Nemmy Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 I just got myself the old Monogram boxing of the F4U-4 Corsair. The aim: to recreate a very colorful one: Problem is: I'm assuming this trainer had the machine guns and underwing ylons removed, but I can't find a single reference to this craft. Any ideas or details? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) First, it wasn't a "Training Unit". The Navy reserve squadrons were quasi-operational units. Several were called up to go to Korea, for example. Second, when it was stricken, it had the long rocket/bomb pylons on the outboard wings. (It's not clear whether these were replacements after overhaul or they were spares put on during overhaul without the trouble being taken to repaint them.) See http://www.warbirdregistry.org/corsairregi.../f4u-97286.html Edited December 10, 2009 by Tailspin Turtle Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rwright142 Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Snippets from http://www.largescaleplanes.com/reviews/De.../Corsair_3.html NOTE: The armament configuration for the F4U-4B was different from the standard F4U-4. It consisted of two 20mm cannon in each wing as opposed to the normal three .50 caliber machine guns. Consult detailed reference material as the location of shell ejection ports and ammunition access doors differed between the two airplane types. You should also be aware that the windscreen changed from a curved to a flat center panel at some point in the F4U-4 production run. If total accuracy is desired, a check of bureau number ranges to identify the flat windscreen Corsairs will need to be performed and further conversion work done, if necessary. (My pictures of #7286 suggest that this airplane may have had a flat center panel in the windscreen.) Ultimate Corsair guru Joe Hegedus has also informed me that the VMF-214 F4U-4Bs had a bulged spine and taller canopy similar to that on the F4U-5. Again, check those references if total accuracy is your bag. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hal Marshman Sr Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 (edited) I have pics of that bird as she sat after being decommed. There is no bulge behind the canopy, and the canopy seems standard sized. The wings are folded, so it's hard to see the windscreen, but the rear windscreen frame is curved at the top, so it must have the early curved style windscreen. the long rocket rails are sea blue. The empty gun ports count 3 per wing, so it carried standard .50 cal armament Hal Sr Edited December 10, 2009 by Hal Marshman Sr Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tailspin Turtle Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I can't be certain since I can't find a definitive BuNo for the transition to the flat windscreen, but this BuNo is well toward the end of F4U-4 production and my understanding is that most -4s had the flat windscreen. Otherwise I agree with Hal. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Silverback Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Corsair 97286 was a standard -4 with a flat windscreen, 3x .50 cal and 4 pylons per wing. It was pretty well stripped when it was parked, and rapidly deteriorated due to weather and vandalism. Phil - 'nother bent-wing guy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nemmy Posted December 11, 2009 Author Share Posted December 11, 2009 Thanx for the pics :) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CorsairMan Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 It was pretty well stripped when it was parked, and rapidly deteriorated due to weather and vandalism. No judge, no jury - straight to execution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
don f Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 I can't be certain since I can't find a definitive BuNo for the transition to the flat windscreen, but this BuNo is well toward the end of F4U-4 production and my understanding is that most -4s had the flat windscreen. Otherwise I agree with Hal. AN 01-45HB-1, dated 15 April 1947, shows the round windscreen on: "Airplanes 80759 through 81758 and 81779 through 81828" the flat windscreen on: "Airplanes 81759 through 81778 and 81829 and subsequent" Don Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jollyrogerf14 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) I just got myself the old Monogram boxing of the F4U-4 Corsair. The aim: to recreate a very colorful one: Problem is: I'm assuming this trainer had the machine guns and underwing ylons removed, but I can't find a single reference to this craft. Any ideas or details? Aahh, the Angel of Okinawa 97286. I have a personal history with this aircraft. I'm from NE Louisiana, and I and my family knew one of the owners. Merle Gustafson. Great man! Died before his time. I have fond memories of sitting in that cockpit many times when I was a child. My mom would take me out to this little airport at the edge of Tallulah, LA (as some would tell you, where Delta Airlines first began), and just look at it, take pictures of it, and sometimes the Gustafson family would have crawfish boils under one of the hangars. His son, Steve had/has a T-6 that was painted up like an ME-109. Now he flies it with the Aeroshell Team. Anyway, first off, the OLATHE under the starboard wing was Yellow, not White. The decal instructions are incorrect. Second, the decals for the K under the starboard wing and the 5 under the port wing are not provided. Third, the upper outer wing sections were blue just like the bottom of the wings. But, I'm sure everyone can see that from the photos provided by Silverback; GREAT PHOTOS you have there. Those are new to me. I have some showing it with the wings down. If I remember, I'll scan them Monday and link 'em at photobucket. I also have some photos of it still on the make-shift trailer that was built to haul it from the desert to Tallulah. The drop tanks were present. These photos, if I can do this right, were supplied to me by a guy I went to High School with, Darren Stroble. He knows much more about 97286 than I do. He's working on a book about it's life in the military and civilian world. I'm not sure when it is to be published, but it'll be a good one. He's researched it for years. Found photos, got some photos from the Navy and other sources. It rolled off of the assembly line December 7, 1945, served in Korea, and I've tried to get Darren to send a few photos from that time frame so I can build a model of 97286 in "Battle Colors & Insignia". But, he keeps telling me that I have to wait for the book. Darren, print the book already!! :wacko: <a href="http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad262/Jollyrogers19432009/?action=view¤t=AngelofOkinawaintransithome--.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad262/Jollyrogers19432009/AngelofOkinawaintransithome--.jpg" border="0" alt="Angel of Okinawa in transit home 3"></a> <a href="http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad262/Jollyrogers19432009/?action=view¤t=AngelofOkinawaintransithome-.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad262/Jollyrogers19432009/AngelofOkinawaintransithome-.jpg" border="0" alt="Angel of Okinawa in transit home 2"></a> <a href="http://s942.photobucket.com/albums/ad262/Jollyrogers19432009/?action=view¤t=AngelofOkinawaintransithome.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad262/Jollyrogers19432009/AngelofOkinawaintransithome.jpg" border="0" alt="Angel of Okinawa in transit home"></a> Also, after it's purchase and shipment to Tallulah, it's fabric wings were replaced with metal similar to the F4U-5 models and above. Now, I'm not sure if the whole wing was replaced, or if just the fabric areas were converted. I'm inclined to believe it was the latter because F4U-5s and above all used cannons and not machine guns. He also put AU-1 / F4U-7 wheels on it. As everyone knows now, it's owned by Kermitt Weeks in Florida. I plan on making a trip to see it soon. Hurricane damage grounded it, but at least is still has #5 on the nose... I just wish someone would paint the bomb/rocket racks blue. V.C. Edited December 14, 2009 by jollyrogerf14 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jollyrogerf14 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Damn! I always upload pics wrong. V.C. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jollyrogerf14 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Let's try this. Ah.. that's better, eh? V.C. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Anyway, first off, the OLATHE under the starboard wing was Yellow, not White. The decal instructions are incorrect. Second, the decals for the K under the starboard wing and the 5 under the port wing are not provided. V.C. At least that decal sheet apparently comes with the Olathe for under the wing, I have the Third Group Decals sheet that has markings for 97264/11 they have you use a 'K' designator on both the upper and lower right wing. Which would be sort of a neat trick, since they only supply three of the 'K's on the sheet. Not only do I need to figure out where to get the proper size yellow letters for the Olathe, I also need to find some of those bomb/rocket racks. I'm using the Academy kit with a TD cockpit and wheels, by the way. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jollyrogerf14 Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 (edited) I also need to find some of those bomb/rocket racks. I'm using the Academy kit with a TD cockpit and wheels, by the way. I've been able to make some where I work. I run a sign shop, and I measured and scaled the shape of the racks then cut them out with our laser engraver in 1/8" or maybe 3/16" material for 1/48 scale. I then sand down to the right thickness. Then where the four bolt-on points are located, I sand them down on the sides to look like my reference books & photos. I'm able to cut out the attachment points "inside" the center of them, where the rack attaches, with the laser as I'm cutting them out of the plastic I use. Lastly, I find some wing racks similar to what AU-1 or Skyraiders use, clip those to the proper length, and attached those to the "inside" attachment points. Not exactly what someone would normally do, but it looks quite good. I'll try and upload a picture of one of my F4U-4s I used this process for sometime tonight or this weekend. V.C. Edited December 11, 2009 by jollyrogerf14 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
zerosystem Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 there might be a correction version of the decal set out there too. i remember getting the 1/32 sheet and first one didn't have the 5 and k for the lower wing either but a later edition had them included. might be the same for the 1/48 sheet. peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nemmy Posted December 12, 2009 Author Share Posted December 12, 2009 Thanx for that info, VC. I'll keep that in mind when the painting/decaling begins. Although changing the color of the decal proly means having to print it myself, or spray it. Not sure if either is an option for me :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
chriss7606 Posted December 12, 2009 Share Posted December 12, 2009 Thanx for that info, VC. I'll keep that in mind when the painting/decaling begins. Although changing the color of the decal proly means having to print it myself, or spray it. Not sure if either is an option for me :unsure: Using individual letters for the small black K and OLATHE designation might be easier. Sheets of both black and yellow letters and numbers are available from Squadron. If you can find a copy of the F4U Detail & Scale Part 2 I would recommend getting it. It's the best reference I have on the late Corsair variants. With the windscreen, on page 10 and 11 Bert Kinzey breaks it down like this: " While this flat bulletproof windscreen did appear during the production run of the F4U-4, almost half of the F4U-4s had the earlier rounded windscreen. The five prototypes, BuNos 80759 through 80763 and the first 995 production F4U-4s, BuNos 80764 through 81758, had the rounded windscreen. The following twenty aircraft off the production line, BuNos 81759 through 81778 had the flat bulletproof windscreen. These were followed by fifty more F4U-4s, Bu Nos 81779 through 81828 which had the rounded windscreen. BuNo 81829 and subsequent had the flat windscreen design. Therefore, out of the 2,356 F4U-4s -4Bs and -4Ps produced, 1,045 or just over fourty four percent, had the original rounded windscreen." This is kind of a moot point because the hood itself in the Monogram kit is wrong for the particular Corsair you are wanting to do. It has the U shaped extension over the pilot's head, which was not present on the aircraft that had the flat windscreen. The only real option would be to cut the canopy open and use a vacuform replacement. The stub mast on the fin tip should also be removed (not on the -4) and the cutout step on the inner starboard flap is missing. Just a few things that might be of use. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
don f Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 (edited) IAny ideas or details? Pictures of this aircraft taken earlier than those posted here, show that the horizontal stabilizers were light gray with a white right side elevator and a blue left (port) side elevator. The decal set instructions show the elevators as white with blue tips. Perhaps the elevators were painted with the blue tips at some time in its service life. Have look at this site: ARC article Olathe F4U-4 Don Edited December 13, 2009 by don f Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WymanV Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 (right click-save as...right click-save as...) Great pics gents-thanks for sharing :) Ken Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nemmy Posted December 13, 2009 Author Share Posted December 13, 2009 More photo's. woohoo. In the mean time I also managed to score the Hasegawa kit for this model. Since it's the recommended one, I'd imagine it's better than the Monogram one, but we'll see when I get it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dagger00 Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 I´ve bought the Hasegawa kit with those decals too, expecting it to arrive soon......... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted December 13, 2009 Share Posted December 13, 2009 More photo's. woohoo.In the mean time I also managed to score the Hasegawa kit for this model. Since it's the recommended one, I'd imagine it's better than the Monogram one, but we'll see when I get it. The decals are currently for sale on Dave's most recent mailing (Cutting Edge). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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