Who makes a good F4U kit?

Yup, they're nice, too! I have the F4U-5N, and it's a sweetie!

How about waiting a month for the new Trumpeter 1/32? Should be a nice kit. The Tamiya kit is fabulous, too. Great cockpit detail for the 1/48.

demono69

My current project involves building several WWII aircraft in 1/48 scale for a rotating glass display case that my company tossed out. A Corsair is next on the list, no reason, I just love that aircraft! I'd love to build a 1/32 quality kit but I really don't have any way to display it at this time. That's a big honkin model!

I'd really like to go heavy with the detail kits on this one too.

For right now, I would have to say that the Tamiya 1/48th F4U-1/2, -1A, -1D series is the best Corsair in any scale. As far as Hasegawa goes, I have so far only seen their F4U-4 - have not seen their -5 or AU-1 yet.

Jim

I liked Academy's 1/48th F4U-4B. I heard Hasegawa's was a release of this same kit with a higher price tag. Is this right?

More likely the other way around, markuz226.
Academy has quite a reputation (in the old days, anyway) for copying and selling kits as their own (not simply re-boxing).

QUOTE: Originally posted by J-Hulk More likely the other way around, markuz226. Academy has quite a reputation (in the old days, anyway) for copying and selling kits as their own (not simply re-boxing).

If so, they produced a great copy!

Just wondering tho, what interior color should I use for F4U-4B landing gear wells? I painted it chromate green but the box shows chromate yellow. Are there any "rules" as for where these colors are applied on the aircraft? I am planning to build a Korean war bird.

Hey stoopidfish;
Tamiya's is the best choice but Academy/Hobbycraft is a fairly nice kit too and is a little bit less hit on the pocket book, the Hasegawa only makes the F4U-4 or -5 versions of the Bent Winged Bird and have been around since 1982 or so and the others have been out just resently, and it depends on what time frame you are going to model the F4U in, if want a Korean War version then the -4's, -5's would be perfect, but the F4U-1, 1A, 1D, 2, 2A are in the WWII time frame, and there is another version called an AU-1 which is an F4U-7
and for markuz226;
it doesn't matter, but I've seen pix of them painted the same color as the exterior colors, and in the field it doesn't matter as long as the paint covers the untreated metal in the wheel wells, and if the only color the plane captian or crew cheif found was green, or yellow, or blue, or white, or black then it'll work

Wasn't hasegawa's F4U-5N repackaged under Monogram's Pro Modeler Kit? At least thats what i thought.

I think Tamiya makes good versions of WW2 F4U's. Hasegawa's are nice for Korean and post Korea. The nicest one is the AU1 by Hasegawas in the grey color scheme. Realy sharp looking when placed next to the blue or black F4U's.

Tamiya is awsome! (i.e. -1D btw) Ive got the Trumpeter for a -1D. It good. BUT the flaps...I ya...yaaa! Its kinda stupid. But thats me. The engine is awsome! Lot of parts.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 72cuda and there is another version called an AU-1 which is an F4U-7

72Cuda,

Slight correction about the AU-1: it was also known as the F4U-6 (very briefly), not the F4U-7. The F4U-7 was the export-only version designed for the exclusive use of the French Navy.

Tamiya for the Corsair all the way. Hobbycraft/Academy is not bad. You need to build it with the flaps down or else you'd be frustrated. Otaki made a decent kit. You might find that or under the Arii label.

Tamiya, did I spell it right, Tamiya. Absolutely the best kits in my mind.

hey garydmason;
I got a book that has a pix of a AU-1 and it said it was a US Navy version F4U-7 is the AU-1, but I know books are sometimes wrong so MY BAD, sorry

For 1/48, you cannot go wrong with the Tamiya for the F4U-1series and Hasagawa for the 4/7. The Hasagawa F4U-4 is by far my favotite kit of all time. I had built the Otaki and Arii and these were sparse in detail. For 1/32, I guess the Trumpeter although I had not built one yet. I just completed a Revell Germany F4U-1D and if you like using LOTS of putty and want to experience how it is to build a vacuform kit, then that is the kit for you. But when used with the aftermarket parts aout there, it too can really become a nice looking model but will end up costing more than the Trumpeter kit.
BTW, can you tell I like Corsairs?
Scott

QUOTE: Originally posted by markuz226 I liked Academy's 1/48th F4U-4B. I heard Hasegawa's was a release of this same kit with a higher price tag. Is this right?

No, that is not correct. The Hasegawa was first, and has raised panel lines but a very good shape throughout. The Academy is a knockoff with recessed panel lines, but a very poor shape in the fuselage from the windscreen back. The cross-section is fat and bloated which screws up the canopy shape, which in turn requires a screwed up windscreen to match it. The best thing about the Academy is that the wings are for the cannon-armed version and will easily fit the Hasegawa fuselage if one desires an F4U-4B.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 72cuda hey garydmason; I got a book that has a pix of a AU-1 and it said it was a US Navy version F4U-7 is the AU-1, but I know books are sometimes wrong so MY BAD, sorry

Cuda,

No biggie. They have wrong answers on Jeopardy sometimes, also!! What book do you have that says that? All the Corsair references that I have (I have 6) say that the F4U-6 is the AU-1, which was used PRIMARILY, but not exclusively, by the USMC. The USN did have a few, but not many, as they were concentrating on jets by that time. The AU-1 was the ground attack version of the F4U-5. A -5 was modified with five pylons under each wing, in addition to the three pylons under the center section, and a manual single-stage supercharger replaced the automatic two-stage supercharger on the engine. Also, the cheek scoops were closed off on the cowling, even though the bulges for the scoops were retained. This plane was originally designated XF4U-6 (the only one called a -6, by my references), and then redesignated XAU-1. All subsequent planes were called AU-1.

The F4U-7 was designed for, and used exclusively by, the French Navy. Of course, they coulda sold them to another country after they were done with them.............

Based on your screen name, I'm assuming that you're a MOPAR freak. Me, too!!!! What do you own?

If you want to add a lot of detail, go with Revell's F4U-1. I've built two and with the after market stuff out there it's easy to build. The last one was 'Black Sheep' and came out well. For the size (1/32) and the cost it's worth looking at.

If you want to add a lot of detail, go with Revell's F4U-1. I've built two and with the after market stuff out there it's easy to build. The last one was 'Black Sheep' and came out well. For the size (1/32) and the cost it's worth looking at.

If you want to add a lot of detail, go with Revell's F4U-1. I've built two and with the after market stuff out there it's easy to build. The last one was 'Black Sheep' and came out well. For the size (1/32) and the cost it's worth looking at.

hey garydmason;
the book is US Naval Aircraft Colors 1945 to present, it also has some great pix of the Navalized P-61's flying under Marines flags, I don't know if the book is still in pubilcation but it came out back around 1992 or 3,

Well, there's another one I've never heard of - a P-61 in Marine markings. Are you sure this book is legitimate? I'm gonna have to get it. If there really were P-61s in USMC markings, then I'm building one. I've got the old Monogram 1/48th kit.

Well, a bent-wing guy gotta step in here (all comments apply to 1/48 scale):
F4U-1, -1a, -1d and F4U-2 - The best on the market is the Tamiya kit in any of its incarnations. Hobbycraft (and Academy clones) are ok, fairly good in outline but lacking detail. Arii/Otaki Corsair kits are good in outline, but with weird details.
F4U-4 - For the best representation, use an Tamiya -1a or -1d with a CMK conversion. Hasegawa's kit is pretty good for having raised panel lines, but the wheel wells are shallow, and the windscreen frames are too far apart at the top. Academy's has recessed panel lines, but the fuselage is distorted around the cockpit, resulting in a mis-shapen canopy.
F4U-4b - Hasegawa just released their -4 with sprues from the -5 for the 20mm cannons and HVARs. Gun covers and ejection ports are still for the 6 x .50cal version, however. Haven't built Academy's offering, so I can't comment.
F4U-5, -5N, -5NL - Hasegawa has the best offering. Its not perfect, but finishes up nicely. Minicraft's offering is a joke with no redeming features.
F4U-6 (AU-1) - Again, Hasegawa with modified release of their -5 family. Both USMC and French Nave boxings are offered, and, Hase really nailed the shape. Heller's offering missed the shape of the fuselage, although the decals are really nice.
F4U-7 - Hasegawa, once again. The Heller kit just doesn't have anything to offer other than good decals.
Just to clear up some things: The F4U-5 was essentially an all new airframe, which was about a foot longer forward of the wing to accomodate the twin-scroll superchargers. The lengthened forward portion was distinctly "pear-shaped". The AU-1 used the basic -5 airframe, but with enhanced armor and without the high altitude engine. The French liked the AU-1 so much, they ordered their own version (F4U-7) which reverted to a high altitude engine (in this case, the same engine as the -4) and retained the longer, pear-shaped -5 fuselage.

Bent Wings and Round Engines forever!
Phil