1:72 F4U-1 Bird Cage

Clear vacuum-formed F4U-1 Corsair Bird Cage canopy (1:72)

A vacuum-formed (vacuform) clear replacement for the cockpit canopy of plastic models of the early F4U-1 Corsair in 1:72 scale. It is not an aircraft kit, but a stand-alone clear accessory: a thin formed film replacing the heavier canopy from the base kit. The package usually contains several pieces, so you have a spare as well as a variant for the closed or the open position.

The real subject

The Vought F4U Corsair was an American carrier fighter of the Navy and the Marine Corps with a characteristic inverted gull wing. The early F4U-1 version had a low-set seat and a heavily framed canopy nicknamed the Bird Cage. The aircraft entered combat in the Pacific in 1943.

Use and fitting

• Cut the part from the carrier film with a sharp knife or scissors and sand the edges lightly.
• Bond it with canopy glue for clear parts or with white PVA glue, which does not fog the clear material.
• Mask the dense framing of the Bird Cage carefully before spraying; the thin wall looks more convincing.
• The thin frames make it possible to model an open canopy and show the interior.

Who it is for

For more advanced modelers who want a faithful clear canopy with fine frames. Cutting out vacuum-formed film takes a little practice.

The accessory is supplied as a clear vacuum-formed molding, unpainted and without glue. The base model and the paints are not included in the package.