F4U, AU1 (Vought), FG1, F2G (Goodyear), and F3A (Brewster) Corsair.

[SinUnNombre]

Just wondering if anyone had any more input on this. I really want my Centaurus-engined Corsair in FAA colors and Suez stripes. And this beaut of a kit's just collecting dust. I've been from one end of the Interweb to the other and can't find anything about the lenghty of said beastie. Evan, you got anything? One last thing, where might I find a good 1/48 scale Centaurus?

Jon

P.S. We need a, "Where can I find..." forum. Where you post questions about which kit you can find bit A or bob B.

[kitbasher]

I had a stab at a Centaurus bubble-top RN Corsair a few years ago.  Original colours were Korean War Fleet Air Arm and it got people looking twice at it on a club table at Telford a few years ago.  Repainted it in early post-WW2 FAA colours a couple of years later but don't remember why!
This was the backstory:

Blackburn Aircraft Ltd enjoyed a long association with Royal Naval aviation. During World War 2 it enjoyed the distinction of building many of the Fleet Air Arm ' s Swordfish aircraft, and was also contracted to modify US-built Vought F4U Corsairs to RN standards. On the basis of this experience, and in the light of continuing delays to the Firebrand shipborne torpedo fighter, an Anglicised version of the F4U-4 was developed as the Navy ' s next carrier fighter. The type was distinguished from its US forebear by a number of features arising from combat experience, principally the cut-down rear fuselage and bubble canopy, which in turn required an enlargened fin (Blackburn were unaware of similar enhancements being undertaken by Goodyear as they developed the F2G). The main difference was the introduction of the Centaurus engine. Although the airframe improvements were welcome by the crews, and the Centaurus provided extra power, the type was destined to be overshadowed by the superior Hawker Sea Fury, and saw only limited service with second line units until its retirement from service in 1950.
(Donor kits: Matchbox F4U-4 Corsair, scratchbuilt canopy, Almark sheet S8)

[GTX]

Boy does that look like a Blackburn Firebrand:




Regards,

Greg

[Archangel]

I like the idea of the AU-1 and thought that if the F2G had worked it would have provided the base for the next version called the AU-1a or AU-2. The only changes other then adding hard points for weapons would be the 4X 20MM guns and markings for aircraft in service. There are at least two F2G kits out there and parts from either the Italeri F4U-5 kits or -7 kits could be used for the wings unless there are other kits one could use.

[Daryl J.]

Hey this thread is older than my kids who head to Kindergarten this fall!

Here's my F-4U idea:   Somehow, some way, a small number of Corsairs wound up in North Africa and were used by the Mercenaires of Marrakesh.    The variants were -1D's and -4's.  Over time, the cloth panels were overlaid in aloominummm (gotta get my Yank accent in there somehow), and the airframes weathered heavily in the desert sun.   Painted similar to the Bf-109 desert versions, the Corsair was usually seen in a faded Middlestone over light sand.   Personal markings were allowed and resulted in some striking regalia, however, there was no partiular single insignia. 

The Mercenaries flew a wide variety of aircraft through their rather profitable years, had pilots from many walks of life who flew for money not loyalty, and often protected convoys smuggling goods to both sides of the Large Political Picture during their years of operation.   The modified Corsairs served alongside desert adapted F3F's, FM-2's, CR.42's, Storches, and the ever present Piper Cub. One Stuka had been reassembled from multiple aircraft but was never operational since every known crankshaft was bent rendering the type useless.  Whether the product in transit be diamonds heading north out of Central Africa along the west side of the Atlas Mountains, weapons heading in from odd and assorted sources large and small, cash, gold from the Afar coast, recreational pharmaceudicals, or individuals, the smuggling convoys could always count on the Mercenaries of Marrakesh.  By the time the American Hippie had evolved from Neandrethal Man, the mercenary group had largely faded into history.    They were untouchables; too valuable to all sides to ignore or prosecute, never loved because of what they were, and were loyal to the sky.


Kits:   AM F3F-1 and 2, Tamiya F-4U-1D, Tamiya/Italeri CR.42, and quite possibly the Testors/Hawk Mystery Ship done as an early, less known machine.  All in 1/48 to keep scales consistent.   What's not already purchased won't be since we need to focus on business growth out in Real Life but quite frankly, I'd love a Storch someday and have it not done in the markings of its Nation of Origin.


Jus' some more imagineering from
Daryl J.


Daryl J.

[ysi_maniac]

Hi Daryl,
Can an antitank Corsair, a la Stuka Kanonenvogel, fit in your alternate history?

Hi Greg (GTX),
Can you draw any of your cool designs, but based on Corsair. I have been toying with a twin engined, a la Tigercat, but the shape of wings is a problem

I have a pair of Matchbox kits that need to be abused.

[Shasper]

I'd like to do a few F2Gs, one as an operational bird & another as a rebuilt COIN bird similar to the Cavalier Mustangs, with yet another as a reborn FAC/COIN type for the Marines today (turbine powered of course).


Shas

[Daryl J.]

Why not an antitank Corsair!      Wing mg's removed and some discarded guns/farings from a wrecked Hawker Hurricane IID.   Sand/Ivory in a Ferris like scheme yes?



Daryl J.

[Mossie]

I've been thinking about the Corsair as P-47 alternative.  The P-43, P-44 & XP-47A were never quite good enough & a substantial redesign was required to create the P-47B.  What if it was decided to throw the towel in at after the XP-47A? 

The Corsair was used in a very simillar roles had marginally lower performance than the P-47, but remove the extra weight of the naval gear & this would be improved. Range of the Corsair was good, as was it's weapons carrying capability, if not quite in the region of the P-47.  Again, both of these could have improved if the naval equipment was removed.  The Corsair had non-self sealing tanks in the outer wings, which only used for ferry & rarely in combat, I'm guessing that removing the wing fold would enable them to be of the self sealing type?

Although Vought didn't build any aircraft for the US Army, there's a few designations either side of the P-47 that were only used for prototypes.  So we've got P-45 & P-46 before hand, although I'm thinking after the XP-47A was canned.  So P-48, P-49 or P-50?

[jcf]

Although Vought didn't build any aircraft for the US Army, there's a few designations either side of the P-47 that were only used for prototypes.  So we've got P-45 & P-46 before hand, although I'm thinking after the XP-47A was canned.  So P-48, P-49 or P-50?

Designations once assigned were not transfered, however, of those suggested... P-48 would be a possible as it did not become hardware.
The P-49 & P-50 both flew.

Jon

[Mossie]

Thanks Jon, P-48 it is!  I'm working on a quick build Hobby Boss F4U-1 to get me out of a lull & although it'll be RAF, I'll work the P-58 designation into the backstory.  I'm trying to think of a suitable landbased equivalent to the Corsair name, Raider or Bandit maybe, anymore?  I'm favouring Bandit at the mo, but Corsair has more of a 'romantic' image, anything in line with that?  So Chance Vought P-48A Bandit/Bandit Mk.I?

[kitbasher]

...although it'll be RAF...

...so a little like http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,16936.msg238527.html#msg238527?

I'm trying to think of a suitable landbased equivalent to the Corsair name, Raider or Bandit maybe, anymore?  I'm favouring Bandit at the mo, but Corsair has more of a 'romantic' image, anything in line with that?  So Chance Vought P-48A Bandit/Bandit Mk.I?

Why not just stick with Corsair?
 

[Mossie]

Nice one!  I was thinking of an SEA scheme, but firstly, I don't have the decals or paints, & secondly, I had this nagging feeling I'd seen one somewhere before.  It'll get a standard temperate day scheme (my second choice was a desert scheme, but again, don't have the paints), inavasion stripes if I'm feeling brave as I already put some rocket pylons on & this might be difficult.  I'm arming it with British 60lb RP's, simply because I thought it'd look different to the usual American rockets.  It might get a sharkmouth too.

I have made some minor changes to it to reflect a dedicated land based variant, I've removed the hook, filled in the gap & shortened the tail wheel doors accordingly (maybe a little too much in hindsight).  I've substitued the main undercarriage with some skinner versions from a P-40 that I converted to a floatplane.  These were perfect as the under cart on both aircraft worked in the same manner.

I decided on name change for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, to reflect it's new role & the fact that I made a few external changes & their would be internal changes on the real aircraft.  Secondly, I think the Army Air Force would need some serious convincing to take an aircraft that was originally designed for the Navy.  Swapping of aircraft between US armed services was rare & frought with difficulty & a name change might just help smooth things over.

[jcf]

Thanks Jon, P-48 it is!  I'm working on a quick build Hobby Boss F4U-1 to get me out of a lull & although it'll be RAF, I'll work the P-58 designation into the backstory.  I'm trying to think of a suitable landbased equivalent to the Corsair name, Raider or Bandit maybe, anymore?  I'm favouring Bandit at the mo, but Corsair has more of a 'romantic' image, anything in line with that?  So Chance Vought P-48A Bandit/Bandit Mk.I?

You might want to have Douglas receiving some form of compensation in exchange for 'giving up' the XP-48 designation.
Another candidate and one that was probably the closest thing to vapourware would be the Tucker XP-57.

As to naming, in the US "Outlaw" carries some of the same romantic connotations as Corsair, connotations that of course have more to do with romanticized fiction than with reality. Highwayman would probably be the closest British analog, so I suppose you could call it the Dennis Moore Mk. 1. 

You could go the Native American route, Comanche would be a appropriate, or the American West/horse theme as started with the Mustang... how about Maverick?

Jon

[Mossie]

With the designation, I'll usually tend to try & re-write history a little, as I've found it's very difficult to fit an aircrfat into the US designation system where there are no gaps.  Since it's an aternative to the P-47, I could maybe take that designation, ending Republics involvement with the fighter at the P-44?

Outlaw carries some romanticism in the UK too, especially when related to Robin Hood, so that might be a go-er, although I'm getting to like the sound of Bandit.  Comanche sounds good though, & Bronco maybe with the horse related theme.  Hmm, too much choice!

Highwayman, has some romanticism over here when related to Dick Turpin, albeit falsely (the legends of his & over highwaymens exploits tend to get muddied), he was an out & out bad-un.  Plied his trade during the last part of his life not too far from where I live.  Dennis Moore!