1/72 Testors F4U-1A Corsair

by Rick Reinbott

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This is my Testors 1/72 F4U-1 Corsair, finished as an ‘A’ version.   

Construction

The model was completed in 2 weeks, (which is a record amount of time for me) and went together with no problems.  I had to file off the ordnance ‘stubs’ on the wing undersides to convert it to an ‘’A’ version.  The openings for the wing guns were represented as ‘dimples’ on the kit, so I drilled those out using my mini-drill.  Other minor scratchbuilding included the brake lines (beading wire painted black), pitot tube (household pin), drilling a hole for the radio mast and making a locating pin for the mast (brass wire) and fashioning and the aerial wire from a strand of my youngest daughter’s hair, which I painted using Testors ‘Steel’. 

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Painting and Weathering

The paint is all hand-brushed (haven't done that in over 20 years, if not longer!), with Model Master paints being used for the colors of Non-Specular Sea Blue, Intermediate Blue and Flat White.  An acrylic wash using Model Master Acrylic Flat Black was applied to the undercarriage and wheel wells.  Black pastel chalk was applied lightly behind the gun openings to simulate some staining. 

Decaling

The decals came with the kit and I had no problems with them.  Champ Setting Solution was used to on the decals to help them conform better to the model’s surface.  The 'happy jungle' background was made by my youngest daughter, oh, sweet youth!

The model represents VF-17 Squadron Commander Tommy Blackburn’s F4U- 1A ‘Big Hog’ during the Solomons campaign in 1943-44. 

Happy Modeling!
Rick
References:
  • F4U Corsair in Detail & Scale Part 2, Bert Kinzey, Squadron/Signal Publications (1998)
  • A Handbook of Fighter Aircraft, Francis Crosby, Anness Publishing Ltd. (2002)

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Photos and text © by Rick Reinbott