GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

A single-type GB for the F4U Corsair, any kit, any scale, any markings.
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Gadfly
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GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

Hi,

I'm going to build the 1/48 Tamiya Bird Cage Corsair.

The Tamiya kit is sublime I only hope I can do it justice.

It's 100% unstarted.

Image

I have a bit of Corsair reference material the new Squadron in action book and a copy of the RNZAF magazine 'Contact' from April 1945 which features Corsairs in the Islands and gives a good overview of operations from forward airstrips in the Solomons.

Image

I'm unsure as to the version but -2 night fighter appeals
The kit decals give an option for VMF(N)-532 so perhaps that one..

I do have a Hasegawa AU-1 in the stash and would like to build both for the GB as the first and last Corsair types in US service but I don't think I have time to do them both to a good standard.

Looking forward to the kick off


Cheers
Gadfly
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

Ok so I have made a start with some painting of the Primer.

Early F4U's used a 'Salmon Pink' colour primer which was the result of Chance Vought supposedly using a mix of regular zinc chromate mixed with red lead primer which produced a pink tinged primer.

I mixed some Tamiya 'yellow green' and 'red' together and thinned with Mr Colour thinners to produce a 'Salmon Pink' colour which I applied to the bits that were primed with this mixture on the real A/C

Image

This needs a wash and then some dust effects to represent an A/C operating off of a dusty Coral Airstrip.

I'll add some photos showing how I do this as I progress.

Next up will be the interior green for the cockpit and I'll start the assembly of the cockpit parts and start work on the IP..
Cheers

GF
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AndrewR
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by AndrewR »

That's a nice rendition of salmon pink.
Up in the Great White North
Gadfly
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

Thanks...

More work.

Some initial paint on the cockpit... no need for any resin replacement here....

Image

Also a bit of a wash on the inner framing with a mix of burnt umber oil paint...

Image

This has added a nice bit of shading and a grimy look.

Cheers
GF
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jssel
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by jssel »

I like your Salmon Primer a lot. Thanks for the mixing guide. Shaping up nicely.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
Gadfly
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

Hi,

A bit of an update..

A bit of fine work on the engine adding in some ignition wires. Then some seat belts from aluminium tape. And some cockpit painting and decaying. I used the Mike Grant cockpit placards and instrument decals for these.

Image


Image

Cheers
Gadfly
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jssel
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by jssel »

Nice work. Looks like you are doing it justice already.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
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AndrewR
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by AndrewR »

Very nice work on the interior. Are you going to pose it with the canopy open?
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Gadfly
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

Thanks..

Unsure on the final configuration on the canopy as yet.. Solomon's based Corsairs often had the canopy closed on the ground to stop the cockpit filling with dust off of the airstrip.

There is still a bit of detail work to do on the interior and the R2800. Once that is done construction will be pretty fast.

Cheers

GF
Gadfly
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

The cockpit is complete...

Here it is before I closed up the fuselage.

Image

Image

Cheers
GF
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jssel
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by jssel »

Looks good. Making nice progress.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
Gadfly
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Gadfly »

Progress.. Most of the main construction is complete with the seams sorted out..

I have added some aluminium tube to represent the gun blast tubes..

Further construction this week then onto paint..

Image

Cheers

GF
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jssel
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by jssel »

Very nice. Think you will find the wing pieces have a great fit.
Besting 60 years of mediocre building of average kits in the stand off scale
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Softscience
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by Softscience »

This I like. No, love!

You're doing a fantastic job of things.

Its been ages since I built my last Tamiya corsair (and its long gone now), but watching you build has whet my appetite for a second go around on this excellent kit.
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lancfan
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Re: GF 1/48 Bird Cage F4U-1/2

Post by lancfan »

Did you manage to finish GF? this looks very good.

David.
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