Better Build ? - Tamiya 1/48 or Trumpeter 1/32 Corsair ?

They are both great kits.
I think the main factor is whether you want a 1/48 or 1/32 Corsair in your collection.
I like big models, so I went with Trumpeter's 1/32 F4U-4.

I had heard the wing fold on the Trumperter kit is horrendous. Unless you want it displayed with the wings folded you are in for some work.

I've only built one Tamiya Corsair yet I would have to say that, out of all my models, their Corsair was one of my favorite kits every built. What a sweet kit! I didn't use a lick of filler and the kit was just a real sweetheart. Nothing went wrong during the build. I now have the Trumpeter Corsair but I haven't started it yet. However, just from looking at it, it looks real impressive and the cockpit sure looks nice with all the dials, throttles, etc. I've heard that the fit isn't all that bad. It's just that the whole kit is going to be incredibly labor intensive. I agree with J-Hulk. I think it's going to come down to whether or not you like a 1/48 or a 1/32 kit AND with how much work you feel like doing. For me, I'm a brand new pappa so I know I'd go with the Tamiya kit if I wanted another Corsair. I drool over the Trumpeter kit but I know darn good and well that I won't be able to dedicate any REAL time to it until sometime around 2012.

If scale is not the primary concern, I'd put my money on the Tamiya Corsair. I've built several and they were real sweethearts. If you want the wings extended, be prepared for a little extra work. Otherwise, fit is excellent.
I'm current embroiled in building the Trumpeter -4, and I hope to have it finished before the end of the millenium. Fit and general outline are acceptable, but it seems that every little detail must be tweeked. I haven't gotten to the wingfold yet, but test-fitting reveals a real challenge just to get the wings to fold at the proper angle. If I were to do this one with the wings extended, I would glue the three bottom panels together, then line up the tops (same process as the Tamiya, BTW).
I'll probably finish one or two Tamiya, AND one or two Hasegawa Corsairs during the Trumpeter build, just to remember what "fun" modelling is about.

Phil Schenfeld

Hey Phil!

I've got the -4 Corsair too. Are the flaps and other control surfaces supposed to actually move on the model or is it just a more detailed way or posing them in a certain position? The reason I ask is because in the latest edition of FSM the person building the Corsair said they were gluing their control suraces in one position only in the interest of cutting down on the build time. I think I'm going to do the same thing. That way it will take me only six months to build instead of a year. Yikes!

Eric