1/48 Tamiya F4U-1D Corsair

by Simon Wallis

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Here is my F4U-1D Corsair. I added the Eduard Zoom photoetch, primarily to help me with the cockpit instruments and used the most sober of the kit decals corresponding to a plane flown by Lt Phillip De Long, who later went on to serve with distinction as a Captain flying F4U’s in Korea. The photoetch is worth it for the main parts, but be warned that there are loads of massively fiddly instrument levers in the kit. I saved supergluing my fingers together and passed on these fiddles – this was just a quick build while I was waiting for things to dry off on the F-104 I had in the paint shop.

Fit and construction on the Tamiya kit were up to their usual high standards. There were a few ugly visible ejector pin marks in the cockpit and undercarriage areas that needed attention. The cockpit with the look through clear floor was pretty nicely done. The wings needed a little care to fit smoothly as the kit is designed with a wings up option, but fit together pretty well. The external fuel tanks were fine, but the interface between the tanks and fuselage is ‘pants’ (English for ‘disappointing’): a common failure with otherwise excellent Tamiya kits.

Click on images below to see larger images

After slightly thinned Mr Surfacer 1000 undercoat, I used Xtracolour’s excellent FS15042 Gloss Sea Blue for my base colour. I’d tried pre shading on previous builds, but had been warned that this is a bit of a waste of time on Corsairs given that sea blue is so dark. Instead I tried post shading with black for a first time: I was quite happy with how it worked out and it has given me confidence to try it on more complex color schemes. I also sprayed a thinned grey/smoke mixture around from the engine, but nothing too much bearing in mind that this was a pampered Navy Bird.

All in all it was a fun and quick build that helped me complete my more complex Zipper. Sitting them side by side, and next to my diminutive Spitfire, really makes you realize what a huge fighter the Corsair is! A big target, but a good thing the performance was superb.

Simon

Photos and text © by Simon Wallis