Looks like you've replicated that scheme just fine!

Catching up on these. Beautiful builds! The cockpit shots are gorgeous. I live about 2 miles from Akron Fulton. Thought you’d get a kick out of these then and now shots. The airport is virtually unchanged since the 40’s aside from the runway extension. I think a 4360 powered prototype should be in your future!

3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Louis, if I may quote you;

and stay tuned for an update on the Goodyear Corsair……….. I think you will like it

What's not to like! The usual deep thinking behind the actions serves you well.
Having done quite a lot of amateur investigating in b/w since my youth I fully support your findings in the shades/tones on the picture. Well done.

Today was another very productive day at the Iron Werke. I managed to install the landing gear, gear doors, exhaust pipes and propeller. While I was at it, I also added the decals. Please follow along, and I'll explain.

After building numerous Tamiya F4U's I have learned a few tricks along the way. This is one of them. Install the tail wheel doors first. This allows you to glue them more easily, while the tail strut isn't yet in the way.

I also assemble the main gear first, then paint them. This allows for a stronger glue joint. Once assembled as a unit, they are very easy to install. You can also install the front gear door cover at this time, (if you want to), before installing the main gear into the wing.

This time however, I decided to add the door afterwards. I also don't worry about cleaning up the tiny mold seam along the front of the main gear strut. This area is well hidden by the front door cover, and will not be seen.

The landing gear (including the tail strut) on these early Corsairs were painted in a shade of "Light Gray" at the factory where they were produced as a contracted sub assembly. Some gear assemblies were also delivered in a shade of aluminum color. Later on in the field, they could have been painted in a number of ways, including overall white, or Dark Sea Blue. As with any aircraft, once it goes in service, all bets are off as to what color things can be... Here's where it pays to do your homework !

I also wrapped the oleo strut using "Ultra Bright Bare Metal Foil" to replicate the shock absorber part of the main gear. This looks better than using silver paint in my opinion. Once the foil was done, I installed the smooth tread tires and wheels.

Here you can see the exhaust and the main gear doors have been installed. One word of caution here: You can install the outer main gear doors on backwards. This is very easy to do with the outer gear doors. The inner main gear doors have a small wedge that should point forwards. Look closely at the design cast into the parts. They are different, and should be installed as I have done here. There's a small oval depression on the inside of the door. It should face forward as I have shown here.

So I checked the rest of my Corsair builds in the display case... yep, you guessed it ! I have installed some of these parts on backwards on several of my previous builds. It happens... 🙂

I pressed the propeller in place on the front of the engine. I couldn't help myself, so I snapped a picture that shows how the Corsair is progressing now...

Then it was time for the decals. I have been saving this black "Number 2" for a while now. Originally it came from a WW2 German fighter set of numbers. I had to slightly modify it, by slicing off the top leading edge to better match the one shown in the original pictures.

I went as far as to cut out individual letters for the serial numbers and model type that are located on the rudder and fin. On the original Corsair, this would have stated "NAVY" and the bureau number of "13007" would have been directly under this. Farther back on the rudder would have been the designation "FG-1" instead of the usual "F4U-1" nomenclature that we typically see on our models. Goodyear built Corsairs were called "FG-1's"... Brewster also built some of these early Corsairs. The Brewster built planes had the designator of "F3A-1". This tiny decaling work took considerable time to do... thank God for the decal stash ! and magnifying glasses... 😉

Now for the moment of truth... I posed the model as best I could for now and took these photos. First is a color picture.

Followed by a Black and White photo using my cell phone camera... Keep in mind this doesn't have the same effects as what you would see if this was actually done using the original Kodak orthochromatic film, where yellows and reds tend to look much different...

Now compare this to the original picture that was in the Corsair book written by Dana Bell. I think that I am pretty close...

Now if I could somehow convert this picture into something that resembled how it would look using the original Kodak film... You can definitely see the differences between the yellow and the yellow green zinc chromate finishes in all of these photos.

This Goodyear FG-1, with the assigned Bureau Number of 13007, is getting very close to being done... 🙂 In case you're interested, this aircraft was the 16th Corsair that Goodyear produced...

I still have to paint the flat black walkway on the wings, add some light exhaust staining, and install the clear parts. Then seal the decals, add the antennae bits and the tape over the gun openings on the leading edge of the wing. It's getting closer.

Take care everyone, stay safe, and as always, comments are encouraged.

The work on this Corsair is certainly "above and beyond", Louis (@lgardner). The comparisons you have done between the original photos and the black and white photos or your model are really cool. If you have access to a laser printer, you can print your own really small lettering on decal paper. I have been printing my own decals for my N Scale trains using a laser printer. I have produced readable lettering down to a font of 1. If you use a laser printer to print the decals, you don't have to seal the decals with clear before you use them.

Thanks gentlemen for the kind words. I’m posting pictures using my phone so this will be a short response. Later tomorrow I will make a better reply. Meanwhile here’s a picture showing the home brewed mix of Future, rubbing alcohol and some Tamiya flattering agent was applied to the Goodyear Corsair. I wanted to deal the decals and give it a more even sheen.

I had the Iron Weke fired up today and I was spraying the flat mixture on various planes. I’m happy to report that two more builds have now been completed. More on this tomorrow.

Here’s what it looks like at the moment.

As always comments are encouraged. Good night.

I love the resulting sheen, Louis @lgardner!
Waiting for your next post!

It looks fantastic, Louis.
Those decals do not look like being decals at all.