Corsair F4U-5 built from the Revell boxed kit in 1/72nd scale

The Revell kit of the Corsair is moulded to a good level of quality, incorporating recessed panel lines and exhibits a decent level of detail for 1/72nd scale. Accuracy looks generally pretty good to me, though the nose would appear a little short for the later F4U-5 Corsair depicted. Micrometer man will surely disagree with my opinions on accuracy though I'm sure.

For more details and sprue pictures of the unbuilt kit have a look at the in box article. Corsair F4U-5 kit in the box

Construction of the model begins in the cockpit. The Revell Corsair has a good little cockpit straight out of the box. Details include an instrument panel with raised dials, joystick, seat and floor moulding. The detail level of kits really is getting better and better as the manufacturers aim their models at the older modellers out there (to fill our time up when we ain't playing Sturmovik). This little cockpit assembly is fiddly work but fits accurately together. While the paint is drying on this cockpit assembly, the inside of the fuselage halves can be painted, for this recreation of the Zinc Cromate primer, Revell gives you one of their paint recipes. I just used a tin of Humbrol 80 grass green which is pretty good for the zinc cromate colour in American aircraft I reckon.

The Double Wasp engine is only modelled in a single row but still looks reasonably good vieved from the front when fitted inside the fuselage. The single row of cylinders is glued to a firewall moulding, the propellor shaft being trapped between the two. This assembly is best painted before fitting to the fuselage, as the cowl is moulded as part of the fuselage on this model Corsair (has a separate front nose ring). Some other models do this area better, the Revell P-47D-30 and Italeri Hellcat F6F-5N for example both have separate cowls, and three piece engine mouldings depicting both rows. Aftermarket Double Wasps are readily available from various manufacturers for the modeller wanting a little more in this department. Pavla models, Quickboost and Aeroclub are amongst the aftermarket makers of Double Wasps in various versions.

The finished model aircraft.

The Corsair main parts taped together to check the fit.

While the fuselage paint was drying I skipped ahead to the wing. This consists of a one piece lower moulding with two upper halves which fit accurately in place. You need to fit the two intake grills and open out any holes required before gluing the wing together.

Several holes in the fuselage need to be cleared out now or you will make life difficult later on when you come to attaching the mast and other bits and pieces (yep, I forgot to do this). Next the fuselage was glued together with the cockpit assembly being sandwiched in between, I only glued the rear of the fuselage halves at this stage so I could flex the front slightly and fit the engine later.
When dry the the fuselage front end was flexed out and the engine assembly located in the fuselage, this needs careful allignment but is straightforward. This engine assembly was glued in place from behind with a few drops of polystyrene cement.
The wing, fuselage and tail surfaces were now glued together. There parts once again fit extremely well.

Before adding the various detail parts to the model I decided to apply the main paintwork. This is a piece of cake with the model being overall dark sea blue, for which Revell supply a mixing recipe of 80% Lufthansa blue and 20% Antracite. The model was degreased with some alcohol, then the engine, wing grills and cockpit opening were all masked off and some grey enamel sprayed on as primer. This showed up a couple of small blemishes which were filled, the model then being re-primed and then sprayed with the blue mixture.
This paint goes on well but it took an age to dry (British Winter in a tin shed surrounded by cold cast iron machinery). Each coat took 48 hours drying time.... 144 hours later the main paint work was completed to my satisfaction and work could commence on finishing the Corsair.

The model was given a coat of Klear (this really is good stuff), then the decals for the U.S. Navy version were applied. These are well registered decals but have a tendency to silver so make sure you don't apply them to a matt finish. To get rid of the silvering more Klear was carefully worked into the transfers with a brush. The model was then coated with another coat of Klear and very lightly rubbed down with very fine steel wool.

Next the remaining details were added, starting with the undercarriage. All these parts go together well (hope you cleared the holes!), but many are very small and fiddly demanding the use of tweezers and patience. With the fiddly stuff out of the way the Corsair was given a very light wash over with acrylic black paint followed by some very light weathering. The model was then given a light coat of Humbrol Glosscoat mixed with Humbrol Mattcoat followed by one final light coating of Klear. Lastly the canopy was painted and attached with Clearfix.

This Revell Corsair makes quite a striking little model aircraft. The only real problem I can make out is a questionable nose length when compared to the real F4U-5 Corsairs which had the uprated Double Wasp radial engine. It looks to be about 2mm short between the cowling flaps and wing leading edge when camparing to pictures of the real Corsair. Anyhow, look at the completed model pictures and judge for yourself. This could probably be lengthened at the early building stage if required, and I think someone actually makes a small kit for this purpose.

Some of the detail on this model is extremely frail and easily broken (hamfisted as ever!), notably the undercarriage doors for the tail-wheel (thank goodness for super glue). These parts look the business when hung on the model, but you will need somewhere out of reach to place this aircraft if they are to stay in place. Definitely not a model plane to handle much when finished.

Fullsize Corsair, an F4U-5N judging by the cowling shape.