OOOHHH BABY!!! Looking great sir!!! 

Can't wait for the finished product!!!

Thanks all for the kind words.  

Panzer, where does one get Mek? Sounds great as Tenax is getting harder to come by and it's expensive. It's still better than Tamiya's Extra Thin in my opinion   

I was finally able to sit down and get to painting this one.  740 was in the tri-scheme which calls for Non-Spectacular Sea Blue Non-Spectacular Intermediate Blue over Non-Spectacular White.  Is "Non-Spectacular" Navy talk for dull boring paint?  Anyways, I started with the preshading of the panel lines and then painting in the wing walk and lines.  Some things I'd rather paint in then use decals.  This was an exercise in patience. (Here you can see where I was practicing on the fuel leaks.....more later)

The walks were then taped off and I switched to the white, which would be the underside and part of the "Stars and Bars markings".  I wanted it dirty so I added a touch of XF-19 Sky Grey to the XF-2 Flat White.   

Next I added the Montex masks for the Stars and Bars and covered the white areas.  I then sprayed XF-8 Flat Blue mixed with some XF-1 to darken it.  Here it is after everything is masked.  I used Tamiya tape at the mask joints as an insurance policy.  

Next I sprayed the NS intermediate blue.  I mixed XF-18 Medium Blue with XF-2 Flat White then added a touch of XF-19 Sky Grey.  I then added Blue Tac worms to prepare for the NS Sea Blue.

My formula for this was mostly XF-17 Sea Blue with a few drops of XF-8 Flat Blue, then a few drops of XF-2 Flat White.  

I took a break for a few days and poured over pictures of Corsairs on the Solomon Islands.  I wanted to get it right to the best of my ability,especially since dark colors can be challenging.  I saw that sun fading would be more appropriate than my normal streaking in these circumstances.  I added some XF-55 Deck Tan to the NS Sea Blue and got to it.

It didn't take long to get here...

Once I was reasonably happy, I removed all the masks.  Did I mention how much I love Montex masks?  I may never go back to decals if I can help it.  

I added the flaps and started the weathering post shade.  This can be tricky on dark colors.

Opps.....I almost forgot this important part.....

I did some post shading, mostly dirting up the underside.  I added exhaust streaks too.  

As I said, I studied some pics beforehand.  I saw that the area around the fuel tank was pretty weathered from fueling.  I learned that this area was notoriously leaky hence the commonly seen white tape.  I decided to try to duplicate the fading from the fuel on the paint without the often modeled "black exhaust streaks" in the area.  To me it kind of ruins the overall effect.  I initially tried this with diluted XF-64 and didn't like it.  I repainted it then added more XF-55 to the NS Sea Blue and came up with this.  I'm much more happy with it.  I may postshade the area a bit more 

I'm ready for some gloss coat I believe....

Time to start on the little stuff...  

You're doing "Pappy" an extreme justice with this build as it nothing short of astounding.  This is true workmanship.  Everything looks fantastic and I'm very impressed.  You've brought out Boyington's corsair to life once again!!!

like a rabid fan of all things Corasair and VMF 214 let's not forget "Pappy" and his sometimes hairbrained tactics against the JAP's!!

toshi

toshi

Joe that's one of the nicest paint jobs I've ever seen! Those masks worked beautifully. Thanks for sharing your paint mixes also, very helpful to us. This is going to be a real beauty when all finished!

Joe, I am in awe of your work here.  You are a maestro with an airbrush.

Love her!!! 

I suppose I have to try painting insignia someday, your results always look so fantastic. I just hate masking though. 

Joe,

1st. let me say this is a stunning paint job!!!!

As for the MEK, It is the main ingredient in Testors liquid cement.

But it is usually available at your local hardware store in quarts and gallons as a type of solvent.

Hope this helps.

Decals? Lawdog doesn't need no stinkin decals.

Awesome build, Lawdog.  You are an artist without doubt. Your "spectacular" paint should actually be "specular" and I think it refers to the amount of sparkle and light reflectance which the paint exhibits.  Non specular would be a dead flat matt with no sheen at all. I think this is correct and hope it is of value to you.  Keep up the good work.

Master class in airbrushing - advanced tutorial in building a Corsair kit - and it's all free!!!

I would comment but I am not worthy

Colin Russell

Awesome build, Lawdog.  You are an artist without doubt. Your "spectacular" paint should actually be "specular" and I think it refers to the amount of sparkle and light reflectance which the paint exhibits.  Non specular would be a dead flat matt with no sheen at all. I think this is correct and hope it is of value to you.  Keep up the good work.

 

That it is........."Specular"......or "mirror".  I'm a tool

Thanks for all the nice words.  You folks are entirely too kind.  

I'm finally done.  She's dressed up in the VMA-214 markings of Boyington's #740, or at least one of the planes he was known to use.  I used Montex masks for the main markings and Eduard resin wheels, as I didn't like the rubber wheels.  Other than the issues I had with the attachment of the wings, it was a dream..........definitely in my top three.  I wanted to depict her around the time this famous picture was taken, as she wasn't too beat up yet.  

I couldn't decide whether I wanted to add the gun and fuel tank white tape.  I've seen Corsairs with and without one or both.  I ultimately decided to forego them on this build.  I might add them on the upcoming Jolly Rogers Corsair.  

Thanks or following....

The figure came with the kit.  It's average and nothing special.  Certainly not one of my best efforts but you'll have that I guess.  I normally paint my faces with Testor's enamels and have a few shades I use.  It's been a while since I've used them.  The drybrushing on the face ended up being a little heavy and it "bleached out" a bit.  I may go back and repaint that part..........or I might not.    

I can no longer resist the Airfix P-40, so that will be next with Neale's AVG markings.    

Abosolutely love it Joe! Came out perfect!

Your usual fantastic work! 

Whoa! That IS stunning. I'm going to toss in my vote for you to put that extra attention into that figure. you put that much attention into the bird, the pilot should be just as good. :)

Love this one, Joe!!

One of the best looking Corsairs I think I've seen. Super nice work, Joe.

BK

Absolutely Amazing!!!

Toshi

As always a work of art! It never ceases to amaze me how you can achieve not only consistent excellence but with every build you seem to surpass the previous one. It doesn't seem to matter whether or not the kit is a "dud". You always seem to make a high quality build.  If I could have just 10% of your consistent excellence. Id be happy.  Your builds, as always, are an inspiration to me.  Looking forward to your continuing endeavors. Thanks for sharing Joe!

Mighty fine, Joe, mighty fine!

That's pretty damn nice Joe! I might have to refer back to this on the next Corsair I do. Tamiya's rivet detail is amazing.

Well done!

WOW!!! Great work Joe!!  Can't wait for the Jolly Rogers Corsair!

By Gawd Joe, that is absolutely outstanding! Impecable workmanship from detail to paint to weathering. I am truly impressed. It has been nothing short immense inspiration and admiration to have watched you build this beautiful Corsair. Thank You so much for sharing with us.

Joe

Just a beautiful job you made of this, excellent in all ways. Fine tribute to Pappy and the Corsair, both of them great old war horses and so worth remembering well. Thanks very much for this post and the photos, you set the bar a mile high.

Patrick

Amazing, Joe. That's a great tribute to Pappy and a fantastic model.

Plus I learned a new word! Spectacular! ;)

-BD-