1:72 F4U Corsair Birdcage O-max set (for Tamiya)

F4U Corsair Birdcage O-max set in 1:72 scale

The framed cockpit canopy of an early Corsair is one of the more laborious parts of painting for a modeler; the nickname birdcage says it all. This masking set from Omask in the O-max range takes care of the boundary between paint and clear plastic for you. It is not a kit but an accessory for the painting stage of a model in 1:72 scale.

The real subject

The Vought F4U Corsair was one of the most distinctive American carrier fighters of the Second World War. Its marks were the cranked inverted gull wing, a powerful radial engine and a long nose ahead of the cockpit. It was the earliest production machines that had the heavily framed canopy, which limited the pilots' view, so it was later replaced by a blown version. Corsairs flew with the Navy and with the Marine Corps, and their careers continued after the war.

Advice on painting

• Never pick clear parts up with bare fingers.
• Cover the frame first and only then paint the fuselage.
• Keep a sufficient pause between coats for drying.
• When you are done, look the edges over against the light.
• Wipe any remaining marks along the edge away with a damp lint-free cloth.

Who it is for

• Admirers of US Navy carrier fighters.
• Modelers who build the early versions of the Corsair.
• Those who want to save hours with hand-cut tape.

The plastic model and the paints are obtained separately.