Revell Germany 1/72 F4U-5 Corsair

REVELL 1:72 F4U-5 CORSAIR

Reviewer: Steve Papworth (rec.models.scale)
Kit Review submitted: 6 May 2003

Kit Details:

Revell Germany Kit 04143

Aircraft History:

Designed from a 1938 specification the Chance-Vought Corsair first flew on 29 May 1940 and was the first to pass 400mph. First saw service in October 1942. Although designed for carrier use, it was deemed unsuitable due to problems landing the aircraft onboard a carrier and was taken into service by the U.S. Marine Corps in the Solomon Islands. On 12 February 1943 the Marine's Corsairs flew their first mission from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, but it was two days later before it first engaged in combat. It saw service as a land based fighter during the island hopping phase in the Pacific theatre. Fleet Air Arm pilots of the Royal Navy devised a landing technique whereby the pilot approached the flight deck in a sweeping left turn, only straightening out in the last seconds. This gave the pilot sufficient view of both the deck and batman (LSO). The first Corsair carrier strike was launched by the Fleet Air Arm from the deck of HMS Victorious in support of an attack on the German battleship, Tirpitz, on 3 April 1944 and later in that year Corsairs began to replace the F6F Hellcat as the stock US carrier fighter. This kit is the F4U-5 post war fighter bomber. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R2800-32 engine, giving a top speed of 470mph and armed with four 20mm cannon as well as underwing rockets and bombs. This variant went into production in 1945 and served during the Korean War. Corsair production ceased in 1952 with over 12,500 being built.

The Kit:

62 parts moulded in dark blue plastic and two clear parts for the canopy. Typical Revell Germany quality - minimal flash, finely etched panel lines and no huge rivets (which is not surprising as Corsairs were spot welded, not riveted).

Instructions:

Revell’s little fold out book with 24 construction steps and 2 paint schemes. These are dated - copy write 2000.

Construction:

Starting with a good cockpit tub which has instrument panel, joystick and seat. No pilot figure is provided. Next step is the engine which is only a single row, not the dual row as used in Revell’s P47 kits, this mounts to a bulkhead which is then trapped between the fuselage halves along with the cockpit. The fuselage halves fit well with only a small gap evident near the tail which glue and paint took care of. Next the two upper wing halves fit onto the single lower wing. This has landing gear tubs with minimal detail but still preferable to Airfix type holes. The assembled wing section mates reasonably well with the fuselage but required filling at the leading edge and top of the wing. The tail planes are next. The instructions state part 16 is starboard and 17 is port, however both are exactly the same. F4U’s have a distinctive circular pattern on top of the tail plane and no matter what you do one will have to be upside down. Interestingly the assembly instructions show both the right way up but the paint schemes show the starboard tail plane upside down! The undercarriage is sturdy and fits neatly into its slots. Next you fit details such as gun barrels, aerials etc. Revell supply exhaust stubs to be fitted into the cowling these are completely the wrong shape and the wrong size so I left them off altogether. The windscreen and canopy are nice clear parts but the canopy will only fit properly in the closed position. It is too small to fit in the tracks scribed on the fuselage and just looks wrong in the open position.

Painting/ Decals:

Two sets are provided. One, for a machine of VF-14 operating from USS Franklin D Roosevelt in 1953 and the second for VM-212 USMC, operating out of Yongpo Airbase, South Korea in December 1950. The decals are good quality and appear in register. Both aircraft are painted dark blue and once again Revell gives us a chemistry lesson in paint mixing to achieve the desired colour. I just used Revell Midnight Blue #53 and saved myself the hassle, it looks good. It’s a gloss paint which makes the model stand out but it may be a bit bright if the photo below is any indication. The propeller boss, wing tips and the tip of the fin are painted in yellow gloss.

F4U-5 Preparing for take off (WWW.Warbirdsresourcegroup.org)

Overall:

A good kit which captures the look of the F4U-5 Corsair. It is of the usual high quality I’ve come to expect from Revell Germany apart from the upside down tailplane. It’s not as good as their P47’s but it is simpler to build and paint. At the price you won’t find a better late series Corsair.

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