perhaps it went through a time warp of some kind?
The time warp again?
I like your thinking.
Thanks, Robert!
Ended up being a nice-looking Corsair! Way to stick with it.
Thank you very much Greg! At the end of the day, I glad it's done. It was guilt tripping me as I worked on other stuff.
Looks great!
Thanks Amari!
Well done Jordyn and a great save too.
Thank you very much Tom. I'm happy with it.
Great job and save!
Great job on this F4U…. I’m glad you could use those decals.
The airplane looks great !