Model Airplane International – August 2019

T

amiya’s new release 1:32 kits are known for

being absolutely incredible, arguably the fi nest

aircraft kits produced and this F4U-1A is no

exception. The box is packed full of beautiful,

crisply moulded light grey parts, with the

option of clear or styrene cowling, and photo-etched

parts included with the kit. These kits can be built

straight from the box and look incredible, but there

is always room to add extra details into your build,

such as wiring in the cockpit, wheel wells and

the ignition harness in the engine. I decided to

make only a few upgrades –– I purchased the

Eduard Löök Instrument panel and harness set, a

set of replacement resin wheels to upgrade from the

vinyl tyres supplied with the kit, and a resin replacement

propeller, which is also a vast improvement over the kit

parts. I also bought the Barracudaca’s cockpit decals which

add so much detail to the already fantastic cockpit.

Getting Started...

First step was to remove many of the components of the build

from their runners using my Dspaie Sprue cutters. I bagged the

parts corresponding to which area of the build they were for.

I began construction in the cockpit area. I was a little unhappy that

Tamiya had moulded the retaining bolts on the bulkhead behind the

pilot’s seat round. Using a sharp scalpel I removed these, and using a

sheet of 1 mm thick evergreen styrene and my RP Toolz Hex punch &

die set, I created a new set of bolts. I glued these in place using a drop

of Ammo Extra Thin Cement. I also constructed the retaining framework

for the pilot’s seat. At this early stage I also built up the framework for

the tailwheel that sits in the rear of the fuselage, and cleaned and prepped

a few cockpit parts ready for paint. I used Mr. Color C351 Zinc Chromate

Interior Green for this, as it’s lacquer based, tough and doesn’t require a

primer.

Once the paint had dried properly I gave the parts a wash with a home-

made dark wash, consisting of Johnston’s Klear, water and Tamiya XF-1

Black paint. This wash really fl ows perfectly into the recessed shadow areas

and in around raised details. I then drybrushed some highlights using Mr.

Hobby Aqueous H58 Interior Green with a drop of Tamiya XF-2 White added

to it. An old technique, by today’s standards, but one I still subscribe too.

BENT

WING

BIRD:

Alan Kelley builds Tamiya’s Stunning

1:32 F4U Corsair

Issue 169 - http://www.modelairplaneinternational.com 61

1:32

SKILL LEVEL:

INTERMEDIATE

SPECIFICATION:

Tamiya Vought F4U-1A Corsair

Kit No: 60325

Material: IM/PE

BEFORE STARTING:

Ammo Extra Thin Cement

Revell Contacta Professional Cement

Tamiya Masking Tape

Dspaie Sprue Nippers

Tamiya Sprue Nippers

Trumpeter Mastertool Tweezers

Pin Vice

Microdrills

RP Toolz Hexagonal Punch & Die Set

RP Tools Punch & Die Set

Tamiya Scalpel using Swann & Morton 11 & 10a Blades

Swann & Morton Plastic Scalpel & No 20 Blades

Deluxe Rocket Card Glue

Ammo Slow Drying CA Glue

Dspaie CA Glue Applicator

Hataka Orange Line Thinner

Mr Color Self Levelling Thinner

Ammo Decal Setting Solutions 1 & 2

PAINTS USED:

Mr. Color Lacquer

C351 FS 34151 Interior Green

Mr. Hobby Aqueous

H58 Interior Green

Mr Hobby Aqueous H86 Red Madder

Hataka

HTK-CS05.2 Late US Navy Paint Set

HTK-C102 Traffi c Red

HTK-C041 Night Black

HTK-C101 Traffi c White

HTK XP07 Matt Clear Coat

HTK XP08 Satin Clear Coat

HTK XP09 Gloss Clear Coat

Tamiya Acrylics

XF-1 Flat Black

XF-2 Flat White

Alclad II

Black & Grey Microprimer & Fillers

Gloss Black Primer

Steel

High Speed Silver

Weathering Products:

Abteilung Aircraft Effects Oils set

Ammo by Mig Oil Brushers

White, Dust, Grey

Ammo by Mig Streaking Brushers

Dirty Warm Grey, Rust, Dark Brown

Alclad Hogwash

Dirt & Grime, Dark Liquid Streaks, Light Liquid Streaks,

Rust

ACCESSORIES USED:

Eduard Brassin - F4U-1 Propeller 632110

Eduard Löök - F4U-1A (Instrument Panel & Seat Belts)

634002

Def Model - Corsair Main Wheels DS32001

Maketar Masks - Vought F4U-1A Corsair mask Set

MM32074V

ANOTHER LOOK