1/48 Tamiya F4U-1A Corsair (Finished).....

tempestjohnny

Awesome.

Wow!!!  It's been a few days since I've checked in and you've come quiet a ways!  I've finally decided that this will be my next build... I just can't stand looking at my conversion any longer ;-)  I'm actually going to build a diorama replicating one of the pictures in that pic sequence.  With that said, I'm following yours and Bvallots post with great intrest!  Thanks for keeping such detailed posts...  Raymond

Nicely done! You've got that Tamiya paint mixing down perfect. The fading looks real nice as well. I would suggest some light chipping, but I'm still looking for the best way to do this myself. Some of the best chipping I've seen are guys using a fine paint brush and using colors such as medium sea gray to add subtle chips. I'm too chicken to use a brush, but I should try it on a scrap model.

Thanks guys, Nathan, reference the chipping, I haven't gotten to that yet.  It's next.  What works for me is a silver Prismicolor pencil that I just tap on the surface here and there.  I don't like alot of chipping which to me ruins the overall effect.  I usually do a bit at the wing roots and on the cowl.  Thats about it.  I wouldn't have the nerve to paint them in either.  Zero margin for error.  At least with the pencil,you can wipe it off if you don't like it.  I know some folks use silver paint on a toothpick too.  

Joe

Roger the Prismacolor pencil, I like the control and understated effects you get w/it.

I have used the Prismacolor silver pencil and found it pretty good. I can't get chips under a certain size with it though, maybe i need to get it razor sharp, with an exacto maybe? What I have been doing is spraying the area I want chipped in aluminum, then spray my basecoat, then chip away with a sharp exacto carefully. This is good for really small chipping, but doesn't work much on wing roots or on curved areas, or any place you want a large scratch. Also, sometimes the basecoat comes off nice, showing the aluminum, and sometimes, everything comes off, showing the plastic, even though you were still being light to the touch... Can't wait to see how yours looks with decals!

Great posts of most excellent work!  Thanks for the captions, these are very useful.  I would also like to compliment you on your responses to those who post comments.

Hey Joe, that's a great paint job you have on the Corsair!  I've slowly switched most of my paint to Tamiya acrylics instead of enamels and really appreciate that you give your color mixes.  Looking forward to seeing more.  

Steve

Thanks Guys, Nathan, I have an electric pencil sharpener that does a nice job of making a point.  I did the aluminum underpaint trick on a N1K1 a few years ago.  Although it work ok,  I just don't care for that peeling paint/beat up look.  It just seems counterproductive to me.  Again, I'm more into subtle weathering.  

Thanks Lon-ski, I love it when people comment and ask questions.  To me thats the whole purpose of a WIP thread.  I know I've picked up a few tips and such from you guys.  For example, one of my newest, and most vital weathering tools is the Flory wash.  I would have never known it existed until I joined this forum.  

Steve, thanks and good choice.  I switched to Tamiya paint a few years ago and have never looked back.  I do like Gunze's RLM colors and their Olive Drab is right on to my eye, but otherwise,Tamiya all the way.  Thats the reason I call out the "XF" numbers in case anyone would like to try it out themselves. 

Joe

Hey There Joe, I just found your WIP here and I have to say that you are doing a spectacular job on the Corsair. As usual you did a stellar job on the cockpit and your R-2800 is nicely done. Your paint and fading is top notch. I'm excited to find you doing this build as I am about to get started on my 1/48 Tamiya F4U-1A for the 1944 & Pacific Carrier Aviation GBs and you are definitely providing me with ample motivation. For me the Corsair is my favorite aircraft. I find the Corsair to be a perfect blend of brutish power and elegant lines. I look forward to watching you finish up your excellent Corsair.

Thanks Joe.  Interesting description on the Corsair. I must confess that Its actually starting to grow on me and I'm close to taking back all the hurtful words I initially said about it.  I'm now even eyeing the Tamiya 1A version which may get Kenneth Walsh's markings.  Nice to have you aboard.

Joe      

Man Joe. Thats a good paint finish you have on there. Really liking the authentic look you're giving this thing.

In reference to the paint chipping:  

There's a MiG product that armor guys are no doubt aware of called "Worn Effects." I think it's similar to hairspray.   I've been looking forward to using this on some beaten up Japanese planes I plan on getting to one day... =]  I imagine it's easier to use over broader surfaces, but with some clever use of masking tape, I bet one could highlight areas of the wing root and high maintenance areas of the wing's gun bays, and refueling panels, etc.  With a base coat (at least locally) of some metallic paint, the modeler just takes a fine brush loaded with a little water and delicately moves away the paint you don't want.  Seal it with a clear coat to weather and there you go.

The Mig product is called Absolute Chipping. I'm still experimenting with it, so far have found its better for more aggressive, larger area chipping. The AK Interactive products might be better.

The MiG product is Absolute Chipping.  I meant to say AK.  AK makes the Worn Effects.  From what I've read, the AK seems to be less offensive to the paint but I imagine it can be overdone if you have a heavy hand.

Man, that is a gorgeous bird!  Can't wait to see it finished!

Groot

Thanks for all the compliments.  I've seen those chipping fluids.  I'm a bit afaid to try them though......maybe someday.  I tend to gravitate towards fool proof stuff.  Stuff thats easy to do over if you screw it up.  Like waterbased washes and such. 

Meanwhile, I have gotten some more work done and I'm in the home stretch.  The Sky decals arrived which came with two of Pappy's mounts, "740" and "883".  I contemplated "740", then after perusing the decal sheets which has like 20 Corsairs, I realized I would be able to piece together Pappy's last Corsair, being "915", and in the same "stencil like" font as the two other VF-214 planes.  The Sky decals went on beautifully.  These are some of my favorite decals, not only a ton of options, but they always perform wonderfully to boot.  Anyways, I used some of the kit stencils but these are for a D version, so I only added a few to add interest.  On a side note, its my understanding that this propeller was not on the A, which was apparently smaller in diameter.  I also read that alot of the planes were upgraded to this paddle Hamilton Standard prop in the field.  That's good enough for me! 

I sealed the decals and in the meantime, I started working on the remainder bits, like the landing gear and wheels.  My research revealed that A models had landing gears painted in aluminum lacquer.  I used Alclad Aluminum, added brake lines, then washed the assembly with the Detailer.  I also pieced together "915" for the gear doors as well.  I found a set of True Details wheels in my stash that were going to be for a Hellcat project (They apparently used the same wheels) so I decided to use them.  I painted the tire XF-24 Dark Grey by hand (to simulate rubber) then sprayed the treads XF-57 Buff to simulate dirt and tread wear.  This technique works best on smooth treads but it can be seen here too.  The tire was then given a wash to highlight the tread pattern. 

Since the Corsair is in the final stages, I started assembling the pilots.  I'm pretty impressed with the detail on these. They were kind of a pain in the to glue together and need some seam clean up, but then again, figurine work is certainly not my area of expertise. 

I hope to finish off 915 soon and then get to work on these guys soon...

Joe   

Joe , your Corsair looks beautiful!  

Steve

Agree with Steve. Shes a beauty.  And my favorite WW2 plane to boot!

Great job!!! Keep the pics coming.

Thanks,George

Sweet job as always Joe.  Those skid walks are a little too pretty for me ;)  You've definitely convinced me about the Alclad Klear Kote.  It looks very uniform.  The ailerons look like the perfect color too.  Will you weather this paint any more than this?

Thanks everyone.  I'm glad this build has served as an inspiration.  I had a marathon session yesterday then just kept going.  I'm gonna call her done.  Here's my homage to VF-214, The infamous Black Sheep.  It depicts the Pappy Boyington lead mission briefing at Bougainville on the morning of January 3rd, 1944.  Pappy would mount this aircraft, number 17915 for a fighter sweep over Rabaul and claim his 26th and final enemy aircraft destroyed.  Unfortunately he would be shot down and POW'ed later in the mission.  In 84 days of fighting, VF-214 would account for 203 enemy aircraft damaged or destroyed. 

To recap, the plane is the Tamiya F4U-1D kit which I backdated to a 1A version as best as I could.  I'm no Corsair expert so shot for "good enough".  Its mostly out of the box, save for Sky Decals, PE seat belts and True Details tires.  I wired the engine and added brake lines too. 

Now a few words on the pilots.  They are from the Tamiya pilot set.  They are supposed to be Navy pilots but they look close enough to Marines to me.  I painted them with XF-57 Buff with a touch of XF-50 Desert Yellow added.  I varied this on each uniform so they didn't all look the same.  This was lighted with XF-2 Flat White and I drybrushed the high spots.  The rest was hand painted with various Tamiya Acrylics thinned with 91% Alcohol.  I find that Tamiya paint behaves better brush painted using this method.  The alcohol evaporates and leaves a smooth finish.  The flesh color is Model Master "Skin Tone Shadow".  I find its the perfect base flesh tone, at least in this scale.  I then go back and lightly dry brush Model Master "Radome Tan" for the high spots, such as the nose forehead and chin.  Once its all painted, I hit everything with Testors gloss coat to prepare for wash.  The figures then get a light brown Detailer wash to highlight the buckles clothing creases and such.  Once I'm satisfied with the final look, I hit them with Testor's dull coat.  I try to leave a slight sheen to the flesh to better represent skin.  Here's how they turned out...

I initially confided that I did not like the looks of the Corsair.  I'm comfortable saying that this build has changed that.  Enough to where I just bought the birdcage version which is destined for Ken Walsh's markings.  Consider me a Corsair convert.    

Thanks for following the thread.  Comments are always welcome

Joe

Joe, that is fantastic craftsmanship!   Of course, that bird looks great, but those figures?!?!  Dude, they look soooooo real. You did a great job on the Corsair and crew!

Gary.

I used to like the Corsair, but every time I see another one built I like it even more and have grown to love it. Your build is as good as if not better than any I've seen, you did a wonderful job and it does justice to what IMO is one of the best looking birds of WWII and the Black Sheep who flew them.

"We are poor little lambs, who have lost our way, baa baa baa"

Excellent build!

Another beauty, Joe!  And what gets me is that you do them so quickly.

Gary

Turned out great and I think I learned quite a bit from watching this build.  Thanks for taking us on this journey.  Raymond

Those figures are damn impressive.  That's what I would hope to accomplish, and that's about how I'd do it.  Real nice.  One question...I see this a lot and never really know what to make of it...the forward antenna mast was included on certain -1s and 1As, but which had it and which didn't and why?  I've never seen mention as to why it changed.  If you have the radio line only going to the back mast, is it right to include the forward one?

Hit me! =]

Thanks guys.  Bvallot, thats a good question.  I found the Corsair antenna/wire situation confusing.  I've seen so many different set ups.  I couldn't find any pictures of 915 so I rigged it the way it was most commonly done (at least from what I saw).  I have no idea whether or not the front antenna should be there and I almost didn't add it.  I'm afraid its all artistic license.  This was my first attempt at a tail fin tensioner, which was fine wire wrapped around a drill bit.  It worked like a charm.  Oh, and I'm glad you converted to Alclad Gloss.  Save some for me.  

Joe    

That is a gorgeous corsair!  I almost feel like the pilots should be drawing sandlot football plays with a stick!  Now I"m wondering if I need to pull my corsair out when I finish my current project!

Groot