:-) This is the Tamiya F4U-1 (Birdcage [refers to the multi frame canopy]) Corsair. I am building this for the Corsair group build, previous pics have been shown else where. It is almost ready for it's primer coat, just got to finish the nav lights. :-)

The canopy is a superb fit:

I have cut away the molded on rudder and elevator operating links, they will be replaced with copper wire, an easy improvement.

I have cut out the molded on wing tip nav lights, to be replaced with clear sprue from the kit. I have painted the cut out Int Green (as per prototype) not silver, this looks far more realistic. When the paint is dry I scrape it off, around the edges, this is so the CA has something to grip on to. If you don't do this then I guarentee you will knock off the nav light while you are filing and sanding them, CA is weak in shear. The sprue is filed at right angles and a shallow depression is drilled in one of the flat sides, to represent the bulb, this needs positioning carefully. It is filled with the appropriate colour, red port, green or blue starboard. When it is dry you can add a touch of silver, extended slightly around the hole, to represent the reflector.


This is the port wing tip nav light on my P47D:

Comments please :-)
Mal

Holdfast - you way to slow. You have got to speed up your building #:-) #:-)
It looks good so far. I like the running light method you used. I'm going to try it some time.

Honestly, the rudder and elevators don't seem to be any different after the cut away and ressembly. Again - pictures aren't allways the best representation, so in person may be the way to view this.

Looks good. Love the F4!!!!! (Almost as much at the B17)

:-) Naa Scott, I've not cut away the rudder and elevators, just the control linkage. I'm dropping the elevators on 2 Spitfires and I couldn't handle any more at the moment
Clear bits have been glued in position as we speek, I'll try and get one sanded down and polished and post the result tomorrow :-) Yep I love the F4, I'm gearing up to do a B17, got to do some trials on skinning a P51 first though. Keep your eyes pealed.
Mal

Mal, great looking as usual. I like the wing tip lights. I've read how that was done and you make it look good. I'll have to try that on something I have set back right now.

Hi Mal, Have you no life at all????? Tell you what...why dont you come over for dinner or summink, it'll give you some time out of the model room. Those fumes MUST be getting to you. My wife and I are worried that you may forget the art of socialising.. #:-)

Great work again mate..

Mal, I've been following the models you post for a while, and I must say you do some amazing work! :-)

The nav lights look great!
Is the birdcage Corsair kit pretty much the same as the other Tamiya Corsairs? I've just put the last decal on my F4U - 1A and will be weathering Saturday or Sunday...
It won't look quite as good as yours (though it's on track to be the best I've done ), but I figure since I've been working on it (on and off) for 7 months, it was time to get it done!

Keep us updated!

Martin, I've been out of work for 6 months, can't afford to socialise can't remember the last time I had a beer. Social pays me £4.86 per week I probably have forgotten the art of socialising
But it gives me time to do some modelling :-) Problem is I'm running out of consumables
Hey, but I'm finishing up my started kits :-) :-) :-)

Ooops, do I feel stoopid. Sorry to hear it Mal.
I'm sure things will get better, what are you short of???????

:-) No problem Martin, things can only get better :-) Mind you I have probably done enough socialising in the past to last me a life time.
I have got a couple of social events in the diary, I'm meeting Roger (Favorisio) on Tuesday and I am going down to my brothers in Birmingham for the FA cup final. Another brother is picking me up and a 3rd brother will meet us there. Plus 3 of my brothers friends. We did a similar thing when England beat Germany 5-1, what a great time that was. Good beer, good food and a good game on the box. No wasn't drunk, 'onest guv. :-)
Anyone live in Birmingham?
Mal

:-) Nav lights done :-)
Port filed and sanded but not polished, starboard fixed in place with CA:


Both lights filed, sanded with fine emery paper and polished with a polishing kit.

Mal

Excellent work on the lights. I gotta try that.

Are the 'bulbs' just holes drilled in the clear plastic and filled with paint?

:-)

Yes Bryan, drill a small hole, more a deprssion. Use a 0.3mm drill bit, these are 0.4mm cos I'm out of 0.3s. Drill to deep and a. it looks odd and b. there's a danger of sanding through to it. I fill them with Tamiya clear colours, but ordinary paint will do. I haven't done it here, but after the paint is dry your could add a little silver, or bronze (yep bronze [maybe even brass, but I haven't tried that] the bronze seems to make the clear colours brighter and more glass like). When drilling the other thing to watch for is the positioning, towards what will be the thicker part of the clear cover.
I attach them with CA and leave over night, to make sure it's well cured. As I said earlier, I scrape of a little of the paint around the edge of the opening, so the CA is fixed to plastic. If you don't do this I guarantee you will knock it off. I'm a bit paranoid, because I've knocked 'em off before, so when I start to shape, using a rats tail file, I make sure I'm pushing towards the wing, always. Most of the shaping is done with the file, when I start hitting plastic I switch to fine emery paper. When it's to shape I polish with polishing papers. I mask with white glue (don't have liquid mask) for painting. When painting and weathering are complete I remove the white glue. The intention is then to give them a coat of Klear but they useually don't need it :-)
There you go Bryan, another artical LOL
Mal