1:48 F4U-1D

The real subject

The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier fighter of the US Navy and the Marine Corps. You recognize it by its cranked inverted gull wing, which made it possible to use short, sturdy landing gear under a large propeller. The F4U-1D version received a one-piece bubble canopy with a better view and pylons under the center of the wing, so that besides the fighter role it could handle attacks on ground targets as well. By the end of the war it was among the most capable carrier machines.

What the photo-etched set offers

Photo-etched metal parts for the F4U-1D model in 1:48 scale. Metal keeps a thickness injection-molded plastic cannot reach and carries fine structure a mold cannot hold. The extent of the set and the placement of the individual parts are given in the manufacturer's instructions.

Building tips

Separate the parts with a sharp blade on a hard surface and grip them with tweezers by the face, not by the edge. Sand the remains of the tab down with a fine file. Bend them in one movement in a bending tool or between two blades. They are bonded with super glue applied drop by drop on the tip of a pin; ordinary plastic cement has no effect on metal. Degrease the surfaces before painting and spray a primer, since on bare metal the finish rubs off during handling.

Who it is for

For modelers who build the Corsair in 1:48 scale and want to replace coarser plastic features with finer metal ones. Whether the parts fit your particular kit should be checked in the instructions of the set before you start altering the plastic. The kit, paints and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.