1:32 F4U-1A CORSAIR

The Corsair that could finally be landed

The F4U-1A version fixed what pilots minded most on the first machines. The seat was raised, the fuselage decking behind the cockpit was lowered and the densely framed canopy was replaced by a bulged part with a far smaller number of bars. The view forward on an approach to a deck improved so much that the US Navy finally recognized the type as fit for shipboard operation. It was exactly in this form that the machines of squadron VMF-214 flew, as did the aircraft of the Royal Navy, which moreover had to have their wingtips clipped to fit under lower hangar ceilings.

Contents

Two films for the glazing, each for one side of the frames, and four parts for spraying the national markings in 1:32 size. Neither paints nor a kit are part of the delivery. The shape of the parts follows a particular model, so on plastic of another origin the bars need not line up.

Craft: what to do when paint bleeds

Painting over a bled edge does not pay; the deposit only thickens and the transition stays visible. Let the finish cure completely and trim the dried overrun with a flat blade held almost flat against the glass; the paint peels off in one piece and the clear part underneath stays without a scratch. Clean the remainder with a wooden toothpick, never with a metal point. Only then is the surrounding area polished again and the frame filled in with a fine brush. The procedure takes a quarter of an hour and is more certain than an attempt to mask the mistake with another coat. The best thing, of course, is not to fall into that situation and to press the edge down properly before spraying.