1:48 Vought F4U-1A Corsair

The real subject

The Vought F4U Corsair was an American single-seat fighter, recognizable at first sight by its cranked inverted gull wing. The shape of the wing allowed short, sturdy main landing gear legs and at the same time left enough room for the large propeller turned by the twin-row 18-cylinder R-2800 Double Wasp radial. The armament consisted of six 12.7 mm machine guns in the wing. The F4U-1A version received a modified canopy and a raised seat, which improved the view forward and down.

What the set contains

It is a photo-etched set of metal parts for detailing a plastic model in 1:48 scale. The parts are held in a carrier fret on thin tabs and are separated with a sharp blade. The scope of the set and the assembly sequence are described in the manufacturer's instructions. This particular item is identified by the manufacturer's part number 491427.

Building and painting tips

Metal behaves differently from plastic, so it pays to have the tools ready before you touch the first part.

• Separate the parts on a hard surface with a sharp blade rather than by twisting.
• Fold over the edge of a ruler or in a bending tool, along the whole length of the fold at once.
• Bond with super glue in small drops, and on large areas with epoxy.
• Degrease the metal before gluing and painting.
• Give the parts to be painted a primer intended for metal.

Who it is for

The set is for modelers who want to add detail to the Corsair in a thickness that cannot be made from injection-molded plastic. It is an accessory for a kit: the model itself, paints, glue and tools are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.