TAMIYA 1:48 F4U-1/2 "BIRD CAGE" CORSAIR

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Reviewer: Peter Knight  (pknight@mailcity.com)

Most people (especially if you are into model aircraft building) are well aware that the F4U Corsair is universally acknowledged as the most outstanding carrier-borne World War II fighter and was the fastest fighter aircraft at the time it was introduced.   If I had it my way it would receive accolades stretching to most outstanding fighter period!  But to avoid any debate over this I will just go straight into the review of Tamiya's product.  I have built a number of replicas, being the Corsair fan I am, so I haven't gone into great detail below, other than comparing to some other kits I have tackled.  Tamiya have a reasonable range of Corsair kits including this kit and the bubble canopy variants.  These kits differ very little apart from the obvious canopy shape and this includes the right-hand flap area which was the other up-close-and-personal distinguishing feature that told these two variants apart. Unfortunately, Tamiya have included this flap change where it wasn't a feature until the F4U-4 variant.

Opening the box you are presented with very crisp and clean detail, typical of Tamiya products nowadays.  Those anti-indentation panel line hucksters won't be happy though.  You can see some choices including straight or bubble canopy.  The cockpit area receives a bit of detail with joystick, seat and instrument panel and those historians will remember that these versions of the F4U did not have a cockpit floor.   This is correctly pointed out in the kit.  The kit will allow you to replicate the F4U-1 and F4U-2 (night fighter) versions.

The good thing is that there are a few options available to you in constructing your Corsair, other than one of the variants above.  You can display your model with cockpit open and wings folded, I incorporated these into my project.  You can also reposition the flaps and allow the propeller to turn.  If you build the night fighter version you can also change the canopy and include a radar dome.

I didn't come across any stumbling blocks with glueing the parts together, the fit is excellent and this includes the wings folding area.  Having a proper look at the detail of where the wings fold, as this is usually asked of in a kit review, the detail looks pretty good.  The only downside is that there are no hydraulics or connecting wires that ran across the exposed break.  However, if you chose to have open engine flaps you can view the intake area and exhaust pipes.

Three sets of markings are provided in the kit, being VF-17 of USS Bunker Hill, the first US Navy Corsair unit that became operational in September 1943; VMF-213 and VMF(N-532).  As far as payload goes you get 1000-lb bombs and 175-gal drop fuel tank.

Once completed your model will have the dimensions of length 8.1" (inches); wingspan 9.8" and height 3.3" which in my book is a fairly accurate scaled down model to 1:48.  Overall you will be pleased with this kit, the workmanship is better than other 1:48 Corsair kits I have done (including Hobbycraft and Mastercraft) and I would certainly recommend this to add to your collection.  I couldn't find any flaws in accuracy other than the above mentioned right-hand flap error and hydraulic wires missing from the folded wing break.  Novices should be able to complete this project with a minimal of fuss.  Below is Tamiya's mock up of the finished product of this kit.

 

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Related Reviews:  Airfix 1/72 F4U-1D Corsair

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