Question on 1/48 Tamiya F4U-1A and -1D kits

[MA Cooke]

I'm currently in the phase where I'm going to paint the interior green portions, and would prefer to model this one with the flaps up. How big of an ordeal - or headache - would it be?

[peter havriluk]

My opinion:  Enjoy the lowered flaps.  The alternative is a trip down the rabbit hole of alterations.  The flap section on the folding portion of the wing is down; the corresponding flap section will be down on the inner half of the wing, too.  If retracted flaps are important buy a kit with retracted flaps; it looks like early days with this kit. 

Edited July 3, 2023 by peter havriluk
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[MA Cooke]

50 minutes ago, peter havriluk said:

My opinion:  Enjoy the lowered flaps.  The alternative is a trip down the rabbit hole of alterations.  The flap section on the folding portion of the wing is down; the corresponding flap section will be down on the inner half of the wing, too.  If retracted flaps are important buy a kit with retracted flaps; it looks like early days with this kit. 

 

Yes, early stages. Thanks for the info, I'll leave them down.

[Buckmeister]

https://www.ultracast.ca/product-p/ult48203.htm

[MA Cooke]

19 minutes ago, Buckmeister said:

https://www.ultracast.ca/product-p/ult48203.htm

 

Thanks! I may use those on my next build, Tamiya's -1D.

[modelingbob]

On 7/2/2023 at 8:12 PM, peter havriluk said:

My opinion:  Enjoy the lowered flaps.  The alternative is a trip down the rabbit hole of alterations.  The flap section on the folding portion of the wing is down; the corresponding flap section will be down on the inner half of the wing, too.  If retracted flaps are important buy a kit with retracted flaps; it looks like early days with this kit. 

I agree with Peter. Unless you like going down rabbit holes!

[Buckmeister]

I’ve used the Ultracast flaps twice and had zero problems with them.  They fit great and give you a much more historically accurate F4U model.  It’s extremely difficult to find a photo of an F4U with the flaps down and the wings folded, and pretty difficult to find photos of one parked that way with the wings spread. They were dropped when ammo was being loaded and the guns serviced, but most photos show Corsairs parked with the flaps up.

[Alternative 4]

I am currently building Tamiya's 1/32 F4U-1d as a RNZAF machine. My grandad worked on Corsairs during WW2 and I wish he was still around to talk too about them.

 

During my many hours of reading about Corsairs I read in a few places that -1A aircraft generally only had their flaps lowered on the ground when undergoing maintenance. Photo evidence would support this.

 

I don't know if that influences your decision, but I thought it interesting.

[Buckmeister]

^ ^ ^ That’s actually true of the large majority of aircraft of all types.  With the flaps down on a parked airplane, you’re asking for trouble if there’s a big gust of wind.  Flaps are designed to greatly increase lift, which is not something you want on a parked airplane that you want to stay in one place.

[peter havriluk]

Buckmeister, ain't that the truth!

[Buckmeister]

On 7/8/2023 at 10:44 PM, peter havriluk said:

Buckmeister, ain't that the truth!

 

You can still find people who will argue it endlessly, despite mountains of photographic evidence. 

 

Of course, you can also find (many of the same) people who claim that octagonal red road signs with the letters S T O P on them don’t say “stop”.

Edited July 11, 2023 by Buckmeister