WIP - 1/48 Hasegawa Vought AU-1 (F4U-6) Corsair - Completed

Thanks for taking the time to look in Mike, this build is done for me.

Doing your own mask is the way to go, if you know your way around a vector drawing software, it's simple. It took me 20 time's longer to drive to the place to have the masks made than it did to create them.

I'm sold on the diy masks.

Since I always look in on Corsairs I am delighted to view your AU-1. I am impressed and will follow this thread to its conclusion.

BTW, I once used pre-cut masks on a 1/48 Focke Wulf. The swastika turned out way too "thick" - that is the lines were too wide. The fuselage insignia and number were OK. See here:

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4456/37521524691_0249718fe2_h.jpg

I would have been better off doing my own masking. More time but more accurate.

Thanks keavdog, I'm happy enough with it. A few minor issues were overcome and an OK example to sit on a shelf someday, when I build/buy a display case.

Thanks BK I appreciate your comments.

I'm pretty happy with the outcome, I would like to build another sometime.

How can you not love a Corsair? Well done. I love what you pulled off.

BK

Thanks Greg.

Thats all I wanted to achieve.

Damian

Sorry to be late to this thread.

Very good WIP with lots of good info and plenty of pics. Good workmanship and open about the good and bad experiences.

And, nice Corsair!!! 

Summary of Paint

I though I may add some comments reagrding the Mr. Paint products I used during the build.

They are good, I no longer think them to be great. They AB easily, they dry fast and are tough, but they dont cover very well. It took almost two 30ml bottles to cover this build, after having to get the pressure set on my gear just right. It will produce a good colour match, but at almost $11 AUD it pretty expensive.

One item I am very un happy with is the MRP Clear coat products. After spending hours attempting to achieve a clean to4/ p coat, to AB the MRP clear over the paint only to have it crack and bubble the paint below was annoying at best.

I haven't yet found the magical paint manufacture that produces a decent range of product that can be AB and hand brushed perfectly. So for the time being, I will stick with Tamiya and Mr Hobby and a select group of other manufactuers unit such time one appears.

Maybe I haven't used the product correctly and as a novice, this could be the case.

In summuary, the colours are great, finish great but coverage can be hit and mis and it's very expensive.

Thanks Mark

I appreciate you taking the time to drop in and have a look and leaving the comments. I'm glad you and all the others found the build interesting.

Cheers

Damian

Hey Damian, I've just caught up on this build and I all I can say is, wow!  This is a beautiful bird.  All the detail work you did and the recovery on the clear coat issue... really top-notch work.  Congrats on a great build! 

Cheers, Mark

Thanks Joe for taking the time to take a look.

I'm pretty happy with the end result, I will take some learnings from this build and use that to produce another build. The pre & post clear coat on both my previous two builds havent been satisfactory in terms of coverage and quality. I'm waiting on some Tamiya X-22 that I will try on a test mule to see if I can achieve a better result.

The DIY mask worked very well, I'm currently looking into buying my own Vinyl cutter as I had a contact who owns a Signwritting company cut the original ones for me. I like the Roland and Mimyaki products, but they are super expensive. The cheaper ones dont impress me much as one particular brand requires extra coin for a driver to print directly from Adobe Illustrator.

My photography is all down to my Canon SLR, not me. I need some diffused lighting to illuminate the front of the subject better, but thank you for your feedback.

I would like to build another F4U some day, but for know I'm onto the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger for The Battle of Midway GB.

Thanks again for looking in.

First, let me just say that given the clear coat issue , you have produced one gorgeous Corsair. As I always like to say, "It's not about the mishap but rather, it's all in the recovery". And you my friend recovered well.

On my last two builds I had issues with my clear coats and I could not let that go. I stripped the clear coat and paint in the affected areas and repainted/coated. But, hey, that's me.

I am hugely impressed with your masks. They came out outstanding. I'm going to have to practice some with that.

Another note is that apparently your photography skills are far superior to mine. Seriously, I cannot tell at all that you have any blemishes in your clear coat.

Thank You so much for sharing your remarkable skills and talent with us Damian. It has indeed been a pleasure. It was well worth the wait.

Cheers, Joe

Toshi

I have to agree with everything ManCityFan has said.  I wish my Corsair turned out as good as your build.  

Toshi

 

Thanks Toshi.

Your build did turn out better than what I have produced.

ManCityFan

Just looked at your finished bird, and read through past posts.  I think I missed some of what you were doing.  Creating those masks was brilliant, and the markings on your Corsair look fantastic.

Good save on the clear coat issue.  Cannot tell this was a problem in the finished photos. That had to be frustrating being that late in the building process.  Weathering looks good to me. 

Well done!  I would be happy to have this in my display case (if I had one ).  Thanks for sharing your process.

 

 

Thanks Dwayne.

Appreciate your feedback, creative photography get's around the bad clear coat issues.

The paint masks were a good idea, investigating a vinyl cutter at the moment.

I have to agree with everything ManCityFan has said.  I wish my Corsair turned out as good as your build.  

Toshi

Just looked at your finished bird, and read through past posts.  I think I missed some of what you were doing.  Creating those masks was brilliant, and the markings on your Corsair look fantastic.

Good save on the clear coat issue.  Cannot tell this was a problem in the finished photos. That had to be frustrating being that late in the building process.  Weathering looks good to me. 

Well done!  I would be happy to have this in my display case (if I had one ).  Thanks for sharing your process.

Reserved

UPDATE 30/8/17 - Completion

It's just occurred to me that it’s been exactly a month since my last WIP update. Life had gotten in the way, so updates have been nonexistent.

I left the last update applying my own vinyl masks for the bars & stars and ID, which turned out pretty good.

I also AB the aircraft ID number, and the applcation of the decals.

I had no intentions of weathering this build to any extent, but for some reason the clear coat of Mr. Paint Semi Gloss Clear bubbled the Mr. Paint Top Coat in certain areas, go figure (Not impressed). And my new Florry Models clay wash arrived, so I decided to try and hide the damage. I also found some images showing very dirty F4U-AU1 aircraft in combat during the conflict, so it dosent look too out of place.

So, the final stage of placing all the small delicate items on.

And the (almost) final images, just some minor weathering and I will call this done.

Thanks to all for your support and comments during this build, I don't know if I will do another. But my next build will be Hobby Boss's 1/48 TBF-1 Avenger for the Battle of Midway GB.

Thanks for looking in.

It's all good Damian. As you well know, I completely understand. Life just simply presents us with other priorities that need our attention. I know that on occasion I will find myself a bit solemn about the rate at which I build and the lack of bench time. But, in those moments, I just remember how grateful I am to have family and friends to help out and that I am able to enjoy this hobby at all. Also, I remember that I am my own worst enemy about taking the time to sit down at the bench when it is available. Thus, the feeling of remorse passes.

I've actually made some progress on my Corsair and will be posting an update this evening.

Take Care, Joe

Life has a habit of getting in the way now and again. Look forward to seeing some more when your able.

Well it's been almost 4 weeks since I provided any updates, and unfortuantely I have nothing but accuses for my poor form.

I had a been sick, taking parents to medical appointments, building a deck (still in progress) and general work around the home has not allowed, or left me in any mood to to sit at my desk. I have also been spending time designing modeling gear which I'm thinking of marketing and selling.

I hope to get some bench time in the next week or so and get the Corsair completed.

Till then, happy modeling.

Hey Joe,

Let me start by saying thank you for your comments on the build, yours and other members encouragment is what makes me want to strive for excellence, even if that is a way down the road.

I'm seriously green with envy that your father had the opportunity with fly one of these beautiful aircraft, It is in my top 5 of all time favourite aircraft.

I will check out your build, but I'm sure your doing a brilliant build I bet.

Again, thank you very much for the supportive comments, and I apprecite you taking the time to look in at the build.

Cheers

Damian

Hi There Damian. I regret that I'm late to the amazing Cosair party but, I've been away from the forums for a few months and just now getting back into the flow.

First, let me say that I love your Corsair. I'm as big of a fan of the Corsair as Mr. Toshi (potentially bigger). Have been since I was wee kid. My father flew the Corsair on occasion as a flight instructor during and after the war. I have, well, a lot of Corsair kits, including a Hasegawa AU-1. I'm currently building the Tamiya 1/72 F4U-1D. You can catch my rejuvinated WIP on here.

Now, let's heap some well deserved praise on your beauty. You have done one outstanding piece of work on the engine and cockpit. You can definitely Joe's influence there and you have done it proud. I'm also very impressed with your recovery efforts on the cowling fit and the paint mishaps. Then there is your home made masks. Impressive to the nines! Simply put, absolutely excellent build.

I'm also glad to hear that you are on the mend. As my fellow members have stated, do not be dicouraged by the lack of responses to your WIP. It just seems to ebb and flow and as long as there is one or two folks taking interest then I'm all good. It's often just rewarding to contribute somehow. 

Keep that glass half full my friend. A positive atitude always brings positive results.

I'm with you till the end of this now brother. Bring it home.

Cheers, Joe

Toshi,

We can, and most likely will, continue argue over who has built the best Corsair.

So, you have built the best one, there I said it.

And, thank you for your kind comments, again.

Damo

I am so looking forward to your Corsair build.  Even my Corsair doesn't compete with yours.  I could never have done a stencil nor will I ever to attempt one.  Great job on that sir, no fantastic superb job!

Toshi

Thanks Ultra, I truly appreciate your comments.

It was my first radial build, and was only by luck that I came across lawdog's brilliant tutorial that made it possible. I hope you enjoyed that build, I should be about done in a week or so when I get some bench time, patience and build m o j o.

You nailed that engine.  To me it looks like you've done that more than the first time that you read it from a tutorial.  Saving this thread for future reference.  You'r build is going to turn out great!

lawdog114

I know what your saying about lack of interest on threads. I've considered doing the same for the same reasons, but as long as someone finds my threads useful, I'll continue. A lot of it it has to do with the time of year where folks have limited time to check in. I know I have that issue right now. Today is the first day in a long time I've been able to sit down and peruse the forum. ....and that Corsair is looking great my friend.

 

Thanks mate, I originally made the comments during one my black dog periods, but in reflection I too will only continue whilst some of the newer members can hopefully learn from my errors and methods. The problem I have currently, is that other projects (building a deck, building work benches in the workshop, cleaning the workshop, designing work bench storage units for my modeling desk, driving parents to medical appointments and most importantly looking for paid employment) are getting in the way of bench time.

Thank you again for looking in any paying me way too much praise on my build.

Take care.