Another project of mine that I'm looking to do is 3 F4U Corsairs. One as a USN fighter bomber, a USN/USMC night fighter an FAA fighter.
First off - I already have the Academy F4U1 (with 1 piece bulged canopy) and I'm thinking of getting some FAA markings - would I be right in thinking this model is Ok to use for an FAA machine? If not what would be the best to go with.
I've heard that the Hasegawa Corsair is not so hot as it's an older kit - I have just picked up one up on ebay (not delivered yet) and was wondering what this kit is like. If it's not so good, can the Tamiya birdcage Corsair be made into the night fighter (I have seen an aftermarket radar pod)?
I think I'm ok on a standard USN fighter bomber - given that most of the kits are for that anyway!

thanks
Mike

Ps - the scale is 1/72!

I build primarily 1/72 scale scale, much to the chagrin of some! Ha ha. I think Tamiya has a great line of 72 scale warbirds and they have an F4U-1 which is quite nice, check it out. Russell

Greetings , if you want to build an FAA bird you will need to clip the wings (this was done so they could be stored on British carriers) As for the Tamiya birdcage - the 1.48 kit comes with a night fighter pod so the answer is yes.

Does the 1/72 one come with the radar pod and markings for a nightfighter?

thanks
Mike

Yeah I knew that about the FAA Corsairs. Hasegawa used to do an FAA Corsair but I think it's an older kit and i have no idea if they did clipped wings. By my calculations you would have to shave off almost 3mm off each wing tip. How accurate looking that would be I have no idea!

thanks
Mike

Most FAA kits like the Hasegawa one dont have clipped wings from what i have seen.The Hobbycraft 1/48 FAA bird does have them as they have different tips supplied with the kit.Most people wont notice as long as they are clipped , 3mm sounds about right for that scale.I mainly build FAA Hellcats but i do have some Corsair marking to use up in future.As for your questions on the Tamiya Corsair - no idea as i only build 1/48 sorry.The early Corsair night fighters were mainly Marine shore based birds so the marking are very simple and easy to make from spares.

For the night Corsair, i'd really love markings for one from the USS Enterprise. I'll see what's in the box when it turns up! That said if anyone knows an aftermarket set with night Corsair markings from the Enterprise, then I'd love to know!

thanks
Mike

you clip off from the first panel line on each wing..

Thanks for that!
I'm thinking at the moment that instead of clipping the wings of an expensive Tamiya model, I might use the Academy model in my stash. It's an F4U-1, which if i've read right is the same as the Corsair MkII. Can anyone confirm this or am I wrong?
Also I've found a Corsair by a company called Smer and was wondering if anyone know what it's like? It's in FAA markings, so might save me a job.

thanks
Mike

hi all,

another corsair question...

i really want to do one of the late french version F4U-7 Corsairs but the only kit i can find is the Heller version.

has anyone built this and whats the kit like? good,bad...................

cheers paul

The Hasegawa kit is ok - there is a build log of the F4U-5 on the preflight check section at the moment that will answer alot of your questions , the F4U-5 and 7 kits are similar - the main niggles are the lack of cockpit detail and the large seam from the cockpit to the cowl.Apart from that it is not a bad kit. The F4U-7 was made up of AU1 Marine attack Corsairs mated with F4U-4 engines.They were operated until replaced by the Crusader in French service so they had a long career.

Did mean 1/48 or 1/72? In 1/72 i would go for the Italeri kit of the F4U-7

hi,
i want a 1/48 kit.

paul

Then Hasegawa is your best bet for 1/48 kit.Check out Steffens build in the Cold War section - the F4U-5 in his build and the F4U-7 are very similar kits.But the biggest thing has to be the seam on the nose/cowl with the Hasegawa kits.

hey thanks , i managed to find the hasegawa F4U-7 kit , cant wait to get it in my grubby little hands!

paul

Excellent Make sure you post up some pics when you build it