1/72 F4U-1A Corsair

This was a reprise of the Hasegawa Corsair kit that I built two weekends ago as a F4U-4 flying from Bunker Hill in February 1945 in overall Glossy Sea Blue. This build was an attempt to get a good tricolor scheme down, as well as try out chipping fluid and the sort of heavier land-based weathering that I eventually want to incorporate into the Tamiya kit.

I originally planned on building the Hasegawa as the box subject, the VF-17 Kepford Corsair, but decided to save that subject for the Tamiya kit, which had better decals, and instead build this one as another VF-17 subject, Tommy Blackburn's "Big Hog" using an old set of decals for that subject, but the Hasegawa "red surround" insignia, since it had the correct larger sizes.

After priming I put down a light coat of aluminum, then chipping fluid, then a light coat of zinc chromate green, and another coat of fluid. After increasing my thinner ratio, decreasing my air pressure, and changing to the smallest airbrush tip, I tried applying the tricolor camouflage, and was very happy with how it came out.

The cockpit side decals failed, as did the first of the 1992 Hasegawa insignia decals, but I was able to place it on the wing underside, and take more care with the others. The chipping didn't work out as well as I would have liked, but I was able to get the slightly chipped and scuffed look I was after.

The model was built out of the box except for the white tape on the wings that a couple of modelers' builds showed. I am sorry I couldn't have the canopy retracted, but the kit came as one piece, which I knew would be too think to retract, even if I sawed through it. But I tacked it on lightly so that whenever I can locate some aftermarket canopies I had replace it.

I'm now really to handle the tricolor SBD, TBF, and Kepford Corsair in my stash, as well as replace the Vraciu F6F-3 that deserved a better treatment.

5 additional images. Click to enlarge.