F2G Super Corsair U.S. Naval Reserves Olathe, Kansas 1956

johnsjunk · January 17, 2015, 08:09:31 PM

What if the F2G Super Corsair was mass produced during WWII? There would have been a lot of Naval Reserve units around the U.S. after V.J. Day well into the 50's. I first saw an F4U-4 Corsair in Blythe, California painted in this color scheme when I was a kid and have always liked it. I have always loved the F2G and thought what if...

I bought the Special Hobby kit since it is the only kit in 1/48th scale. Not overly impressed with the kit as far as detail goes. What I was impressed with was the fuselage and bubble canopy and resin R-4360. I didn't like the resin cockpit. So, I went on ePAY and bought a Tamiya F4U-1D and used everything but the front and rear half of the fuselage. I cut the cockpit out and filed the outer detail away till I had just the inside detail left and glued it in the F2G cockpit and added the complete Tamiya cockpit.

The resin R-4360 was a kit in it self! There are 28 cylinders to cute and glue to the engine case. In the end I really had fun building the R-4360.

I used the -1D wing, flaps and landing gear for the great detail Tamiya is known for. All I had to do was cut the lower exhaust outlet of the S.H. wing and graft it to the -1D wing. I used Quick Boost horizontal stabilizer and elevator. Paints are all Testors rattle cans. Decals are from Hasegawa.

Captain Canada · January 17, 2015, 08:37:54 PM

Nice ! Love the paint scheme....looks really good like that. Seems to change from angle to angle. Love the stance of this bird as well. Looks fast and powerful.

zenrat · January 17, 2015, 09:08:20 PM

Cool.

kerick · January 17, 2015, 09:59:33 PM

I've got a racing version in the stash in 1/48. Like I need another project

Tophe · January 17, 2015, 10:02:49 PM

Quote from: johnsjunk on January 17, 2015, 08:09:31 PM
I cut the cockpit out and filed the outer detail away till I had just the inside detail left and glued it in the F2G cockpit and added the complete Tamiya cockpit.

Wow! Nothing remains of this hard surgery, the final result is so perfect...

kitbasher · January 18, 2015, 01:05:56 AM

Army of One · January 18, 2015, 01:19:17 AM

That looks awesome....

.......there are some South American schemes I'd love to see that in......you have the skills of a surgeon.........!!!!!

Steel Penguin · January 18, 2015, 01:32:08 AM

that has a real "presence" to it. Well done on it

PR19_Kit · January 18, 2015, 03:01:19 AM

That's magnificent.

Reminds me that I have a 1/72 Super Corsair conversion somewhere, I really must look it out.....

sandiego89 · January 18, 2015, 05:43:42 AM

Great job! Really like that scheme.

NARSES2 · January 18, 2015, 08:07:45 AM

I really like the Super Corsair as an aircraft and that model is just

I've built the Special Hobby kit as a FAA aircraft post war

FAR148 · January 19, 2015, 07:36:23 AM

very cool

kerick · January 19, 2015, 05:37:26 PM

I'm curious, is that a transitional color scheme or new paint on some parts and old paint on others?

johnsjunk · January 21, 2015, 12:40:31 AM

Thank you all for the great comments!

Quote from: kerick on January 19, 2015, 05:37:26 PM
I'm curious, is that a transitional color scheme or new paint on some parts and old paint on others?

To be honest I have never read or heard anything about the paint scheme. I would guess that at some point it went through an IRAN ( Inspect Repair As Necessary) and all the Gray canvas covering needed replacing and all that was around were Dark Sea Blue ones.

Here is the F4U-4 I based it on in 1970ish. I'm in the middle.

kerick · January 21, 2015, 10:04:20 AM

Great picture! Always a good day with Dad and the boys. Nice Kansas flatland in the background. Is that a P-38 back there?