Testors 1/72 F4U-1 Corsair.

[rmontesb]

Hello fellow modellers!
I´ve started building this model on Sunday, and hope to finish it before the end of March.

The model was acquired via eBay and it came complete with instructions, decals and all parts.

[spock1701]

I am doing this kit now too! Started it on Sunday as well. Mind blown. Not the best fitting kit, though.

[rmontesb]

Talk about coincidence!

[rmontesb]

This kit can be built to depict three different aircraft:
1. F4U-1D, 157, VF-84, US Navy, USS Bunker Hill, February 1945
2. F4U-1A, Big Hog, Cdr Tommy Blackburn, VF-17, US Navy, March 1944
3. F4U-1A, 86, Lulubelle, Maj Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, VMF-214, US Marines, October 1943.

I´ve decided to build the last one, so according to the instructions, the underwing racks must be removed:




BTW: Bombs and rockets parts have been sent to my spare parts depo.

[rmontesb]

Drop tank assembled and some parts prepared for primming:

[rmontesb]

More sub-assemblies:

1. Fuselage: dry fitting proved that some sanding has to be done ir order to get the parts together, but at the end, minor gaps appeared at the front (near the cockpit) and in the rear. BTW...the cowling fits very very tight, so I used it as tool to keep fuselage halfs together while the cement did its work
2. Horizontal stabilizers: fitted ok, sanding at the root of both parts was also needed. Unfortunately, some gaps also appeared.
3. Rear landing gear flaps were cemented in place, but both parts presented injection pin marks that need to be attended before cementing

All gaps will be filled using Super Glue (gel), and sanded smoothly.

[rmontesb]

Cotinuing with the build:
1. I wanted to add detail to the landing gear wells. For this, I used streched sprue sanded flat.
2. The underwing racks were removed using small/medium-sized pliers and sanded smooth.

[rmontesb]

Hello fellow modellers!
I hope you had a great weekend.

Follow up on this build:
1. Worked on some details that were absent in the fuselage, like the bottom and side engine exhaust chambers.
2. Worked on the cowling details. As you can see, the plastic is very thick.
3. Primed some parts.

[rmontesb]

Another follow up on this build:

1. Alluminun and steel colors were applied to the landing gear struts, and wheels. As you can see, I need to sand down some deffects in order to obtain a better finish.
2. A light coat of flat green zinc chromate was applied to the landing gear flaps.
3. The engine was painted with a light coat of flat black, details will be painted next.
4. The drop tank was modified using my Dremel rotary tool